The BEST episodes of Empire (2015) season 2

Every episode of Empire (2015) season 2, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Empire (2015) season 2!

Lucious Lyon is the king of hip-hop. An immensely talented artist, the CEO of Empire Entertainment and a former street thug, his reign has been unchallenged for years. But all that changes, when he learns he has a disease that is going to render him crippled and incapacitated in a matter of three years. The clock is ticking, and he must groom one of his three sons to take over his crowning achievement, without destroying his already fractured family.

Last Updated: 8/25/2024Network: FOXStatus: Ended
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Rise by Sin
star
8.20
1241 votes

#1 - Rise by Sin

Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired 5/11/2016

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.

Directors: Paul McCrane
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Past is Prologue
star
8.18
1301 votes

#2 - Past is Prologue

Season 2 - Episode 18 - Aired 5/18/2016

After a life-changing experience, Jamal refuses to make music until his family ends its seemingly endless cycle of violence and fighting. Meanwhile, the Feds are tailing Anika because they want to force her to testify against Lucious. In order to protect her family, Cookie organizes a meeting at Hakeem and Laura’s wedding with various people from her and Lucious’ past.

Directors: Sanaa Hamri
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Et Tu, Brute?
star
8.13
926 votes

#3 - 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.

Directors: Sanaa Hamri
Writer: Radha Blank
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Lyon Who Cried Wolf
star
8.04
1193 votes

#4 - 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.

Writer: Joshua Allen
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
A Rose by Any Other Name
star
8.03
1219 votes

#5 - 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.

Directors: Michael Engler
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Devils Are Here
star
7.99
1150 votes

#6 - The Devils Are Here

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/23/2015

Three months after the shocking arrest and incarceration of Empire Entertainment head Lucious Lyon. 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.

Directors: Lee Daniels
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Sinned Against
star
7.97
926 votes

#7 - 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.

Directors: Paul McCrane
Writer: Eric Haywood
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Tameness of a Wolf
star
7.96
1207 votes

#8 - 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.

Directors: Paris Barclay
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
More Than Kin
star
7.95
1235 votes

#9 - More Than Kin

Season 2 - Episode 15 - Aired 4/27/2016

With help from Andre, Lucious hosts a fundraiser, as part of his campaign to prove to the board that he should return as Empire’s CEO. Meanwhile, Hakeem must decide whether he wants to be a father to his and Anika’s child.

Directors: Sanaa Hamri
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Without a Country
star
7.93
994 votes

#10 - 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.

Directors: Dee Rees
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Fires of Heaven
star
7.92
980 votes

#11 - 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.

Directors: Craig Brewer
Writer: Attica Locke
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Time Shall Unfold
star
7.91
1216 votes

#12 - Time Shall Unfold

Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 4/20/2016

Lucious releases his new music video, as he manipulates and sabotages those around him to regain his CEO position at Empire. Meanwhile, Andre learns more about his grandmother’s mental illness in order to understand his own struggle with bipolar disorder, Anika reveals a big secret to the family and Hakeem leads the big shareholder meeting.

Directors: Cherien Dabis
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Death Will Have His Day
star
7.85
1222 votes

#13 - 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.

Directors: Danny Strong
Writer: Danny Strong
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
My Bad Parts
star
7.83
952 votes

#14 - 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

Directors: Sanaa Hamri
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Poor Yorick
star
7.82
949 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.

Directors: Danny Strong
Writer: Danny Strong
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
A High Hope For a Low Heaven
star
7.78
912 votes

#16 - A High Hope For a Low Heaven

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/4/2015

Lucious and Cookie must put aside their differences and work together as parents to protect their family and keep them out of danger. Jamal does his best to get back in the studio and break away from being defined solely as a gay artist, while Hakeem struggles with how to feel and act like a man. Meanwhile, Andre works to shut down a division at Empire, until he discovers a disciple in the midst of Lucious’ Gutter Life records.

Writer: Robert Munic
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
True Love Never
star
7.75
896 votes

#17 - True Love Never

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/11/2015

Lucious begins to strategize the ascension of Empire from record label into global music monolith, so he looks into starting a partnership with Jago, the founder of a music streaming company. Meanwhile, Andre has to twist his newfound values to achieve a delicate balance between his faith and his career, Hakeem begins to work with Laura to turn her into a star and Cookie sets her sights on having Lyon Dynasty be a part of an epic televised charity music event.

Directors: Sylvain White
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Be True
star
7.68
923 votes

#18 - Be True

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/21/2015

Over at Lyon Dynasty, Cookie and Anika work together with Laz to throw “Cookie Lyon’s Block Party,” a big event to launch their company, showcase their artists and premiere a signature Dynasty anthem written by Hakeem. Meanwhile, Jamal gets busy working on his music with Ne-Yo. Also, Hakeem begins a tender romance with the lead singer of his girl group, and Andre takes steps to rid his soul of past sins.

Directors: Kevin Bray
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV