'Empire' Season 4, Episode 5 'The Fool' Recap: Lucious Is Back and More Hakeem Baby Drama [SPOILERS]

Last time we left Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard),—oh wait he goes by Dwight now—he was shedding off the crimes of his past self. “Empire” is back and things are getting crazy. The fifth episode of season 4 has Lucious back in the spotlight, with the public knowing about his post-traumatic amnesia. Because of this, Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) tries to convince everyone he is fine. But reaching a breakthrough is hard when Lucious is in love with Claudia (Demi Moore)—the woman who’s supposed to help him recover.
Meanwhile, Anika (Grace Byers) and Hakeem (Bryshere Gray) are at each other’s throat for the custody of their daughter Bella. He starts to panic about the custody hearing and potentially losing his daughter. With hits from the press, an album on a deadline, and custody battles, only “Empire” knows how to put drama in making music.

‘Empire’ Dwight Trying To Be Lucious

Word is out that the “Empire” hip-hop mogul has amnesia. Now, Cookie is getting slack for the leaked information about Lucious’ condition. Especially when they are about to release their “20 for 20” album featuring 20 of their best artists and 20 of their best albums. They need to play it off as fake news and that Lucious is still the lion with his claws. Cookie asks Lucious to convince the board he has recovered from his amnesia.
But it’s complicated when he and Claudia have a romance that’s stopping any progress. It’s obviously unprofessional when Claudia’s feelings are clouding her judgment. She’s trying to get Dwight back and not Lucious. During the board meeting, things go better than expected. As Cookie was trying to convince everyone Lucious is fine, Moonshine demands they hear from Lucious himself. And damn, Lucious knows how to impersonate his past-self. Despite this, the press keeps on biting at the amnesia story. Cookie’s solution for this is to have press follow Lucious around during recording sessions.

Cookie has Becky (Gabourey Sibide) be Lucious’ guide since it might take some time for him to be comfortable in the studio again. But it looks like he doesn’t need any guide. During his first recording session with Veronica and the press, Lucious coaches her to draw on the pain of her past to give more soul to her song. It works and the press sees Lucious still the musical genius that he is. But during his session with Moonshine, it looks like Lucious is about to crack, and he storms out of the studio. This worries Cookie and Andre (Trai Byers) because Empire cannot take any more bad press. The man continues to surprise us by bringing in legendary music producer Eddie Barker to help.

Even The Lyon Siblings Can’t Catch A Break

While Lucious is trying to recover, his children aren’t having an easy time either. Hakeem is freaking out about the custody hearing. He believes he is a better parent for Bella than Anika. The woman pushed a pregnant woman down the stairs a few seasons ago, so Hakeem has a point. But Anika has more dirt about the Lyons which worries Hakeem. Anika’s relationship with the Lyons is complicated. Hakeen goes to confronts Angelo, there is no other person out there who will love Bella. But when Angelo pushes Hakeem into telling him that Bella will have another daddy, Hakeem loses it. Hakeem punches Angelo and is later pointed out that judges won’t favor a parent with temper issues.

Afraid of losing his child, Hakeem has the great idea of fleeing to Cuba with his daughter. But Cookie and Tiana (Serayah McNeil) convince him to fight the case because together they can win it. Meanwhile, Andre is sleeping with Pamela, who is also working on his father’s case. She tells him the Vegas PD has video footage of Moonshine doing something to Lucious’ car. It’s implied that he has something to do with the explosion that caused Lucious’ amnesia. Andre confronts Moonshine about tampering with his father’s car before the explosion and Moonshine tell him he doesn’t talk to cops. He then tells him that if Moonshine is ready to talk to the cops, he better do so. Andre isn’t going to be pitted against his family anymore.

Lucious Paints His Musical Memories

A few episodes ago, after Lucious’ accident, he finds painting relaxing. This seems to be a minor detail before, but we now see there’s more to it than just painting. When Lucious was in the studio, he sees strobe lights while listening to music. At first, it feels like Lucious isn’t any better. But when he tells Claudia about it, she says he has synesthesia, a condition where he can see sound with colors. He then starts painting on the glass walls of the boardroom. Cookie finds him painting, and Claudia explains what’s happening as Cookie realizes he’s painting his music and memories. His painting later turned out to be the album cover for their “20 for 20.”
“Empire” was able to finish the “20 for 20” album but the board is still concerned that Cookie cannot run “Empire” alone. She finally admits Lucious’ brain injury and says she is bringing in Eddie to help her—at least before something happens to Lucious. During a painting session with Claudia, Lucious has flashes of his past appear with every stroke. In the center of his memories was Cookie, where the love between these two will never die. He then kicks a heartbroken Claudia out of the picture. Lucious is back and ready to take back his “Empire.”
“Empire” continues next Wednesday with “Fortune Be Not Crost,” 8/9c on FOX.