After months of waiting, viewers finally saw the culmination of that Season 2 cliffhanger scene on "Empire." The final episode of the second season showcased Rhonda Lyon and Anika Calhoun brawling on the top of a roof. Andre walked in just as someone fell off the high-rise balcony -- and it was no other than his wife, Rhonda, as what was finally unveiled on the "Empire" Season 3 opener.
Rhonda (Kaitlin Doubleday) was shown plummeting from the building, ending up lying bloody and lifeless on a parked car. As expected, Andre (Trai Byers) angrily confronted Anika (Grace Gealey) for pushing his wife to her death, but was interrupted when Anika's water broke.
Speaking to TVLine, "Empire" showrunner Ilene Chaiken revealed why Rhonda had to die, and it has something to do with continuing Anika's juicy story in the Fox drama. Chaiken said that the choice between who will die between Rhonda and Anika wasn't "based on anything in the real world." She said that the crew both loved the characters and both of Doubleday and Gealey.
Chaiken said that the "Empire" creative team wants to keep both Rhonda and Anika in seasons to come, but they had to make a choice and that choice leaned towards how they would set up Anika's story for the current season. Chaiken added, "What is the point of having Anika marry Lucious (Terrence Howard) in that twisted scene at the end of our finale if we're not going to go forward and tell that story?"
Before the Season 3 premiere episode ended, Rhonda "bounced back" from death but only as Andre's hallucination. This storyline means that "Empire" is not done with Rhonda yet and Doubleday could still return to her role.
Chaiken confirmed to TVLine that this was indeed a way for "Empire" to keep Rhonda and Doubleday, though she didn't confirm whether viewers will see more of the character in upcoming episodes. The showrunner also said that Rhonda's death will take a "large toll" on Andre and will affect him "deeply and profoundly," Variety reported.
Rhonda appearing in Andre's hallucinations is a hint that the eldest Lyon brother will face more of his demons as the series progresses. Andre has been grappling with mental illness over the first two seasons of "Empire."
As for Lucious, Chaiken assured "Empire" viewers that the lead character will pull the Lyon family to the "dark side." Fans will also have to watch out for the Teddy-cam in baby Bella's nursery. That hidden camera was planted by Tariq (Morocco Omari), an FBI agent who's after his half-brother Lucious, and it will "definitely have a consequence," Chaiken told TVLine.
