Empire season 4: An analysis of ‘Noble Memory’

The season premiere of Empire shows the Lyons trying to pick up the pieces, but was it worthy of being a premiere, and where could things be going?

I’ll be honest, in terms of things happening and being glued to the TV from start to finish, “Noble Memory” wasn’t my favorite Empire season premiere thus far. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t good and it certainly doesn’t mean I’m not interested in seeing how this season progresses. Let’s break down where things are going for the Lyons as we go forward.

The episode takes place about five months after the explosion in Las Vegas that nearly killed Lucious in the season 3 finale. Lucious is out of his coma and recovering but suffered a traumatic brain injury and lost his left leg below the knee. The bulk of the episode centers around the effects of Lucious’ condition on his family. Although Cookie is trying to jog Lucious’ memory so that he can appear at Empire’s 20th anniversary celebration, her efforts are hindered by her inability to bring up anything painful or distressing since it may harm Lucious in his fragile state.

The most interesting part of the season premiere was its exploration of what happens when not just a family’s patriarch, but its entire identity and mode of communication is interrupted. The episode’s title, “Noble Memory,” is ironic because that’s exactly what is missing with Lucious, the man behind Empire, unable to remember even the identity he created for himself.

Lucious (now only identifying by his given name, Dwight) recovers from his brain injury, which also impacted his personality, turning the once ruthless, instigating mogul into a docile, rattled version of himself, who is jarred by even the slightest over-stimulation. This includes photographers, his own music, crowds and dinner table shouting matches.

Stripped of the ability to fight and rehash old hurts, Cookie and her sons find their conversations and attempts at moving on as a family to be inauthentic . “We’re limited to a shallow well of pleasant memories,” Andre snaps during the episode. His observation that without negativity, the family’s connection is hollow is spot on. Jamal’s apology for the family’s messiness drives home the point that mess and discord are all the Lyons know and, stripped of the ability to tap into it, they are unable to function normally as a family without emotions boiling over. In season 3, Angelo DuBois observed that fighting was the Lyons’ way of life. Most of the time, this need for conflict drove their successes and ability to band together in times of adversity. However, the “war is peace,” mentality that is synonymous with the name Lyon now has a downside.

It was also heartbreaking to see Cookie once again unable to be loved in the way she longs to be by Lucious. Having nearly gotten everything she’s ever wanted from Lucious in Vegas, Cookie is fighting hard to help Lucious get his memory back but finds herself once again watching Lucious fall for someone else. This time Nurse Claudia (played by Demi Moore) is the object of Lucious’ affections.

My favorite (and also the saddest) line from the episode is uttered by Cookie. “It’s alright, you can’t help it,” Cookie muses after Lucious apologizes for disappointing her. While ostensibly this line is about Lucious being unable to remember any of his life, this latest incident, and Lucious’ inability to remember his love for Cookie is just the latest saga in Cookie’s quest to regain Lucious’ love, a quest that over the past three seasons has seemed ill-fated at best and downright futile at worst.

Other Thoughts

• There’s a very Regarding Henry feel to Lucious’ story arc (if you haven’t seen that movie I recommend it). I’m sure at some point his memory will return and I wonder if he will simply slip back into his old ways or be a truly changed man once he recovers.
• I’m curious to see how Jamal and Warren’s relationship plays out. It’s clear that Warren already feels sympathy for Jamal because of his family. I’m also looking forward to his back story being explored since it seems he’s going to be there for a while.
• Diana DuBois is quickly becoming my favorite recurring character on the show (because, duh, Phylicia Rashad). Her mysteriousness and ability to say a lot without saying too much has me glued to the television every time she struts into a room. I’m curious what her visits with Hakeem have been all about because don’t get me wrong, Bella’s adorable, but that can’t be the only condition of Hakeem getting her back.
• Like other Empire viewers I’m sure I’m firmly on team #DontTrustNurseClaudia. She’s up to something … if she really was just concerned with Lucious’ wellbeing and not entertaining his feelings she would not have felt the need to show up to the Empire 20th anniversary party slayed for the gods.
• It’s clear that Andre is having some residual guilt about his scheme to kill his father. but now he’s so intertwined with Shine (hey, that rhymed) I don’t think he’ll be able to stray from the path he’s on.
• Anika doesn’t make an appearance until the next episode, but I can’t wait to see how everybody’s favorite debutante has been faring in the big house.

Next: Project Runway episode 7 recap: A team challenge and a cliffhanger

Until next week, fellow viewers!