Ep 5. One Before Another

As the third season of Empire rolls on, tensions between characters are escalating as old wounds and new problems emerge. In the fifth episode, titled "One Before Another," we dive deeper into these simmering issues as the Lyon family and their associates navigate the music industry and their complicated personal lives.

One of the most significant threads of the episode revolves around Andre (Trai Byers), who is struggling to maintain his mental health as he grapples with a bipolar disorder diagnosis. His wife, Rhonda (Kaitlin Doubleday), is pushing him to take medication to manage his symptoms, which he resists. Meanwhile, Andre's new business venture with Shine (Xzibit) is causing friction with Lucious (Terrence Howard), who feels threatened by Shine's influence over his son.

Another major storyline concerns Jamal (Jussie Smollett), whose PTSD symptoms are starting to take a toll on his ability to perform. As the pressure mounts for him to put out a new album, he turns to a surprising source for support: Freda (Bre-Z), the rapper who shot him in the Season 2 finale. Their unexpected partnership raises eyebrows, particularly from Jamal's ex-boyfriend Michael (Rafael de la Fuente), who is back in town and trying to win him back.

Meanwhile, Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) finds herself in a bind when the FBI shows up at her doorstep with a subpoena. With tensions already high between her and Lucious, this legal threat adds another layer of stress to their fraught relationship. And as they both navigate their own dramas, their children Hakeem (Bryshere Y. Gray) and Tiana (Serayah) continue to grapple with their own romantic entanglements.

As always, "One Before Another" features plenty of musical performances, including a standout scene where Jamal and Freda collaborate in the studio. But underneath the glitz and glamour of the music world, this episode explores the messy, complex relationships between each character as they try to succeed in both their personal and professional lives.

Overall, "One Before Another" is a tense, dramatic installment of Empire that leaves plenty of questions unanswered. As the season continues to unfold, viewers can expect more twists and turns as the Lyons fight to stay on top of the music industry - and their own lives.