Tonight on FOX Empire airs with an all new Wednesday November 25, season 2 episode 9 called, “Sinned Against,” and we have your weekly recap below. On tonight’s episode, Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) and her sister, Candace (guest star Vivica A. Fox), team up with a former prison mate (guest star Rosie O’Donnell) to rescue their sister, Carol. Back at Empire, Jamal (Jussie Smollett) and critically acclaimed pop star Skye Summers (guest star Alicia Keys) begin collaborating and soon share a deep connection.
On the last episode, battle lines were drawn when Lucious attempted to assert his power by releasing a rap by Freda challenging Hakeem as his heir. Meanwhile, Cookie’s spitfire sister paid her a special visit; Jamal worked on landing a major sponsorship deal; and Anika received some life-changing news. Did you watch the last episode? If you missed it, we have a full and detailed recap right here for you.
On tonight’s episode as per the FOX synopsis, “Cookie and her sister, Candace (guest star Vivica A. Fox), team up with a former prison mate (guest star Rosie O’Donnell) to rescue their sister, Carol. Back at Empire, Jamal and critically acclaimed pop star Skye Summers (guest star Alicia Keys) begin collaborating and soon share a deep connection. Meanwhile, Laz (guest star Adam Rodriguez) has truly fallen for Cookie, but things get complicated when she finds out the truth about him.”
Don’t forget to join us for our live recap tonight at 9:00 pm when Empire airs on Fox. While you wait for the recap, check out a sneak peek of tonight’s episode below!
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#Empire begins with Cookie and her sister Candace are looking for their sister Carol in Philadelphia. Cookie says it’s been two days and she has things to do at home. They bicker and Cookie says no one sent a search party when she was gone and Candace says they knew where she was – prison. Hakeem tells everyone to get the posters up. Cookie calls and he says she needs to get back her now.
He says the cookout sold out and they want a second show. She says to tell Laz to book the venue and get Laura and the girls to rehearse. She says she’s proud of him. Candace tells Cookie that Lucious is a low down dog but he did okay with the boys. She asks about Candace’s daughter Brianna and she brags on her kids. Cookie reminds here were Carol used to hang out and she says hell no.
Cookie says Candace has spent too long in the suburbs married to a white man. Anika has a spy there videotaping a sexy rehearsal between Hakeem and Laura. Anika is in full stalker mode and has a map to Laura’s house, photos and more. Cookie and Candace go to a crack house looking for their sister. No luck. Over at Empire, Lucious has a new artist.
Lucious says Jamal is starting his next album and Skye Summers will be on the first track with him. The press asks if Skye is signing with Empire. Her manager sys they’re happy with their label but are pleased to be working with the Lyons and Empire. Jamal says he’s crazy excited to work with Skye and says he’s an OG Skye Summers fan and says that was his first CD.
He says he’s in love with her. Skye tells Jamal let’s go and hit the studio. They end the press conference. Big Heavy shows up at Dynasty and Laz says there’s a second show. Laz says they need to rip the music and that’s good. Laz gets annoyed and says deal’s off then pulls a gun on Big Heavy. He tells Laz he’s disappointed and says he thought they were in this for life.
Big Heavy and his boys roll out. Cookie tells Candace she’s got to go back to New York and says Carol will turn up. Candace asks how Jermel’s head ended up in a box and says this is Cookie’s fault. She says Cookie gave Carol her first break and now she’s an addict. Cookie gets out of the car and says take car and go look. Candace tells her to listen.
Candace says if she finds Carol dead, it’s on Cookie who says – it’s always on me. Cookie is still in Philly looking for her sister. She makes a call to an old friend. Lucious takes Rhonda and Andre to a new house. Andre thanks him but Lucious says the Lyon legacy will live on because of them. He says when Hakeem dropped his last name, he knew he had to look at the next generation.
Lucious coos to her belly and Rhonda goes upstairs to check out the house. Lucious says Andre’s faith has made him strong and he’s done testing him. He says it’s made him a better man and Andre and Lucious embrace. Lucious says they need to move faster on Slipstream and Andre says he has a solution. Andre says they can use Lucious’ catalog to raise the capital.
However, Cookie has some of the rights. Hakeem calls Laz into the office and says he heard Big Heavy and his boys came by. Laz says they won’t come back. Laz says he’s working on the venue and Hakeem pressures him to make it happen. Lucious calls Cookie but she ends the call when her friend Pepper is there. Pepper is Cookie’s old cell mate (played by Rosie O’Donnell).
Pepper says she asked around about Carol and says Carol is hanging with Boz. The guy likes to knock around women. Skye says she wants an edgier song. Lucious says Skye is girl-power pop. Jamal tells Lucious to show Judith, Skye’s manager, his art collection. Once alone, Skye says that song is not where she wants to go. Jamal suggests they write something new.
Candace shows up and meets Cookie and Pepper. She tells Cookie she owes her for covering with the warden. Pepper says the girls miss Cookie bad. Pepper tells her she should go on family day and do a little show. Cookie spots Carol and they tell her to get in the car. She vomits on Candace’s feet. Carol says she’s not going anywhere but Cookie drags her to the car.
They go to a diner and Candace tells Carol to come home with her and Cookie says Carol can come with her. Carol is annoyed and says she can decide for herself. Candace tells Carol to choose between her and Cookie. Carol laughs and then asks what will happen to her kids if she goes to New York. Candace says she’ll keep them and Carol says she’s going with Cookie.
Cookie goes to the bathroom and Carol tells Candace she’s never happy. Candace says if Cookie knew what Carol did while she was in prison, this won’t happen. Hakeem comes to see Lucious at his request. Hakeem says he’s acquiring Swiftstream and says it will be worth a fortune. Lucious gets into it with him and says this is his last chance to come to Empire and share in the rewards.
Lucious says he just bought Andre and Rhonda a mansion then asks what Hakeem wants. He says he can’t be bought and walks out.
Skye plays a song for Jamal. He asks what that is and she says something she’ll never get to sing. She says she sings sorority girl breakup songs and Jamal says that’s whack ass talk and says that song is deep and beautiful. She says she envies him being in charge of his identity. She says if she sang her truth, her fans will turn on her. He doubts that.
He says he wants to help her bust out of her box. Anika comes to see Rhonda’s new house. Anika is queasy. She says she’s in love and is feeling guilty about it. She says it’s a musician that Rhonda doesn’t know. Rhonda tells her about a girl who tried to steal Andre from her. Rhonda says she cut off her ponytail then texted a photo of it to her and told her back off or she’ll keep cutting.
Rhonda says fight for who you want and put down anyone who gets in the way. Cookie comes home and someone starts giving her a massage – she says not tonight but they can do this tomorrow. He says okay and she sees it’s Lucious. She gets mad and he asks her to sign over the rights to the music. She says no and giving up the music will bankrupt them.
Laz shows up and Cookie says Lucious was leaving and she starts making out with Laz. He says it’s nice to see she’s sleeping her way to the bottom. He tips over a glass of wine to stain her carpet. Hakeem are at a party kissing when Anika shows up. Hakeem asks why she’s there. Anika stares down Laura then asks isn’t that the song he wrote for Camilla.
Anika calls Laura a Jenny from the Block Jump Off and tells Hakeem that Laura lives in a hovel with seven siblings. Hakeem asks why she’s there. Andre says they can’t move on without Cookie signing over the rights. Andre says he can leverage Empire’s other assets. He says one division could do this – fashion, alcohol or sports.
Lucious says he’d rather die and Andre tells him he’ll find a way. Luscious talks to Skye and she says she will not stay in her lane and wants to go her own way like he did and Jamal did. Lee Daniels is there playing himself. Lee says Lucious represents the past and Jamal is the future so they are doing something different. Lee refuses to talk to Lucious anymore.
He blows him off and walks off. The Pepsi video shoot starts and Lucious sulks as it’s all about Jamal and nothing about Lucious. Andre is there and Lucious tells Andre to sell what he has to and says he has to have Swiftstream no matter what. He says to be willing to win, you have to sacrifice then he mumbles something about Lee Daniels thinking he’s not the future and walks off.
Hakeem complains to Cookie about her light bill when Laz comes in and Cookie asks him about changing the venue. She says no to the Bronx. She says she sold out Rock Steady and spent the rent and merch. Hakeem says Big Heavy better not come back and asks why he was there. Laz says listen and trust him. Cookie says he’s making it hard.
Lucious comes in and says he looked up Laz and says he’s a Bully. He tells Cookie that he’s a bull. Cookie knows about his tattoo and Laz says it was a game when it started then he fell in love with her. She backs him off and he says he was trying to fix this. Cookie tells Hakeem – let’s go. They walk out. Laz is alone with Lucious and his two tough guys.
Anika comes to see Hakeem who tells her she’s got a problem. She says he has a problem being open and honest about us. He says there is no use, they just hooked up a couple of times. She says he loves her and he says he doesn’t. She says when he’s in need, he comes to her then asks if he’s afraid of Lucious. She says Cookie and Lucious will accept this.
Hakeem says she will never be a Lyon ever. Cookie cries and paces then breaks something. Carol comes in and asks if she wants to talk. Carol says she’s trying and Cookie says she has to go to rehab. Carol says what happened to Jermel is messing with her too. She says she should never have brought Carol into any of this and says Carol has excuses.
She tells Carol she’s going to kill herself if she doesn’t stop and says she can’t have that on her heart. She says get clean or you can’t stay with me. Carol says okay and they embrace. They’re both crying. Skye plays a song for Jamal. They play and sing together a really nice song called Powerful. Then – shock – Jamal kisses her. What the what? Is Jamal swinging the other way now?
THE END!