Empire Season 5 Episode 5 Review: The Depth of Grief

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What an emotionally charged hour. 

One moment it seemed like Jamal was getting the call confirming Kai's body had been recovered after going missing. 

The next, we're in the hospital, Kai is safe, and Cookie has a face like thunder. Nothing good was going to come from Kai allowing Cookie in the room while the doctor opened up about his condition. 

A Mother and Son - Empire Season 5 Episode 5

Empire Season 5 Episode 5 was an educational hour that shed a lot of light on HIV, and I could not be more proud of the way the show handled it. 

Cookie got blindsided when she heard about it. But as the episode progressed, it became clear that Cookie's views on the matter were based on her experience with women in prison who were suffering from AIDS. 

Cookie: There's nothing we can do.
Lucious: Who am I talking do to? Is this Lucious or is this Dwight?

It's only natural for a mother to worry about her son, and Lucious has never been the most supportive father, so Cookie needed to know herself that Jamal was not putting himself at risk. 

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I had to roll my eyes when she took Kai away from the performance. I couldn't help but think it was selfish because it was the song Jamal wrote for the love of his life. 

Jamal's Pain - Empire Season 5 Episode 5

But it all got too real for Cookie when started talking about her experience with it in prison, and once Kai told her that living with HIV was different to living with AIDS, she began to realize that Kai would do his best to keep her son safe. 

The biggest surprise for me during "The Depth of Grief" was that Lucious had a laid-back approach to it. He was right that he meddled in Jamal's life too much and didn't want to do the same again. 

Related: Empire Season 5 Episode 3 Review: Pride

That said, it didn't stop Lucious from checking in with his son to make sure he was in a good place. 

In all honesty, this is the best place Jamal's ever been in. Despite me thinking that Kai was working with Diana, we learned on Empire Season 5 Episode 4, that Kai saved Jamal from being attacked in London. 

Jamal's New Boyfriend - Empire Season 5 Episode 1

Their love story is far from over, and I can't begin to explain how heartwarming the proposal was. Jamal complained that he was ready to propose while Kai was missing. 

My one real hope is that Jamal is now settled with his endgame lover and that neither of the two is in the coffin in the future. 

I know it feels like you're probably not going to make it through this, but I promise you, son, you will.

Lucious

Wouldn't it be cruel to give one couple their happiness and rip it away from them at the final hurdle?

Primetime soaps survive on drama, so we definitely should not rule it out. 

While one couple was sealing their future with love, another couple's relationship got ruined by a punch. 

Oh yes, of course, I'm talking about Hakeem and Tiana!

I'm With Eddie Now! - Empire Season 4 Episode 17

I was fully prepared to hate all the relationship drama between this couple because there's been so much back and forth for them over the years. 

Here I was thinking Hakeem was selfish because Tiana managed to rebound after Blake's father opened fire on them on Empire Season 4 Episode 18

But the emotional ramifications didn't stop there. The moment Tiana complained there was an issue during her pregnancy, and the nurse refused to help, it was evident there was going to be complications. 

It was already a high-risk pregnancy, so I couldn't help but be furious that nobody seemed to be listening to the expectant mother. 

Hakeem and Tiana's lives were changed forever when it emerged that they lost one of the twins. There's a part of Hakeem that feels like he needs to carry a gun with him to protect both himself and his family. 

Related: Empire Renewed for Season 5!

While it's fair to assume he has some anger issues following him losing his ability to sing in addition to his child, he needs to find a way to channel that pain into something else. 

For the first time in a long time, it looks like Tiana is done with Hakeem. There's only so much one can take before deciding enough is enough. 

Hakeem's Betrayal - Empire Season 4 Episode 6

Hakeem lashing out with his fist at the event was the last straw. Tiana's decision to leak the track was not well thought out, so she has to take a little bit of the blame for the way things turned out. 

It was surprising how she spoke to Kingsley. That's no way to address the person who cuts your checks, but Kingsley is completely different from any of the other people who have been at the helm of the firm. 

He's got a no-nonsense attitude and cares more about his bottom line than the talent that helps bring the money in. 

The show is successful building up a whole host of people who hate him, but I doubt he's the one who winds up dead. One of the readers commented on a recent review with the possibility that Kinglsey is the child of Lucious. 

The Plea of Lucious - Empire Season 5 Episode 3

That would be a stunning twist and would build a case for Lucious being with the casket in the flashforwards. 

In any case, there's still a long way off before we get the answers we require. 

What's your take on all of this, Empire Fanatics? 

Hit the comments below. 

Remember you can watch Empire online right here via TV Fanatic. Get caught up with all the latest action right now!

Empire continues Wednesdays on Fox!

The Depth of Grief Review

Editor Rating: 4.75 / 5.0
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User Rating:

Rating: 4.7 / 5.0 (29 Votes)

Paul Dailly was an Associate Editor for TV Fanatic.Follow him on X.

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Empire Season 5 Episode 5 Quotes

The Lyon family management is going to be dead before it even starts.

Cookie

I know it feels like you're probably not going to make it through this, but I promise you, son, you will.

Lucious