Empire

1. S01E01PilotJanuary 7, 2015 7.4Is a powerful new drama that follows Lucious Lyon, the head of a music empire whose reign has been unchallenged for years. But all that chan
2. S01E02The Outspoken KingJanuary 14, 2015 7.1Lucious must defend Empire's IPO launch after controversies arise around one of his artists being involved in a shooting, and Cookie proves
3. S01E03The Devil Quotes ScriptureJanuary 21, 2015 7.4The Lyons head to Philadelphia and get a taste of what their life could have been if Lucious hadn't made it big. Lucious promotes Hakeem's n
4. S01E04False ImpositionJanuary 28, 2015 7.4Lucious attempts to steal a super-hot, chart-topping artist from his rival at Safe House Records. Meanwhile, Jamal struggles to compose orig
5. S01E05Dangerous BondsFebruary 4, 2015 7.8Cookie receives an anonymous gift from an admirer that she believes might be a veiled threat from a person from her prison past. Meanwhile,
6. S01E06Out, Damned SpotFebruary 11, 2015 7.4Lucious asks Cookie to manage Elle Dallas, Empire Entertainment's first label star, who hasn't produced an album in years. Meanwhile, Vernon
7. S01E07Season's bestOur Dancing DaysFebruary 18, 2015 7.9Tension mounts between Hakeem and Jamal, as Lucious attempts to brand Empire Entertainment as a tight-knit, "family-run" company. Meanwhile,
8. S01E08The Lyon's RoarFebruary 25, 2015 6.8It's time for the Lyon family to come together and record a legacy album with Lucious, Hakeem and Jamal. Cookie and Camilla finally come fac
9. S01E09Unto the BreachMarch 4, 2015 7.4It's an all-out war when Cookie uncovers Anika's big backstabbing secret, and Lucious must come face-to-face with his longtime rival, Billy
10. S01E10Sins of the FatherMarch 11, 2015 7.4Andre forms a new musical relationship with Michelle, and a woman from Lucious' past, Angie, comes into the picture. Meanwhile, Lucious invi
11. S01E11Die But OnceMarch 18, 2015 7.8Jamal and Lucious are on their way to forming a music-centered relationship, but once again, Lucious has a secret that's about to change eve
12. S01E12Who I AmMarch 18, 2015 7.4Cookie is cooking up a plan of her own.

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

1. S02E01The Devils Are HereSeptember 23, 2015 7.6Season Two picks up three months after the shocking arrest and incarceration of Empire Entertainment head LUCIOUS LYON (Terrence Howard). St
2. S02E02Without a CountrySeptember 30, 2015 7.5Cookie and her cohorts decide to start their own small record label, but it's off to a bumpy start as everyone has different visions for the
3. S02E03Fires of HeavenOctober 7, 2015 7.5Cookie and Anika secretly work together behind Lucious' back to pull off a surprise performance that catches the eye of Pitbull (guest-starr
4. S02E04Poor YorickOctober 14, 2015 7.5The Lyons are still split into warring factions, but they all decide to shoot a music video that will capitalize on Hakeem and Jamal's duet
5. S02E05Be TrueOctober 21, 2015 7.5Over at Lyon Dynasty, Cookie and Anika work together with Laz (guest star Adam Rodriguez) to throw "Cookie Lyon's Block Party," a big event
6. S02E06A High Hope for a Low HeavenNovember 4, 2015 7.2Lucious and Cookie must put aside their differences and work together as parents to protect their family and keep them out of danger. Jamal
7. S02E07True Love NeverNovember 11, 2015 7.5Lucious begins to strategize the ascension of Empire from record label into global music monolith, so he looks into starting a partnership w
8. S02E08My Bad PartsNovember 18, 2015 7.5Lucious, eager to assert his power, releases a rap by Freda challenging Hakeem as his heir. Not to be outdone in Lucious' eyes, Hakeem fires
9. S02E09Sinned AgainstNovember 25, 2015 7.3Cookie and her sister, Candace (guest star Vivica A. Fox), team up with a former prison mate (guest star Rosie O'Donnell) to rescue their si
10. S02E10Season's bestEt tu, Brute?December 2, 2015 7.8Lucious makes a reckless play for the streaming service that he believes will make him the most powerful man in music, only to learn that th
11. S02E11Death Will Have His DayMarch 30, 2016 7.0After losing the company he built, Lucious announces he will stop at nothing to regain his power, but Cookie has her own way of handling thi
12. S02E12A Rose by Any Other NameApril 6, 2016 6.1With Hakeem acting as Empire's CEO, Camilla sinks her claws further and further into him. The rest of the Lyon family tries to get him to re
13. S02E13The Tameness of a WolfApril 13, 2016 7.0Tensions between Lucious and his sons continue to rise. Back at Lyon Dynasty, Lucious aims to direct his most emotional and honest music vid
14. S02E14Time Shall UnfoldApril 20, 2016 7.1Lucious releases his new music video, as he manipulates and sabotages those around him to regain his CEO position at Empire. Meanwhile, Andr
15. S02E15More Than KinApril 27, 2016 6.7With help from Andre, Lucious hosts a fundraiser, as part of his campaign to prove to the board that he should return as Empire's CEO. Meanw
16. S02E16The Lyon Who Cried WolfMay 4, 2016 7.0A wrench is thrown into Lucious' deeply personal music video about his mother, when Andre discovers a dark secret. Meanwhile, Hakeem and Jam
17. S02E17Rise by SinMay 11, 2016 7.5Hakeem feels the pressure of his underwhelming fiancée, Laura, as he struggles to find a place for her both in his family and his career. Co
18. S02E18Past is PrologueMay 18, 2016 6.7After a life-changing experience, Jamal refuses to make music until his family ends its seemingly endless cycle of violence and fighting. Me

Season 2 ranked & reviewed

1. S03E01Light in DarknessSeptember 21, 2016 6.9EMPIRE picks up exactly where Season Two ended – Hakeem left at the altar, Lucious and Anika married and Anika and Rhonda fighting on the ro
2. S03E02Sin That AmendsSeptember 28, 2016 7.0In an attempt to cope with life after being shot, Jamal teams up with businessman Angelo Dubois, to talk about gun violence and host a summi
3. S03E03What Remains is BestialOctober 5, 2016 7.2Cookie calls in a favor with mega-superstar Kitty to record a new song with Jamal, hoping he will overcome his inability to perform. Meanwhi
4. S03E04Cupid KillsOctober 12, 2016 7.1Things heat up between Cookie and Angelo, so Lucious finally recognizes Angelo as a formidable rival and prepares to take him on. Meanwhile,
5. S03E05One Before AnotherNovember 9, 2016 6.9Lucious and Andre are on high alert as they wait for Shine to retaliate after their latest business encounter went south. Jamal, who has yet
6. S03E06Chimes at MidnightNovember 16, 2016 7.2Empire is hacked and the leak creates feuds between artists and among the Lyon family. Andre takes advantage of the leak to step up and prov
7. S03E07What We May BeNovember 30, 2016 7.4Cookie looks to Candace for tips on how to plan an elaborate family dinner that will impress Angelo's mother, Diane (guest star Phylicia Ras
8. S03E08The Unkindest CutDecember 7, 2016 7.3Andre sabotages Tiana's big appearance at a fashion event in an attempt to get Nessa into the spotlight. Meanwhile, Tariq works with Leah to
9. S03E09A Furnace for Your FoeDecember 14, 2016 7.1Cookie attempts to help Angelo appeal to the masses and win the mayoral bid, by hosting a free park concert. Meanwhile, the FBI continues to
10. S03E10Sound & FuryMarch 22, 2017 7.2After launching a deadly missile at Angelo, Lucious announces his new music project, Inferno, and puts everyone on notice - especially Cooki
11. S03E11Play OnMarch 29, 2017 7.1Cookie tries to move forward with Angelo, while struggling with guilt over her run-in with Lucious. Meanwhile, Leah seeks out Tariq's help i
12. S03E12Strange BedfellowsApril 5, 2017 7.3Angelo makes an unsettling discovery and is concerned that Cookie's past isn't in the past and will hurt his chances of becoming the Mayor.
13. S03E13My Naked VillainyApril 12, 2017 7.5Hakeem throws an epic 21st birthday party and live-streams it all on Empire Xstream. Meanwhile, suspicions surrounding Anika's motives put t
14. S03E14Love is a SmokeApril 26, 2017 7.3Cookie gives Lucious unexpected news that makes him feel uneasy about the future. Hoping to make Cookie jealous, Giuliana moves in on Luciou
15. S03E15Civil Hands UncleanMay 3, 2017 7.5Angelo's relationship with Cookie turns toxic and leaves her questioning her decisions. Hakeem makes a public plea for Lucious to give him p
16. S03E16Absent ChildMay 10, 2017 7.4The Lyons fear that the Dubois family is to blame for their latest family crisis, so when no one is willing to give up any information, Cook
17. S03E17Season's bestToil and Trouble, Part 1May 17, 2017 7.8When Cookie is banned from Leviticus Vegas, she pulls together a team of her own allies to seek revenge on Giuliana and steal her secret wea
18. S03E18Toil and Trouble, Part 2May 24, 2017 7.6As Lucious gets ready to launch EMPIRE Las Vegas with Giuliana at his side, Cookie pulls together her own team of allies to wreak havoc on t

Season 3 ranked & reviewed

1. S04E01Noble MemorySeptember 27, 2017 7.3In celebration of Empire's 20th Anniversary, Lucious makes his first public appearance since the explosion in Las Vegas, but still has no me
2. S04E02Full CircleOctober 4, 2017 7.4With Leah still insisting that he is a monster, Lucious sneaks away in hopes of finding out what type of person he was before the explosion.
3. S04E03Evil MannersOctober 11, 2017 7.5When Cookie is denied a line of credit, she flashes back to her years in prison and compares her past struggles to her life now. Lucious con
4. S04E04Bleeding WarOctober 18, 2017 8.0The race is on when Cookie announces that the number one album for Empire's 20-For-20 will be a competition between all of the label's top a
5. S04E05The FoolNovember 8, 2017 7.8When the secret about Lucious' memory is exposed, Cookie attempts to convince the board that he is fine by inviting the press to watch him p
6. S04E06Fortune Be Not CrostNovember 15, 2017 7.7The Lyon family stands together as Anika and Hakeem begin a custody battle for Bella. Although they're confident in Hakeem's ability as a fa
7. S04E07The Lady Doth ProtestNovember 29, 2017 8.0Production comes to a halt on Empire's 20-For-20 when Calvin and Porsha, feeling overworked by their new producer, Eddie Barker, call for a
8. S04E08Cupid Painted BlindDecember 6, 2017 7.7Cookie and Lucious take matters into their own hands as they watch Diana DuBois' master scheme unfold. Meanwhile, Andre begins to spiral out
9. S04E09Slave to MemoryDecember 13, 2017 7.3Cookie and Lucious devise an elaborate plan to take down Diana Dubois and her family once and for all. Andre recovers from his mental breakd
10. S04E10Birds in the CageMarch 28, 2018 7.8Nurse Claudia takes her job to a new level, when she kidnaps Lucious. To find him, Cookie must race against time and use the skills she lear
11. S04E11Without ApologyApril 4, 2018 7.9On the brink of a lucrative tech deal, Eddie realizes that he must work on rebranding Empire. Cookie springs into action when a girl group f
12. S04E12Sweet SorrowApril 11, 2018 7.9A Lyon health scare shakes up Empire, as Cookie holds down the fort, in spite of it all. Both Andre and Jamal try to right their wrongs, and
13. S04E13Of Hardiness is MotherApril 18, 2018 8.0Although Lucious pressures Cookie to take it easy, she can't help but take matters into her own hands when she receives unsettling news abou
14. S04E14False FaceApril 25, 2018 7.9Lucious and Thirsty try to squash Eddie's takeover by confronting him with legal papers. Cookie recalls her complex relationship with her mo
15. S04E15A Lean and Hungry LookMay 2, 2018 8.0As Eddie fights for his place at Empire Entertainment and gets the board on his side, Lucious and Shine must find a permanent solution to ke
16. S04E16Fair TermsMay 9, 2018 7.1When Cookie finally visits her mother, the two must confront their complicated past. Meanwhile, Lucious and Eddie continue their fight over
17. S04E17Season's bestBloody Noses and Crack'd CrownsMay 16, 2018 8.3Cookie and Lucious fight to keep Empire in the family, as they prepare a livestream concert to crowd-fund the amount needed to trump Eddie's
18. S04E18The Empire Unpossess'dMay 23, 2018 8.3As the Empire ownership bid presentation nears, Lucious must make a difficult decision to save the future of the company and his family, whi

Season 4 ranked & reviewed

1. S05E01Steal from the ThiefSeptember 26, 2018 6.5Two years after losing Empire to Eddie Barker Cookie and Lucious are still in the midst of picking up the pieces. The family is now complete
2. S05E02Season's bestPay for Their PresumptionsOctober 3, 2018 7.4Cookie and Lucious learn the difficulties of launching an artist without Empire Entertainment's resources, and their future with new artist
3. S05E03PrideOctober 10, 2018 7.4Cookie and Lucious push to get back in the music game, but they'll need the whole family and some old allies to make serious sacrifices in o
4. S05E04Love All, Trust a FewOctober 17, 2018 7.4The Lyon family works to get back in their groove with a brand-new project underway. As Cookie and Portia attempt to sign Devon, who has jus
5. S05E05The Depth of GriefOctober 31, 2018 7.0Lucious and Cookie prep their new artist Devon (guest star Mario) for a premiere listening party, but worry he may not be ready for that kin
6. S05E06What is DoneNovember 7, 2018 7.1In an effort to sign more artists, Cookie and Lucious make a bet to see who can find someone first. While Lucious bets on the chance to meet
7. S05E07Treasons, Stratagems, and SpoilsNovember 14, 2018 6.9In an effort to bridge the gap between Lyon Family Management and Empire, Lucious must play nice with Jeff Kingsley, so that the two compani
8. S05E08Master of What is Mine OwnNovember 28, 2018 7.4The cost of running Lyon Family Management starts to put pressure on Cookie and Lucious' relationship. When Kingsley pulls a power move of h
9. S05E09Had It from My FatherDecember 5, 2018 7.4The financial security of the Lyon family is on the line as their LFM showcase quickly approaches. Kai's research for an expose on Empire un
10. S05E10My Fault is PastMarch 13, 2019 6.6With the control of Empire within reach again, the Lyons must pull out all the stops to prove Lucious and Becky's innocence in the data mini
11. S05E11In Loving VirtueMarch 20, 2019 6.4With the reputation of the family business on the line, the Lyons strategize on how to clean up Kingsley's mess and introduce a new and impr
12. S05E12Shift and Save YourselfMarch 27, 2019 6.3Cookie is offered a career game-changer that would put her future in the family business in jeopardy. Jamal works diligently to try to make
13. S05E13Hot Blood, Hot Thoughts, Hot DeedsApril 3, 2019 6.8When Empire launches its national tour in Philly, things heat up and egos clash. Jamal and Kai's relationships gets complicated and Treasure
14. S05E14Without All RemedyApril 10, 2019 6.5After receiving news about Andre's health, the Lyon family does everything in its power to support him, while continuing the tour. As Cookie
15. S05E15A Wise Father That Knows His Own ChildApril 17, 2019 6.0As the Feds close in on Empire, Jeff Kingsley seeks the truth about what really happened between Lucious and Tracy Kingsley. Meanwhile, Teri
16. S05E16Never Doubt I LoveApril 24, 2019 6.0It's a special day for Jamal and Kai, but drama might ruin it when AUSA's Meghan Conway continues to pursue the Lyons by any means necessary
17. S05E17My Fate Cries OutMay 1, 2019 6.8Cookie gets picked up by AUSA Conway, while Lucious is visited by his past. Becky, Hakeem and Andre devise a plan to save Empire by putting
18. S05E18The Roughest DayMay 8, 2019 7.1As Cookie and Lucious deal with each other's betrayals, they wonder if this could be the end for their relationship. Meanwhile, Andre's life

Season 5 ranked & reviewed

1. S06E01What is LoveSeptember 24, 2019 7.0Lucious, who is now a wanted fugitive, is on the run from the Feds. Cookie keeps busy by focusing on her brand outside of Empire, which now
2. S06E02Got on My Knees to PrayOctober 1, 2019 6.6While Lucious is still on the run, Cookie confronts Damon about why he lied to her. Andre, who is dealing with his own personal trauma, is s
3. S06E03You Broke LoveOctober 8, 2019 6.8While Lucious' plan to escape from the Feds finally comes to a head, Cookie finds herself in a dangerous situation with Damon. Andre is haun
4. S06E04Tell the TruthOctober 15, 2019 6.3A happy family occasion brings the Lyon family back together, but it becomes apparent that no one seems to see eye-to-eye. Lucious, unhappy
5. S06E05Stronger Than My RivalNovember 5, 2019 6.8Lucious, still obsessed with his past, tries to make amends for his wrongdoings with an old friend. Cookie vies to take control of the house
6. S06E06Heart of StoneNovember 12, 2019 7.0Candace and Carol take Cookie on a girls' trip to Miami to have some fun and take her mind off Lucious. After an unsettling visit with Leah
7. S06E07Good EnoughNovember 19, 2019 6.4After realizing that music is her real first love, Cookie makes moves to get back into the music world and offers to throw an event to gain
8. S06E08Do You Remember MeNovember 26, 2019 7.1Upon taking her first steps back into music, Cookie discovers an artist with raw talent when Lucious dismissed years ago. Meanwhile, Lucious
9. S06E09Remember the MusicDecember 3, 2019 7.2Hakeem raises concerns over Lucious' changes to the Empire movie script, causing Lucious and Cookie to come together to recount the events t
10. S06E10Cold Cold ManDecember 17, 2019 7.2Cookie becomes frustrated with Lucious, who is struggling to accept that their relationship is over. Upon being shut out of the ASA nominati
11. S06E11Season's bestCan't Truss 'emMarch 3, 2020 7.3The Lyons' world is turned upside down as they face a loss, which forces one Lyon to deal with an unresolved trauma from the past. Meanwhile
12. S06E12Talk LessMarch 10, 2020 7.1Lucious hunts for a record deal for Yana, but is met with surprising feedback from the label execs. Meanwhile, Cookie struggles with her ina
13. S06E13Come UndoneMarch 17, 2020 7.3Cookie continues to keep her secret from her sisters, but Lucious feels she needs to come clean in order to move forward. When Treasure is u
14. S06E14I Am Who I AmMarch 24, 2020 7.1While on a road trip, Cookie, Candace and Carol take a painful trip down memory lane, shedding light on their childhood and exposing heartbr
15. S06E15Love Me StillMarch 31, 2020 7.3As their wedding day arrives, Teri's fears concerning Andre's temper continue to surface. Meanwhile, Cookie finds a shocking discovery while
16. S06E16We Got UsApril 7, 2020 6.7After witnessing Andre's breakdown, Cookie and Lucious have him committed to the same treatment facility as Leah and the guilt Cookie feels
17. S06E17Over EverythingApril 14, 2020 7.0Lucious continues to run Empire and discovers some of Andre's business missteps by way of Kelly Patel. Meanwhile, Cookie tries to relaunch B
18. S06E18Home Is on the WayApril 21, 2020 6.9In the midst of the Bossyfest launch and the fight to regain control of Empire, Cookie reflects on her life and the woman she has become. Lu

Season 6 ranked & reviewed