Andre’s life hangs in the balance, Lucious and Cookie’s future is uncertain, and we finally learn who ends up in the coffin on the Empire season finale.
As the preview video indicates, emotions are running high after Cookie catches Lucious about to help Andre end his life due to the damage his cancer medication did to his heart.
“You tried to kill my baby,” we see Cookie yell at Lucious in a clip from the preview. It’s interesting that once again, Cookie’s anger at Lucious is making her see things not quite as they are (as was the case with Lucious and Treasure in “Hot Blood, Hot Thoughts, Hot Deeds”). Lucious didn’t try to kill Andre, but he just agreed to help him end his life on his own terms. You can feel however you want about assisted suicide, but accusing Lucious of attempted murder is (for once) a bit extreme in this case.
Cookie also appears to leave Lucious, or, at least, fully prioritize her feelings over his after being ride-or-die for most of her life. “I gotta put me first,” she says tearfully.
Kingsley also seems to have a bigger role in tonight’s episode, coming face to face with Lucious and pointing a gun at him. “Am I acting like a Lyon now?” he asks chillingly as he toys with the trigger.
I’m not sure what could have happened to make Kingsley turn on Lucious so soon since they just had such a touching reunion a few episodes ago. But we know for certain from this season’s flash-forwards that Lucious survives his latest showdown with his secret son.
Spoiler TV‘s press release fills in a few more gaps on what will happen in tonight’s episode:
"As Cookie and Lucious deal with each other’s betrayals, they wonder if this could be the end for their relationship. Meanwhile, Andre’s life hangs in the balance and the future of Empire is in jeopardy as the Feds close in and the mystery of who is in the coffin is finally revealed…"
Given that the press release mentions Cookie and Lucious both dealing with each other’s betrayals, Lucious might find out about Cookie’s fling (if you can even call it that) with Damon. Knowing how Lucious has typically responded very poorly to people who show even an iota of disloyalty to him, I can only guess that he won’t react well to Cookie even entertaining the idea of being with another man.
Given that Jussie Smollett was written out of the last few episodes of the season and isn’t slated to return for season 6, I’m not sure what to make of the glimpse we get of him in the preview. Maybe the writers threw us a bone because they know we can’t get enough of Jamal.
So a lot of questions need answers. Will Andre survive his suicide attempt? Is it really over for Coocious? What’s Kingsley’s damage now?
Here’s how you can watch Empire tonight:
"Date: Wednesday, May 8Start Time: 8 p.m. ETEpisode: “The Roughest Day”TV Channel: FoxLive Stream: Watch on Fubo TV. Sign up now for a free seven-day trial. You can also watch on FOX.com or download the FOX NOW app."
Empire airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.