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Season 3 – Empire

Play trailer Poster for Season 3 – Empire 2016 Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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87% Tomatometer 32 Reviews 50% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Hip-hop artist and CEO of Empire Entertainment, Lucious Lyon, has always ruled unchallenged, but a medical diagnosis predicts he will be incapacitated in three years, which prompts the sharks to circle. Without further damaging his family, he must decide which of his three sons will take over. His favorite, young Hakeem, is a gifted musician but values fame over hard work. Middle son, Jamal, is talented and shy but gay -- embarrassing to Lyon. The oldest, Andre, is business-minded but lacks charisma. The reappearance of Cookie, his ex-wife, complicates things; she says he owes her for taking the fall for the drug-running that financed his early career.
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Empire — Season 3

Empire — Season 3

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Critics Consensus

Even if Empire's third season no longer feels fresh, it's still worth tuning in to see Taraji P. Henson in action.

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Critics Reviews

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Ellen Gray Philadelphia Inquirer Even Lucious Lyon knows Fox's Empire could use new material. Mar 21, 2017 Full Review Rob Owen Pittsburgh Post-Gazette I'll probably check in on "Empire" from time to time but it's just no longer appointment viewing for me. Sep 22, 2016 Full Review Chris Cabin Collider Everything that happens in Empire feels automatically flippant and unimportant, even as the cast continues to do engaging, emotional work in each episode. At this point, Empire seems to be continuing on for no other reason other than it can. Rated: 2/5 Sep 20, 2016 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Never have a seen such s poorly written piece of trash that panders to the lowest common denominator. The plot is spoon fed and predictable, and it perpetuates stereotypes that most of us do not aspire to. Not all black folks are like this people, and your kids shouldn’t look up to these type of nonsense characters. I love Terrence Howard and Taraji, this show is no better than here comes honey boo boo. These rolls are beneath Terrence and taraji, they deserve so much better. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member This season, Empire loses some of the little believability it had by becoming too soapy for its own good. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member my favorite show!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member I truly love Empire and the cast!!! I have been a longtime fan of Taye Diggs, but can Cookie and Lucious hurry up and get back together? And, can Terrence please go back to his natural hair state? That relaxed look is not him although it does reflect his character more. Thank you all very much for a great show!!!! Love you guys!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Empire — Season 3

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Cast & Crew

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Terrence Howard

Lucious Lyon

Taraji P. Henson

Cookie Lyon

Jussie Smollett

Jamal Lyon

Bryshere Y. Gray

Hakeem Lyon

Trai Byers

Andre Lyon

Grace Byers

Anika Calhoun

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Sep 21, 2016 Light in Darkness Hakeem leaves the altar, and a rooftop fight between Anika and Rhonda leads to a tragic fall; Lucious uses his streaming service to pursue his music legacy and clashes with Tariq, who leads a federal task force to investigate him. Details Episode 2 Aired Sep 28, 2016 Sin That Amends Jamal partners with Angelo Dubois to host a summit for gun violence awareness; Lucious tries to win over Cookie; Hakeem and Shine start to record new songs together; Andre gets into trouble with the police. Details Episode 3 Aired Oct 5, 2016 What Remains Is Bestial Cookie asks superstar Kitty (Mariah Carey) to record a new song with Jamal, in hopes of helping him regain his ability to perform; Andre gets into trouble; Hakeem and Gram vie for Tiana's attention. Details Episode 4 Aired Oct 12, 2016 Cupid Kills Lucious starts seeing Angelo as a threat; Jamal takes his first big step towards recovery and faces Freda Gatz; Anika's return causes turmoil; Hakeem starts to have feelings for Nessa. Details Episode 5 Aired Nov 9, 2016 One Before Another Lucious and Andre are on high alert as they wait for Shine to retaliate; Jamal teams up with Hakeem for a performance that he thinks could help him face his fears; Cookie is caught off guard during a routine meeting with her probation officer. Details Episode 6 Aired Nov 16, 2016 Chimes at Midnight When Empire is hacked, the leak creates feuds between the artists and among the Lyon family; Andre tries to prove his worth to the company; Lucious is determined to divide Cookie and Angelo; Jamal is caught in a love triangle. Details Episode 7 Aired Nov 30, 2016 What We May Be Cookie needs to plan a family dinner that will impress Angelo's mother; home video pushes Cookie to confront secrets about her relationship with her father; Andre puts together a surprising duet. Details Episode 8 Aired Dec 7, 2016 The Unkindest Cut Andre sabotages Tiana's appearance at a fashion event to move Nessa into the spotlight; Tariq and Leah attempt to bring down Lucious; Jamal helps Philip get over his PTSD. Details Episode 9 Aired Dec 14, 2016 A Furnace for Your Foe Cookie hosts a free park concert to help Angelo appeal to the masses and win his bid to become mayor; the FBI continues its investigation of Lucious and freezes Empire's assets. Details Episode 10 Aired Mar 22, 2017 Sound & Fury When Lucious announces his new project, Cookie vows to dethrone him, igniting an epic battle; Jamal befriends a fellow musician in rehab; Hakeem and Tiana fight Nessa for a spot in the music showcase. Details Episode 11 Aired Mar 29, 2017 Play On Cookie tries to move forward with Angelo while struggling with guilt over her run-in with Lucious; Leah looks for Tariq's help in taking down Anika; Jamal and Tory team up in the studio. Details Episode 12 Aired Apr 5, 2017 Strange Bedfellows Angelo makes an unsettling discovery and is concerned that Cookie's past will hurt his bid to become mayor; Anika faces a life-changing decision after Tariq tells her what he's really after; Hakeem's birthday party takes an unexpected turn. Details Episode 13 Aired Apr 12, 2017 My Naked Villainy Hakeem throws an epic birthday party and shares it live on Empire Xstream; suspicion surrounding Anika's motives puts the Lyons on guard; the arrival of Giuliana gives Cookie a run for her money. Details Episode 14 Aired Apr 26, 2017 Love Is a Smoke Lucious gets unexpected news from Cookie; Giuliana persuades Lucious to comply with her new plans; Anika and Tariq devise a new way forward. Details Episode 15 Aired May 3, 2017 Civil Hands Unclean Angelo's relationship with Cookie turns toxic; Hakeem makes a public plea; Cookie is increasingly suspicious of Lucious' intentions with Giuliana and Empire's future in Vegas; Lucious and Jamal try to finish their albums. Details Episode 16 Aired May 10, 2017 Absent Child Cookie takes matters into her own hands when the Lyons suspect the Dubois family is to blame for their latest family crisis; Andre lashes out; Cookie sets her eyes on a new plan for Empire in Vegas. Details Episode 17 Aired May 17, 2017 Toil and Trouble After being banned from Leviticus Vegas, Cookie gathers a team of allies to seek revenge on Giuliana and steal her secret weapon; Jamal is encouraged to delay his album so he won't have to compete with Lucious' "Inferno." Details Episode 18 Aired May 24, 2017 Toil and Trouble While Lucious prepares to launch Empire Las Vegas, Cookie pulls together a team of allies to wreak havoc on the opening. Details

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Empire — Season 3

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Season Info

Executive Producer
Lee Daniels, Danny Strong, Brian Grazer, Francie Calfo
Network
Fox
Rating
TV-14 (V|D|L|S)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Sep 21, 2016