"Empire" has only aired three episodes and so far, they are all doing great in the ratings game and critical reviews.
Each night of the week when this Fox musical drama is on air, fans can only expect superb acting, witty lines, and of course, beautiful songs.
According to a report by Zap2It, "Empire" TV series again improved in its ratings attracting 11.07 million viewers in the U.S. The first and second episode garnered 9.9 million and 10.32 million, respectively.
The previous episodes of "Empire" TV series is generally great but in the third one, the guy who stole the show is Jamal (portrayed by Jussie Smolett), the "blacksheep" gay son of the Lucious (Terrence Howard).
Jamal has been ridiculed by his father for his gender preference but in the episode titled "The Devil Quotes Scripture," he realized enough is enough.
Lucious was furious with his recent performance during family dinner wherein the young Lyon sang a song from a former suitor of his mother Cookie (Taraji P. Henson).
Lucious also bragged that he is the one paying for Jamal's apartment adding he has no talent. Jamal finally decided that it is the last straw and dragged himself and his boyfriend Michael Sanchez (Rafael de La Fuente) out of the house.
So what's next for Jamal? Where will he run for support? Talking to The Hollywood Reporter, Jussie Smollett says his "Empire" TV series character will have no one to run to but himself.
"Himself. Jamal is a Lyon [and] they know how to take care of themselves," the "Empire" TV series cast said.
"Cookie's obviously a huge support system for him [too], but when it comes down to it financially and all of that type of stuff, he's taking care of himself. Jamal's taking care of Jamal and Michael."
Jamal's storyline is pretty much about his failed relationship with his father. While it seems Lucious hates his gay son, Smollett thinks the love is still there.
"Deep down inside a child's love toward their parent never goes away. There are things that he does not respect about his father, but there are things that he does respect about his father [as well]," said one of the "Empire" TV series cast.
"There are things that he resents about his father, and there are things he revels in about his father. It's a very complicated situation; it's very gray. And it is this twisted love of an abusive relationship. Somehow [Jamal] keeps on getting sucked back because somehow he believes there's this really good person that he maybe saw a peak of, and he wants to believe that that's truly who [Lucious] is. That's the No. 1 rule of an abusive relationship."
"Empire" TV series returns on January 28 for its fourth episode titled "False Imposition."
"Empire" TV series cast also includes Trai Byers as Andre Lyon, Bryshere Gray as Hakeem Lyon, and Kaitlin Doubleday as Rhonda Lyon.
