By Michael Slezak / November 4 2015, 6:57 PM PST

“Cowboy, just simply Take Me Away” isn’t only a winner by the Dixie Chicks, it might additionally make a truly good title that is alternate Season 2, Episode 6 of Empire.

Except, this is simply not a whole story about sleeping for a pillow of bluebonnets, in a blanket made from stars. Nope, the topics with this story have longhorn bulls crudely tattooed between their neck — and their undercover leader, Adam Rodriguez’s Laz Delgado, has not simply infiltrated Lyon Dynasty documents, but additionally Cookie Lyon’s heart.

You realize whenever our woman fundamentally understands that Laz was usually the one behind Hakeem’s abduction and brutalization, she’ll make her techniques that are usual like butterfly kisses. Oh, and she is positively, definitely planning to call him “bitch.” (The actual only real real question is just how many times she will drop the b-bomb on their lying, sorry ass.)

But until that delicious comeuppance comes, why don’t we recap the action from “A High Hope for a Low Heaven.”

HAKEEM’S BACK… OR IS HE? | Lucious and Cookie negotiate Hakeem’s release from his captors using $40,000 in cash, but the traumatized youngest Lyon takes their busted-up attention and badly damaged psyche straight to the doorway of… Boo Boo Kitty! He kisses her like he is wanting to prove their manhood, and it also actually leaves me personally wondering if he endured intimate attack during their captivity. (Am we overthinking right right here, or do you’ve got that unexpected, horrifying idea, too?) straight Back at Lyon HQ, he blames Lucious and Cookie for just what took place to him, though if they are to be blamed for the popularity which is placed a target on their straight back, should never he additionally thank them for the fame in as well as it self?

Hakeem spirals into a very nearly hallucinatory state as he rehearses for a large performance along with his Latina woman team, but behind the scenes, Lucious is negotiating with Cookie to allow their son return to the Empire label — although she actually is perhaps maybe not invited along for the trip. “You ain’t a employer, Lucious. You a busta,” she seethes — but quietly concedes he is a busta with good wine, since she exits not just along with her ex’s cup, but https://hookupdate.net/gay-dating/ additionally their entire damn container. ( Note: Lucious couldn’t try to question even the Lyon Matriarch’s employer status — maybe maybe not having an exit that way.)

At ex-cop Laz’s recommendation, Cookie creates a conference aided by the kidnappers, with all the possibility of employing them as safety information or at the least paying them down — and figures she can kill two wild birds with one rock by bringing along Hakeem to reconstruct their self- self- confidence. All of it goes laterally whenever Hakeem brings a weapon and threatens to shoot — but Cookie more or less appears you again! between him and his targets, pleading, “I’d rather die than lose”

Lucious makes yet another play for Hakeem’s heart, providing him a hot brand new track called “Boom Boom Boom Boom” — but their son immediately rejects it. “With you there’s always strings — or ropes that choke,” he huffs. In the long run, it is Jamal and Andre who rally Hakeem’s spirits, telling him they mightn’t have battled right back, either, and that their life ended up being well worth a lot more than his road cred. Group hug? Well, why don’t we phone it a huddle and note that it is nonetheless going.

DESTINY’S PROBLEM CHILD

Yep, that is Cookie’s nickname for Mirage a Trois, as she helps them get ready for their breakout minute at the big apple Jam. In the big evening, however, Hakeem freezes up during the sight of Lucious’ taunting face when you look at the market, and it is Laura whom pulls him away from a next-level vocal to his haze sung right to their face. Later on, whenever Anika turns up at Hakeem’s apartment, she discovers he is having a celebration that is“boss-level — and she is maybe not invited. Ouch!

JAMAL’S NEW BENEFACTOR | Meanwhile, Jamal’s working on a track called “Delta John to Alpha One” (aka the very best damn thing he is delivered in every of period 2) and getting frustrated that the Staples Center rejected him for a trip date because of being “too slim of an artist.” He understands it is code for “gay” and brings inside the father’s old enemy Jameson Henthrop (William Fichtner) — a gay, David Geffen mogul type — to greatly help turn their marketing fortunes around.

FRIDAIS ONLY ANOTHER TERM FOR NOTHIN’ LEFT TO GET RID OF | Andre has an epiphany (apparently supported by difficult figures) that Empire’s Ghetto lifetime unit should always be a Christian label — bad news for the musicians he is about to drop, but very good news for Becky’s illicit love J. Poppa, whom warms towards the concept such as a nun hearing Handel’s “The Messiah” at Christmas. Usually the one musician Lucious claims positively is not cut is Frida Gathers — even though she concludes an awe-inspiring performance at Leviticus by throwing the facial skin of the heckler. Lucious tracks her down, informs her he pertains to her more than their own sons (ouch, dude!) and then provides her “Boom Boom Boom Boom,” to which she adlibs with raw fury and a dose of humor. The lady is really good.

COOKIE MAY NEED ASSISTANCE WITH HER MATCH.COM PROFILE | Cookie ends the hour by showing up at Laz’s home last but not least giving directly into their available flirtation. “Make me personally forget precisely what occurred this week, Laz,” she sighs, dropping into their hands as “Boom Boom Boom Boom” not too subtly plays over their makeout session. However when guy will be taking off their hoodie, it isn’t an instance of sexy “Damn!” it’s more of an uh-oh/oh-no “Damn!” He’s got equivalent tattoo once the gang users whom kidnapped her son!

Just exactly What do you consider this week’s kingdom? Do you suspect Laz had ulterior motives? Noise down below!