‘Empire’ Season 5, Episode 1 ‘Steal From the Thief’ Premiere Recap: The Rise and Fall

The Lyons’ were de-throned and cast down to their lowest since their humble beginnings. It doesn’t stop there, however, because they’re all set up for a mighty and ferocious comeback—at least, that’s what they initially planned. The season 5 premiere of FOX’s Empire packs in the best that the hit musical drama could ever offer, even bookending the episode with a tinge of mystery. Titled “Steal From the Thief,” Empire‘s season premiere doesn’t only give us a continuation to Season 4’s explosive finale; it also wipes out adversaries and brings in a brand new threat.

In this week’s episode of Empire, Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) and Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard) struggle to rebuild their music empire after being taken over by the sleazy Eddie Barker (Forrest Whitaker) and his conniving muse, Giselle (Nicole Ari Parker). As the Lyon’s reclaim their throne, something unfortunate prevents them from doing so. Meanwhile, Hakeem (Bryshere ‘Yazz’ Gray) and Tiana’s (Serayah McNeill) relationship suffers yet again, Jamal (Jussie Smollett) comes home from London, and Andre (Trai Byers) provides the necessary push (albeit imprisonment) to help his parents take Empire back.

Two years later…

“Steal From the Thief” opens with a two-year time jump. Lucious grieves over a coffin, and we have no clue who died. Flashback to six months ago, where we see Lucious trying to edit Hakeem and Tiana’s video while recording their hit song, “Ibiza.” The Lyon mansion is in disarray, with the air conditioning turned off to save money. It’s clear that Lucious and Cookie are struggling to make ends meet after losing Empire. Cookie arrives from a meeting with a TV studio that’s asking Lucious to judge their reality competition (which goes very bad without Lucious in attendance). Jamal Facetimes his parents all the way from London to tell them about his indie label and remind them of their 2-year wedding anniversary. Their conversation is cut short when Juanita (Claudette Burchett), the Lyons’ maid, reminds them about the stuff that they’d have to sell. Cookie and Lucious watch helplessly as the jumpsuit men take their stuff. Luckily, they have a plan to get Empire back, for real this time. Enter Andre Lyon…

Chuck Hodes/FOX

Andre is in prison. When Anika (Grace Byers) fell off the ledge and died last season, no one suspected Andre of doing anything. However, someone managed to snap a picture of him drugging Anika’s drink, leading him to be prosecuted and sent to prison. Luckily, Thirsty Rawlings (Andre Royo) was able to broker a deal that would only have Andre booked for two years. In the present, Andre plays a game of chess with Eddie’s former money manager and the only one who knows about all his bogus and shady accounts. Andre succeeds in getting all the information he needs about Eddie’s accounts.

Chuck Hodes/FOX

Meanwhile, at Empire (now improved with Google-like amenities), Giselle’s real intentions are revealed. She re-married Eddie, but only for her to snatch Empire from him when the time is right. She’s now managing the entire team; including Becky (Gabourey Sidibe), who seems to have pledged allegiance to the Barkers. She’s still the head of A&R, but it’s clear that it’s also getting into her head. Empire sales continue to skyrocket under the Barkers’ wing. But there’s one thing on Becky and Giselle’s mind—the MVP Movie Awards. That night would see their song, “Ibiza” pitted against the others, and it’s also a track that Cookie and Lucious produced as one of Hakeem and Tiana’s last songs together. But since it was made under Empire, Eddie and Giselle would also have to be in attendance with the Lyons. Not a sign for both parties, IMO.

And speaking of Hakeem and Tiana, we finally see what went down when Blake Sterling’s (Chet Hanks) father, Jackson, ambushed Hakeem, Tiana, and Blake with a shotgun. Blake was able to wrestle the gun from Jackson, but it accidentally fired and hit Hakeem in the upper torso. Two years later, Hakeem is still alive, but with a damaged lung. He can’t rap anymore, so Tiana decides to build their family together, even if it means leaving the limelight for a while. Bella is a little kid now, and Tiana gave birth to Hakeem’s son, Prince. Tiana tells Hakeem about the MVP Awards, and how she wants to perform their song together. Hakeem hesitates but ultimately agrees to go back and use a backing track.

Taking back Empire

Cookie meets with Andre to get the information they’ll use against Eddie during the night of the awards ceremony. As she leaves the penitentiary, she spots a woman singing and throwing out some verses in her car.

At the awards ceremony, Cookie and Lucious arrive in style. At the same time, Eddie, Giselle, and Becky are present with the paparazzi. There are a few exchanges of fierce looks from the Lyons, much to Eddie’s horror. Security personnel swarms the Barkers, but the Lyons don’t care. Since when did security stop them from wreaking havoc? The night is made more colorful with a diva spat between Cookie and Giselle, and the Lyons finally cornering Eddie. They tell him about how he wiped out some Empire accounts and transferred it to an account overseas. There’s only one way out for Eddie, and that’s to announce that he’s ceding Empire to the Lyons publicly. If not, it’s jail time.

Chuck Hodes/FOX

Hakeem and Tiana perform “Ibiza,” but Hakeem’s lungs give up halfway through the song. The audience also notices that he’s using a backing track, so Blake takes over.

Later, Eddie drinks himself in shame in his office (which used to be Lucious’) and tells Giselle that they lost Empire. When asked for an explanation, he offers none and proceeds to grope Giselle. They struggle, and Eddie falls over and hits his head, ultimately killing him. Giselle refuses to call 911. With Eddie dead, the Lyons’ leverage is useless.

Chuck Hodes/FOX

The next day, Cookie and Lucious try to blame each other but is cut short by Jamal’s arrival. He also introduces his new boyfriend, Kai (Sense8’s Toby Onwumere).

Rising from the rubble

After Hakeem’s failed performance, he tells Tiana that he needs to take some time off to rebuild himself. Cookie and Lucious, on the other hand, try to think of ways they can start over, which reminds Cookie of the woman she saw outside the prison spitting out some verses.

The next day, during Cookie’s visit to Andre (asking him for help in finding freestyle woman), fate works to her advantage. The woman, named Treasure (Katlynn Simone) passes by, so Cookie introduces herself. “I’m going to change your life,” she says.

Meanwhile, a “grieving” Giselle rides in Kelly Patel’s (Pej Vahdet) limo where she finally gets the interim CEO title. On her way back home, she dumps Eddie’s ashes into a sewer and smiles in victory.

That night, Treasure arrives at the Lyon mansion to show off her skills. Her “manager” tags along, but Lucious gets rid of his annoying ass. Treasure sings her song, titled “So Cold,” and blows Cookie and Lucious away. In Jamal’s flat, Hakeem holes himself up and points a gun at Kai when he arrives with Jamal. Seeing how broken his little brother is, Jamal leans in to embrace him.

Chuck Hodes/FOX

Jamal and Hakeem listen to Treasure’s track the following day, and they both agree that Treasure has some serious potential. Cookie then announces that they’re starting a new family label, and they toast to it. “To the Lyons,” Lucious says. “May we rise.”

The episode ends with Lucious standing over the coffin, back to the present day. “I’m sorry,” he says, and leaves.

‘Empire: Steal From the Thief’ Season 5 Premiere Overall Verdict

Empire never runs out of shocking surprises and crazy turns. The season 5 premiere achieves just that, and more. Although, it’s a bit funny how Eddie died right off the bat. I was expecting him to stay in the show for quite some time, kind of like the main man for another Lyons vs. DuBois situation, but no. The showrunners decided to kill him off and introduce Giselle as the new big bad. To be honest, I feel like she has a weak character, but it’s too early to tell. Who knows, she might turn out to be more ruthless than Diana DuBois and more cunning than Eddie.

Empire‘s strong return makes for another hot season, and “Steal From the Thief” makes this comeback truly ferocious and full of grit and power. The biggest question remains—who the hell is in that coffin? Did Lucious have anything to do with it? Is it one of the Lyons?

Empire continues next Wednesday, October 3rd, with “Pay For Their Presumptions” at 8/9c on FOX.