‘Empire’ Season 5, Episode 4 Recap: ‘Love All, Trust A Few’

Some more craziness went down in this week’s episode of Empire. 

Andre Lyon (Trai Byers) is finally released from prison after two years for attempting to murder his father in Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, Kingsley (A.Z. Kelsey) has gone to see Diana DuBois (Phylicia Rashad) in jail in an effort to obtain more damaging information on the Lyons. In exchange for offering dirt on the powerful family, Diana asks Kingsley to help her secure a famous lotion rumored to be comprised of stem cells and fetal tissue.

At Lyon Family Management headquarters, Portia (Ta’Rhonda Jones) has gathered up a new team of interns and she shows Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) a video of a female rapper Portia believes would greatly help LFM grow. Cookie is not impressed, however, and calls the rapper “Cardi B-minus,” although she is intrigued by the background singer in the video, a guy named Devon. Portia and Cookie start trying to sign him to the label.

In the meantime, Jamal (Jussie Smollett) learns that Kai (Toby Onwumere) has been missing from his latest project and Becky (Gabourey Sidibe) speculates he may be in danger.

A flashback then shows part of the history between Kai and Jamal. The pair met at a bar in London. Kai helped Jamal after he realized his drink was spiked.

At the Lyons’ home, Andre sees Lucious (Terrence Howard) loading a gun and notices his father’s book, which includes a list of his previous criminal supporters. Andre confesses he wished he had engaged in some of the same types of dangerous activities Lucious did growing up, but Lucious urges his eldest son to not enter this life.

At Empire’s offices, Kingsley tells Eddie Barker’s ex-wife Giselle (Nicole Ari Parker) she is no longer needed as COO, but obviously Giselle refuses to step down. She reminds her colleague and ex-boyfriend-turned-enemy that she knows much more about the music business than he does.

Giselle warns that things between her and Kingsley must remain professional, and threatens him by saying if they don’t, “I’m going to #MeToo all over your ass,” something she says while grabbing his crotch.