Empire season 2, episode 7, “True Love Never,” just aired! Find out which relationships were budding in our recap.
Cookie and Laz
We start the episode with Cookie and Laz staying in bed (literally) for three days. They’re obviously enjoying each other’s company. Laz convinces Cookie to work from home, and when he heads out to “get the paper” so she can talk to Jamal about his music, he meets with one of the gang members.
Laz tells him that Cookie’s been talking about having a huge event she’ll need their help with, and they’ll be greatly compensated for it. Laz once again convinces Cookie to meet with the local thugs and they make an agreement on certain terms for the event. Hakeem interrupts them and joins in on negotiations.
Hakeem and Laura
Mirage a Trois had a small performance at Lyon Dynasty. During the performance, Carmen, the backup singer/dancer, kept bootybumping Laura out of being front and center of the group. Cookie told Hakeem to make Carmen the lead because she has the personality, even though she doesn’t have the pipes Laura has.
Hakeem took Laura out to help her with her confidence. Tiana assisted by helping Laura with her walk and dress style. Hakeem also made her sing in front of a large group of people outside, which she totally dominated. When Laura jumped down from her spot, she kissed Hakeem!
Andre and Rhonda
Andre, once again, is pushed aside by Lucious. He wants Andre to go to the Deputy Mayor to work on expunging Freyda’s record. As we remember from season 1, Andre has a past with the Deputy Mayor. When Andre goes to his pastor for advice, he’s told he’s God’s warrior and that there are “many other ways to accomplish” what needs to be done.
After Andre records audio of the Deputy Mayor seducing him, he gets what he needs for Lucious. He then goes to his wife and finally gives her what she’s been wanting — igniting that old flame.
Lucious and Mimi (and Freyda)
Mimi: Lucious and Mimi worked together to gain a partnership with a music-streaming company, Swiftstream. As far as we know it has nothing to do with Taylor Swift or her Spotify/Apple Music headlines.
After they illegally get the partnership, they celebrate, of course. While in the club, Mimi gives Lucious a choice of a few women. After he chooses April (“Spring is in the air,”) they move back to Lucious’ place for a threesome. Mimi and Lucious are hammered, and when Mimi gets a phone call right before hooking up with April, Lucious takes over the call. Things get sloppy and awkward and we can’t help but think this is all a part of Mimi’s master plan.
Freyda: Lucious has really been working hard with Freyda on her music. “Boom boom boom boom” is sounding better and better every time they work on it. He helps her to break out of her own head and apparently alcohol is what helps Lucious out when his mind is blocked.
At 4 a.m. he calls Freyda to finish the song and brings an unloaded gun this time for sound effects…bang bang bang bang.
Flashbacks
Flashbacks this week showed a young Lucious hiding bullets outside in the grass. We later discover that his mother is looking for her bullets aimlessly around the house in random places. This poor child is just watching his mother go completely mad in front of him.
She finally finds one bullet in her drawer that Lucious somehow forgot. She loads the single bullet into the gun and pulls it up to her head as Lucious screams for her not to. We can all only imagine what happens next.