Empire
Without a Country
TV Flash files “Without a Country” as hour 14 of 102 in the TV Flash guide — Empire (2015–2020) on Fox, season 2, episode 2, aired 2015-09-30, 60 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S02E02: listed hour 14 of 102 in the Empire guide, hour 2 of 18 in season 2. It aired 2015-09-30 (60 min). The listed hour before it is “The Devils Are Here” (S02E01). Next is “Fires of Heaven” (S02E03).
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
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 (guest star Becky G), proving that he can be more than just an artist. Meanwhile, Lucious, feeling extra pressure from a bloodthirsty prosecutor, hires a new lawyer (guest star Andre Royo) 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.
Viewer FAQ
Where does Without a Country sit in the Empire guide?
S02E02 is listed hour 14 of 102 — hour 2 of 18 in season 2, season 2 episode 2.
When did Empire S02E02 air?
Without a Country aired 2015-09-30 and is listed at 60 minutes.
Do I watch for the plot or the songs?
Both: songs are plot, soundtrack strategy hit the charts on purpose. Dynasty soap with a trap beat, not a jukebox parked next to the story.
In the series
Why this series still plays
Lee Daniels and Danny Strong built a hip-hop dynasty soap that actually moved the ratings needle: Lucious's crown fight, Cookie Lyon's entrance as event television, songs that were plot not wallpaper. Mid-decade appointment heat — boardroom knives, chart synergy, and Taraji P. Henson eating scenery like a meal.
January **2015** was not a soft launch. Lee Daniels and Danny Strong's Fox drama premiered to massive live-ratings growth: Terrence Howard's Lucious, a hip-hop mogul's family warring over succession when illness forces a crown fight, and Taraji P. Henson's Cookie as event television in a coat that ate the overnight. Songs are plot, not wallpaper. Soundtrack strategy made chart impact part of the show's identity. Rex will tell you appointment TV died with the three-network living room. *Empire* was mid-decade…
Filed against
- Terrence Howard as Lucious Lyon
Terrence Howard crowned Empire as Lucious Lyon — hip-hop dynasty soap that actually moved the ratings needle, a crown fight, songs as plot, boardroom knives and chart synergy. Mid-decade appointment heat. TV Flash files him as 2010s…
- Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon
Taraji P. Henson entered Empire as Cookie Lyon — hip-hop dynasty soap as event television, a crown fight with songs that were plot not wallpaper, mid-decade appointment heat. Lee Daniels and Danny Strong's boardroom knives. TV Flash files…
- Jussie Smollett as Jamal Lyon
Jussie Smollett’s Jamal Lyon gave Empire a singer in the crown fight — Lee Daniels and Danny Strong’s hip-hop dynasty soap that actually moved the ratings needle, Cookie’s entrance as event television, songs as plot not wallpaper.…
- Trai Byers as Andre Lyon
Trai Byers’s Andre Lyon fought for the crown on Empire — Lee Daniels and Danny Strong’s hip-hop dynasty soap that actually moved the ratings needle. Lucious’s succession war, Cookie’s entrance as event television, songs that were plot not…
- Bryshere Y. Gray as Hakeem Lyon
Bryshere Y. Gray played Hakeem Lyon on Empire — the son in a hip-hop dynasty soap that actually moved the ratings needle. Lucious's crown fight, Cookie as event television, songs that were plot not wallpaper. TV Flash files him as 2010s…