The Best Episodes of Empire
Every episode of Empire ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Empire!
A powerful family drama about the head of a music empire whose three sons and ex-wife all battle for his throne.
Top Episode Ratings Summary
The best episode of "Empire" is "Et Tu, Brute", rated 8.7/10 from 549 user votes. It was directed by N/A and written by N/A. "Et Tu, Brute" aired on 12/2/2015 and is rated 0.0 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Rise by Sin".
8.7/10 549 votes#1 - Et Tu, Brute
Season 2 Episode 10 - Aired 12/2/2015
Lucious makes a reckless play for the streaming service that he believes will make him the most powerful man in music, only to learn that the entire business strategy was part of a scheme that might bring Hakeem’s ex, Camilla, back into the picture. Meanwhile, Cookie decides to plan a concert at the prison where she spent 17 years locked away from her family and a tragic “accident” leaves Rhonda in a scary state.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.7/10 413 votes#2 - Rise by Sin
Season 2 Episode 17 - Aired 5/4/2016
Hakeem feels the pressure of his underwhelming fiancé, Laura, as he struggles to find a place for her both in his family and his career. Cookie finally reveals to Jamal the truth behind what happened to Freda's father, prompting Jamal to warn Freda of his family's ulterior motives. Meanwhile, despite his frustration with the family, Jamal makes a sacrifice for Lucious from which it will be hard to recover.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.6/10 798 votes#3 - The Lyon's Roar
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 2/25/2015
It’s time for the Lyon family to come together and record a legacy album with Lucious, Hakeem and Jamal. Cookie and Camilla finally come face-to-face, Andre struggles with some inner demons and Jamal steps into the spotlight with news that surprises everyone.
Director: Danny Strong
Writer: Danny Strong
8.6/10 799 votes#4 - Unto the Breach
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 3/4/2015
It's an all-out war when Cookie uncovers Anika's big backstabbing secret, and Lucious must come face-to-face with his longtime rival, Billy Beretti. As the Lyon family rallies to save Empire Entertainment, all three sons take drastic measures: Jamal gets close with famous artist Delphine, Hakeem works hand-in-hand with Cookie and Andre is pushed way beyond his limits.
Director: Anthony Hemingway
Writer: David Rambo
8.5/10 787 votes#5 - Our Dancing Days
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 2/18/2015
Tension mounts between Hakeem and Jamal, as Lucious attempts to brand Empire Entertainment as a tight-knit, “family-run” company. Meanwhile, Cookie and Anika don’t hold anything back when it comes to taking over the company.
Director: Sanaa Hamri
Writer: Attica Locke
8.4/10 242 votes#6 - Cupid Painted Blind
Season 4 Episode 8 - Aired 12/6/2017
Cookie and Lucious take matters into their own hands as they watch Diana DuBois' master scheme unfold. Meanwhile, Andre begins to spiral out of control, wondering what she could have in store for him. Also, Jamal's sobriety is put to the test and Shine gives Hakeem advice on how to maintain a balance between his work and personal life.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.3/10 763 votes#7 - Dangerous Bonds
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 2/4/2015
Cookie receives an anonymous gift from an admirer that she believes might be a veiled threat from a person from her prison past. Meanwhile, Lucious takes charge of Hakeem's first video shoot.
Director: John Singleton
Writer: Malcolm Spellman
8.3/10 679 votes#8 - Who I Am
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 3/18/2015
Hakeem decides to flirt with the enemy, while trying to figure out what the best move is for his career. Meanwhile, Cookie is cooking up a plan of her own.
Director: Debbie Allen
Writer: Danny Strong, Ilene Chaiken
8.3/10 409 votes#9 - My Bad Parts
Season 2 Episode 8 - Aired 11/18/2015
Lucious, eager to assert his power, releases a rap by Freda challenging Hakeem as his heir. Not to be outdone in Lucious' eyes, Hakeem fires back at Freda with a rap battle challenge that could put Lyon Dynasty's future in danger. Meanwhile, Cookie gets a special visit from her spitfire sister, Candace, Jamal is working on landing a major sponsorship deal and Anika receives some life changing news
Director: N/A
Writer: Malcolm Spellman
8.3/10 343 votes#10 - The Lyon Who Cried Wolf
Season 2 Episode 16 - Aired 5/4/2016
A wrench is thrown into Lucious’ deeply personal music video about his mother, when Andre discovers a dark secret. Meanwhile, Hakeem and Jamal are compromised after tempting themselves with new or rekindling, but secretive affairs. Then, Rhonda starts to suspect who her attacker was.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.2/10 623 votes#11 - Sins of the Father
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 3/11/2015
Andre forms a new musical relationship with Michelle, and a woman from Lucious' past, Angie, comes into the picture. Meanwhile, Lucious invites the whole family over to his home. However, everyone arrives with their own agendas. Hakeem, under the influence of Camilla, sets out to show his father that he's a true artist and a good businessman. Then, Cookie prepares to state her own agenda for Empire and for her family, when Olivia arrives.
Director: Rob Hardy
Writer: Eddie Gonzalez, Jeremy Haft
8.1/10 717 votes#12 - Out, Damned Spot
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 2/11/2015
Vernon is caught in the middle of a very sticky situation. Meanwhile, Jamal is rising to stardom, but his newfound drive and ambition might stir up trouble in his relationships. To make matters worse, a mystery woman (guest star Raven Symone) from the family's past shows up with a huge surprise.
Director: Michael Engler
Writer: Eric Haywood
8.1/10 623 votes#13 - Die But Once
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 3/18/2015
Jamal and Lucious are on their way to forming a music-centered relationship, but once again, Lucious has a secret that's about to change everything.
Director: Mario Van Peebles
Writer: Ilene Chaiken
8.1/10 393 votes#14 - Sinned Against
Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 11/25/2015
Cookie and her sister, Candace, team up with a former prison mate to rescue their sister, Carol. Back at Empire, Jamal and critically acclaimed pop star Skye Summers begin collaborating and soon share a deep connection. Meanwhile, Laz has truly fallen for Cookie, but things get complicated when she finds out the truth about him.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.0/10 447 votes#15 - Poor Yorick
Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 10/14/2015
The Lyons are still split into warring factions, but they all decide to shoot a music video that will capitalize on Hakeem and Jamal's duet from Hakeem's leaked album, a collaboration that will benefit both companies. Meanwhile, Lucious trades his real handcuffs for virtual ones. However, knowing he can't fully control his company with a federal murder case hanging over his head, he sets out to find Vernon and make him permanently disappear.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.0/10 366 votes#16 - Death Will Have His Day
Season 2 Episode 11 - Aired 3/30/2016
After losing the company he built, Lucious announces he will stop at nothing to regain his power, but Cookie has her own way of handling things. Meanwhile, Rhonda, Andre and the rest of the Lyon family come to terms with a horrific, life-changing tragedy that changes their lives as they know it.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.0/10 179 votes#17 - A Lean and Hungry Look
Season 4 Episode 15 - Aired 5/2/2018
As Eddie fights for his place at Empire Entertainment and gets the board on his side, Lucious and Shine must find a permanent solution to keep him out. Meanwhile, Cookie is desperate to fulfill a promise to a friend before it's too late. Then, when tensions rise in Jamal and Tory's new band, Preacher Azal inspires Jamal with an idea to get everyone in sync.
Director: Bille Woodruff
Writer: Matt Pyken, Joshua Allen
7.9/10 870 votes#18 - The Outspoken King
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 1/14/2015
Lucious has to defend Empire's IPO launch after one of his artists is involved in a shooting; Cookie hears about Lucious' plans for a huge performance for Hakeem, but not Jamal; Bunkie's murder is investigated.
Director: Lee Daniels
Writer: Danny Strong, Ilene Chaiken
7.9/10 767 votes#19 - The Devil Quotes Scripture
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 1/21/2015
The Lyons head to Philadelphia and get a taste of what their life could have been if Lucious hadn't made it big. Lucious promotes Hakeem's new relationship with hip-hop star Tianna, but tensions rise when another woman tries to catch Hakeem's eye.
Director: Sanaa Hamri
Writer: Ilene Chaiken, Joshua Allen
7.9/10 710 votes#20 - False Imposition
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 1/28/2015
Lucious attempts to steal a super-hot, chart-topping artist from his rival at Safe House Records. Meanwhile, Jamal struggles to compose original music and Cookie tries to forge a relationship with her estranged son, Hakeem.
Director: Rosemary Rodriguez
Writer: Wendy Calhoun
7.9/10 679 votes#21 - The Devils Are Here
Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 9/23/2015
Still in federal lockup, Lucious is trying to run Empire from inside, while a headline-grabbing state prosecutor hangs her political ambitions on bringing him down - no matter what it takes. Meanwhile, Cookie stages a star-studded #FreeLucious concert in his support, while scheming with Andre, Hakeem, Anika and the business savvy Mimi Whiteman to finalize the hostile takeover of Empire.
Director: Lee Daniels
Writer: N/A
7.9/10 507 votes#22 - Without a Country
Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 9/30/2015
Cookie and her cohorts decide to start their own small record label, but it’s off to a bumpy start as everyone has different visions for the new label. As his first project for the new company, Hakeem decides to form a girl group and woos a hot Latina lead singer, proving that he can be more than just an artist. Meanwhile, Lucious, feeling extra pressure from a bloodthirsty prosecutor, hires a new lawyer and records an epic track from inside jail. In Lucious’ absence, Jamal neglects his music and makes business moves that further his journey toward becoming every bit as ruthless as his father.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.9/10 452 votes#23 - Fires of Heaven
Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 10/7/2015
Anika secretly work together behind Lucious’ back to pull off a surprise performance that catches the eye of Pitbull. Meanwhile, Lucious tracks down Frank Gathers’ daughter, Young Ma, to try to convince her to sign with him at Empire, while Hakeem is hard at work on his girl group, Ménage a Trois. Also, Andre and Rhonda hope their baby-on-the-way will be the key that unlocks Lucious’ cold heart and opens the door for Andre to return to the Empire fold.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.9/10 353 votes#24 - A Rose by Any Other Name
Season 2 Episode 12 - Aired 4/6/2016
With Hakeem acting as Empire’s CEO, Camilla sinks her claws further and further into him. The rest of the Lyon family tries to get him to rejoin their side, but Hakeem has his own plan. Meanwhile, Jamal receives backlash from his fans and Andre and Rhonda’s marriage is tested.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.9/10 322 votes#25 - The Tameness of a Wolf
Season 2 Episode 13 - Aired 4/13/2016
Tensions between Lucious and his sons continue to rise. Back at Lyon Dynasty, Lucious aims to direct his most emotional and honest music video yet and recreates a traumatic interaction with his mother for the new single. Meanwhile, on the Mirage a Trois tour, Tiana and Laura begin viciously fighting over the spotlight, forcing Hakeem to mediate between the two divas.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A