Nov 13(AZINS) If you have not watched the seventh episode of the second season of Empire, maybe you should read something less spoiler-y. 

Life keeps happening to me a lot lately. Therefore, I apologise for not putting up the recap for the sixth episode. Assuming that you are up to speed, I will start with what happened today.

The episode starts with Selena Gomez's 'Good for you' and your ears stand up at what's happening on the screen. Cookie and Adam Rodriguez are going at it. And from the continuous focus on the mark on Rodriguez's back, we are reminded that Cookie and Lyon Dynasty are in trouble. We can talk about the monetary or physically harmful trouble later. THREE DAYS IN SAME BED WITH THE MAN, THE FOOD, THE GADGETS... geez Cookie, worry about hygiene much? 

Their intense session gives Cookie the idea of launching her own music festival to showcase Lyon Dynasty talent. Festival, security, money for the security, and Rodriguez. You do the math. Rodriguez is a two-timing scum. The clash, if and when, Cookie finds out about it will be like fireworks going off.

Lucious Lyon has found his protege in Freda after Jamal and Hakeem chose to go with their own music. Freda and Lucious bond over daddy issues. Mommy issue is more likely in Lucious' case. Let's get this out of the way. Lucious' mother in sepia tone is the reason he has Empire. In the flashback, we see Kelly Rowland frantically searching for some bullets to play Russian Roulette with herself. Sadly (?) little Lucious has hidden them in the backyard. Crazy mama still finds one lone bullet and scars Lucious for life. This is the incident that helps Lucious find his sound.

Why does he need a new sound?

A live music session in the living room of music big shot Huey Jarvis helps you win awards. This is the legend floating around in the Empire universe. Lucious has not been invited to perform ever. But Jamal gets an invitation. Upon realising that his kids are more talented than him, Mr Lyon cannot stand to be the inferior one. When Huey wants him to dig deeper, the literal digging in the backyard is Lucious' solution. And there you have it. The best song of the episode 'Boom Boom.'

Andre Lyon is a mess. And the reason is the return of firebrand Mimi. Mimi Whiteman is the business partner you want in the anything-is-possible-world of Empire. She wants Empire to merge with a streaming Swiftstream. The first blow to Andre is when his proposal to build one is shot down. Second, Lucious wants him to sleep with deputy Mayor to get charges against Freda dropped. Conflicted Andre seeks the guidance from Reverend and the amazing Reverend advises him to blackmail the deputy Mayor instead of committing the sin of the flesh. Smart move Revvy. Just be sure whether you are on the side of Devil!

Mimi and Lucious go to meet the CEO of Swiftstream. Not boardroom meeting but a sparring session is the new way of doing business. And if that fails, you can always amp up the morphine in the system of the man you just floored in the ring and have him sign the contract under the influence. Bravo!

To celebrate the success (?) Mimi and Lucious decide to have a three way. Just when things get heated, Mimi gets a call she has to take. Wonder who is up for messing with Lucious now? Because the identity of the caller is not revealed and after the Rodriguez business, I am suspicious of every new member. Lucious tells the caller off and they get back to the business at hand. Alas, the girl has a gun tattoo. That triggers Lucious. He makes a run for studio and finds that the missing sound was the click of the gun. Representing his past. He finally dug deeper!

Now stray points -

1.  Is Mirage a Trois a Latina band or a Cinderella story? Hakeem transforms Laura into a pop diva with a trick here and a trick there. Mama Lyon is proud of her cub.

2. Is Tiana a talent of Lyon Dynasty or a makeover expert or a plot device to move the story forward?

3. Speaking of Jamal's talent. He and Cookie are still having their secret meetings. Because they don't want Hakeem and Lucious to find out

4. Will Jamal ever decide if he is on the side of Cookie or Lucious?

5. Please tell me Rhonda is not pregnant.

6. I was amazed and probably squeaked a little when I saw Lucious playing the sitar. Culture shock is all.