‘Empire’ Season 5, Episode 2 ‘Pay For Their Presumptions’ Recap: The Lyons Fight Back

After last week’s powerful season premiere, things are back on track, and we’re ready to get flooded with good music and punch-in-the-gut drama. Empire continues to hit us with impressive acting and tease an ominous future ahead. This week’s episode, titled “Pay For Their Presumptions,” takes the Lyon family fight against the new breed of Empire head honchos to another level.

Lucious (Terrence Howard) and Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) Lyon try to rebuild their family name into another force that could stand against what’s left of Empire. When their new and first artist, Treasure (Kaitlynn Simone), fails to make it through a second single recording, things go haywire—leading the interim CEO of Empire, Giselle Barker (Nicole Ari Parker), to grab the opportunity of the mishap. Meanwhile, the Lyon brothers—Andre (Trai Byers), Jamal (Jussie Smollett), and Hakeem (Bryshere ‘Yazz’ Gray)—deal with their own issues in a not-so-victorious way.

Things are not what they seem

“Pay For Their Presumptions” opens with another tease of Lucious (in the present) crying over a casket. Becky (Gabourey Sibide) is beside him, offering comfort. Fast forward to six months ago, where Treasure finally finished recording her hit single, “So Cold.” Lucious devises a plan to partner with radio stations to get them to play the track. Treasure is overwhelmed by the support, especially after Cookie tells her that they will be focusing on being her promo people.

Chuck Hodes/FOX

At Empire, Giselle prepares herself to be formally announced as the new CEO. But just when she advance celebrates with Becky, Kelly Patel (Pej Vahdat) announces Jeff Kingsley (A.Z. Kesley) instead of her. Kelly then asks Giselle to bring Jeff up to speed about running Empire, calling her a “valuable team player.”

Meanwhile, Hakeem enjoys doing drugs, flaunting his guns, and drinking his ass off at Jamal’s place with his friends. Kai (Toby Onwumere), Jamal’s new boyfriend, is bothered by Hakeem’s actions. Seeing the mess, Jamal orders them all to leave and tells Hakeem to wash up as they’re going to visit Andre at the Prison. Andre, on the other hand, still has a few weeks before his release. During their TV break, he sees one of the inmates harassing a teenage inmate. He steps up to intervene, but his friends tell him not to risk it. Andre might end up not leaving the place if he does so.

Power Play

Giselle ordered a new sofa for what she thought would be her permanent office, that is until Kelly announced Kingsley. Giselle then threw out all her anger on the couch, stabbing it repeatedly as Becky gave her a bottle of wine. Giselle doesn’t have a plan yet, but one thing’s for sure—Jeff’s ass will be handed to him. Meanwhile, Lucious is doing a radio interview to premiere Treasure’s single. But instead of playing the track, the radio host went on to ask Lucious about the “rumors” spreading around that they’re broke. Lucious leaves the radio station in anger after threatening the radio host. Back home, Cookie sends out a tweet against the radio host. Lucious, on the other hand, tells Cookie to get back on the studio with Treasure for another single and promises to have Treasure’s song played in all Lincoln University radio stations.

As Cookie returns to the dingy studio, Treasure sends a text that she won’t be able to make it because she needs to go back to her job at the prison. Cookie meets Treasure near her house and tells her about how she built her life around hardships and music. Cookie sees greatness in Treasure, and it sucks that the artist can’t see that for herself.

Chuck Hodes/FOX

Meanwhile, Lucious heads over to the radio station to ask the jocks to play Treasure’s song. At first, they refuse because they have a curated playlist. But when Lucious offers to give them an exclusive interview about the meaning behind his hit song, “A Child Is Born.” The jocks agree, and its revealed during the interview that it’s about Cookie’s miscarriage. Andre isn’t their first child. The Lyon brothers were supposed to have a big sister. The jocks play “So Cold,” and it soars through the airwaves, making it a major hit.

Cookie and Lyon book a restaurant to celebrate. But instead of a good meal, they find Giselle taking over their reservation to tell them that Treasure just signed with Empire. Treasure said that Empire has the resources to make her a star. Lucious threatens to sue her, but what good is that when you’re broke? That night, Lucious gets a call from Kingsley, asking him for a lunch meeting the next day.

The Lyons arrive at a diner and Kingsley offers them a deal—head back to Empire as chairman and chairwoman emeritus. They would receive a sizable paycheck, and Lucious will be back on the Empire logo. It sounds sweet, but it’s obviously a ploy for something more.

The Lyon Brothers

Jamal and Hakeem visit Andre at the prison. Jamal wanted to tell them to get behind whatever Lucious and Cookie plan for their family as he’s leaving for London soon. Instead of an affirmative, Hakeem disses Andre about killing Anika (Grace Byers). Andre, on the other hand, tries to go after Hakeem’s miserable state and how he goes around waving his guns out. Hakeem then walks out.

Chuck Hodes/FOX

Back at Empire, Becky sets up a meeting with Tiana (Serayah McNeill) and Kingsley. The new Empire CEO gives Tiana a chance to get back to the studio and make things more comfortable for her and her two kids Bella and Prince. Kingsley speaks genuinely about loving the music and the artist, but there’s just something that doesn’t sit right with it. Later, Hakeem arrives drunk with his gun hanging beside him. He causes a scene, and Tiana tells him to leave. Hakeem returns to Jamal’s flat, and Cookie and Lucious convince him to live with them for a couple of days until he gets back up again.

Jamal tells Kai that he has to stay in New York for a couple of months to help his family get back up again. Kai is hesitant, but Jamal offers him to stay with him and accept a job from his journalist friends. The next day, Becky helps Jamal and Kai connect with a few journalist friends so Kai can see his options. During lunch, Jamal gets this jealousy vibe with one of the journalists, named Bryson. They’re offering Kai a chance to work for the New York Herald for a child trafficking case. Kai accepts the offer, especially after Bryson asks him to do it for old times’ sake. Jamal voices out his jealousy, but Kai has none of it. “Do not let your past seep into our present, my man,” Kai says as he walks away.

Chuck Hodes/FOX

Back at the prison, the inmate harrases the teenager again. This time, Andre steps in and offers him the contents of his locker when he gets out. The inmate gives a counter offer of taking them instead. This pisses Andre off, and they engage in a staredown as the guards break them up. Later, Andre whispers a plan to one of his boys. Andre then straps himself with magazines and duct tape as a protection. Another TV break comes, and the inmate tries to harass the boy again. This time, Andre steps in and engages in a brawl with the inmate’s goons. The police break them up, and Andre is taken away. But as they do so, he smiles.

A Smart Move

The Lyon family (sans Andre) is reunited at the Lyon mansion. That’s when Cookie announces that they’re taking Kingsley’s offer. Jamal scoffs at the idea, but there’s nothing that they could do about it when Cookie decides. She also tells them that they’re all attending a welcome party at Empire.

Chuck Hodes/FOX

That night, The Lyons arrive at a new Empire environment. Lucious’ old chair is also in a glass case, like some kind of a relic. Cookie and Lucious are a bit dismayed at what Empire has become since the tech nerds took over. Kingsley tries to cheer Lucious up and proceeds to rant about the “entitled artists” of Empire. Lucious, though, begs to differ. It’s the artists that keep Empire alive. Sensing Lucious’ unimpressed demeanor, Kingsley tells him to happily accept the chairman emeritus seat or else he will reveal to the public and the press that the Lyons are broke.

When Kingsley introduces Lucious on stage, he turns the tables on Kingsley. He reveals that they are indeed broke, but are getting back up to start a new label. Lucious also goes on a tirade about what Kingsley thinks of the Empire artists, much to the people’s dismay. Lucious then asks any of them who wants to start fresh with a new label to value their talent to join them as he walks out.

Chuck Hodes/FOX

The episode ends with Lucious in the present day. The casket is carried out of the chapel, and Thirsty (Andre Royo) asks if he’s riding alone. The then feds arrive to talk to Lucious.

‘Empire: Pay For Their Presumptions’ Overall Verdict

“Pay For Their Presumptions” is a classic Empire episode that successfully sets up where season 5 is going. I like the way each narrative is fleshed out, and the writing is spot on regarding dialogue and structure. The relationship between the Lyon brothers seem to grow weaker and stronger at the same time, and it’s never tiring to see them go on a rollercoaster ride. Lucious and Cookie, however, appear to have weak character development. But then again, it’s too early to tell if it’s going to be this way from here on. For all we know, it might just be Cookie who’s inside that casket. I hope not.

Empire continues next Wednesday, October 10th, with “Pride” at 8/7c on FOX. Watch the preview below: