Ep 2. Without A Country

Jamal has taken over as CEO of Empire, but the company's success is short-lived as the Lyon family faces new challenges. Without A Country shows the family struggling to keep the company afloat after all of the assets are frozen due to Lucious and Anika's actions in the previous episode.

Jamal, who is still dealing with the trauma from being shot by Freda Gatz, is determined to save the company from going under. He asks his mother Cookie for help in finding a new home for Empire Records. Cookie, however, is preoccupied with her own problems after struggling to adapt to life outside of prison.

Meanwhile, Hakeem is still reeling from his public humiliation at the hands of his ex-girlfriend Tiana, who dissed him on stage during his performance. He tries to get back at Tiana by dating other women, but they all seem to be using him for his fame and fortune.

Andre, who has always been the most ambitious of the Lyon brothers, is determined to prove himself as a capable executive. The only problem is that Lucious and Cookie don't trust him to handle the company's affairs on his own. In an effort to prove his worth, Andre uncovers a secret about the company that could potentially save Empire from going under.

Lucious, who is still in jail awaiting trial for murder, is trying to defend himself in court. He is visited by his lawyer Thirsty Rawlings, who informs him that there is a witness who could help clear his name. Lucious' only problem is that the witness is locked up in a psychiatric facility and doesn't seem to remember anything about the night of the murder.

As the episode progresses, tensions between the Lyon brothers continue to escalate. Hakeem blames Jamal for the current state of the company, while Andre is suspicious of both of his brothers' motives. Cookie, who is caught in the middle, tries her best to keep the family together.

Without A Country ends with a major cliffhanger that will keep fans on the edge of their seats. As the family gathers to figure out their next move, a surprise guest makes a shocking entrance that could change the course of the season.

Overall, this episode showcases the strengths and weaknesses of each member of the Lyon family. It also delves deeper into the complex relationships and power dynamics that exist within the family and the music industry as a whole.