Empire: Cast of “Be True”

Can you believe we are up to Episode 5 (10/21/2015) of Empire Season 2 already? After “Poor Yorick,” the title “Be True” had a Hamlet connotation, too, in a Polonius kind of way — to thine ownself etc.

Tiffany Addison and Kiah Campbell played the two hood rats who jacked Tiana’s bag. She’s lucky she didn’t get sliced with that razor one of them had in her mouth. Well, now Tiana will “just say no” to taking flicks with fans and will get an undeserved reputation as snobby, cold and mean. This incident and a subsequent video sent showing fools in Halloween masks with Tiana’s bag also gave Cookie the opportunity to dramatically intone: “We been marked” and assured everyone to trust and believe that she would take care of it.

Adam Rodriguez made his first appearance as Laz Delgado, a promoter who did not bounce when he found out about Tiana. In fact, Laz brought it up first in the conversation though she could have told him earlier. But still, that made us paranoid that he set it up so he could come along and play hero. “The wolves are gonna come, Cookie,” he said, “and when they do, no promoters are gonna touch you but me.” At this point, Porsha came in with Whoopty-Woo, the baddest bitch in town. Whoopty-Woo whined when Cookie just didn’t have the heart… she told Porsha it was okay but “probationary.”

See Gabourey Sidibe’s recap of “Be True” here.

Charles Malik Whitfield played the Rev. L.C. Price, who had Andre confessing his sins all over town until Cookie refused to listen and told him he better keep his mouth shut.

More Notes:

• Chase One’s motto “a mouth is a mouth,” didn’t go over very big with Jamal. Michael, on the other hand… but where have we heard that before? Oh, yeah, on Ray Donovan. It was some grandfatherly advice from Mickey to Conor. In fact, it was the title of Episode 2 in Season 1. Whatever, that is probably the last we will see of Adam Busch in that role. Becky punched him on his way out.
• Ne-Yo guest starred as himself and sided with Jamal over bringing Michael on the road with him. He totes agreed that Lucious was not the one to take relationship advice from.
• Thirsty first tried to get Andre to help jack Cookie’s tracks, but Andre wasn’t having it. He wanted to give Thirsty a clear message that he disapproved of his activities and he better not get too big for his britches. Thirsty wanted to give Andre a more subtle message — don’t forget that I know who really killed Vernon, m’boy. Then Thirsty sent two goons over to steal the masters, but Laz was still there with a gun so they were not successful. And that gave Cookie the opportunity to observe approvingly: “You packing?”
• It meant a lot to Andre for Lucious to show up at his baptism and Andre’s confession that he tried to kill himself must have been what made Lucious change his mind and go. But watching Andre be dunked in the water brought back painful flashbacks of his mother punishing him for cussing by repeatedly pushing his head underwater in a bathtub. Poor Lucious! He was a severely abused child. But he really should let his kids in on why some things are too much for him because as it is and has been, they are assuming it’s them.
• Lucious did sign Freda Gatz after all and she has calmed down enough to take his advice
• Hakeem almost lost his new artist, Laura, by pushing up on her at a party. Laura walked out after declaring that she is not “that kind of girl,” while two other girls wondered if she meant them. Hakeem found her and swore to behave himself. But does she know he wants her to be the lead singer of Mirage a Trois? Carmen and Marisol were continuing to practice just waiting for their new lead singer.
• Hakeem was kidnapped while out for a run in the park at the end of the episode. Of course, Lucious will be suspected. Thirsty could be behind this on his own. There’s Laz. He’s suspicious till we get to know his intentions. But it is most likely Ominous Bad Ass (see below).
• Rhonda really is pregnant. Her baby bump was visible at the baptism ceremony.

The Stars of Empire:
Terrence Howard – Lucious Lyon
Taraji P. Henson – Cookie Lyon
Bryshere Y. Gray – Hakeem Lyon
Jussie Smollett – Jamal Lyon
Trai Byers – Andre Lyon

Also in this episode:
Kaitlin Doubleday – Rhonda Lyon
Gabourey Sidibe – Becky
Ta’Rhonda Jones – Porsha
Serayah – Tiana Brown
Rafael de la Fuente – Michael
Andre Royo – Thirsty Rawlings
AzMarie Livingston – Chicken
Carmen – Yani Marin
Marisol – Raquel Castro
Kelly Rowland – Leah Walker
Shannon Brown – Little Dwight Walker
Jake Tapper – Himself
Victor Almanzar – Big Heavy
Veronica Bruce – Photographer
Tyrone Ward – Goon #1
Patrick Deal – Goon #2
Cheyenne Herezi – Ominous Bad Ass