Empire – Past is Prologue – Review: A Disappointing Ending

Empire’s second season has come to an end. The season finale closes some storylines, creates new ones and mixes a series of WTF moments and quite juicy plot twists. But overall, I believe it is a disappointing ending as an Empire’s season finale.

Past is Prologue focuses on the aftermath of Freda’s shooting and on the Hakeem’s wedding. Jamal survives, but decides that he needs to take some time off. He can’t stand all the craziness that surrounds him. Lucious tries to convince him of his good intentions and helps Freda to go through his trial. Hakeem’s wedding day arrives, but it doesn’t end well. After a series of WTF moments, Laura doesn’t want to marry him and his insane family and leaves. She has a point, isn’t she.

There are insane twists on Anika as well: Rhonda remembers that Anika pushed her downstairs, and after a series of catfights, she admits it! I was totally disappointed by this reveal. I always loved Empire because it is a TV show that manages to surprise you. It has always juicy storyline, crazy-good plot twists… and this one was predictable and lame. We all suspected her, she was the most insignificant reveal on Empire’s history. I think they are dealing with a character like Anika in a convoluted way: she is now pregnant and she is getting a bit close to Cookie, and now this? There is also the wedding! 

When Lucious decides to marry her, in order to protect himself from the feds, I was totally shocked. I think it’s just too random. I only loved Cookie’s sad reaction to this. She is the only one we can root for.

Then… that ending. Is Rhonda going to die? I have to say this: I will totally hate if they kill her. Anika is clearly untouchable. They killed a stillborn once, they won’t do it again, so we have to fear for Rhonda’s life. I think she has gone through a lot, and she is an interesting character, why they have to make her a martyr? I am also worried about how they could handle Andre, if he loses Rhonda. I don’t think it’s a proper storyline, even for a show as Empire.

All in all, the season finale was not boring. It was an entertaining hour of television, but this time I have to say it: I don’t like how they are handling the stories. I hope it is just a misstep that prepares us for a crazy-good new season. After this season finale, season two was clearly a mixed bag.

What do you think of Past is Prologue?

About the Author - Francesco B

Fra (aka Francesco B.) is a writer of the site. He’s a professional tv-and-cinema maniac and a keen reader. He is an italian lazy university student, he truly loved tv series like Veronica Mars, Buffy, Lost, Alias.. and he would like to become a professional journalist. One Day. Maybe.