Ep 1. Light in Darkness

After the explosive season 2 finale, Empire season 3 opens with the return of Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard) from a one-year stint in prison, and his attempt to regain control of his music empire, Empire Records. However, his return is met with resistance from both his family and his former business associates, who have done well without him running the show.

Meanwhile, Cookie Lyon (Taraji P. Henson), who has been running Empire Records in Lucious' absence, is dealing with her own personal and professional struggles. Her relationship with her ex-husband Lucious is still strained, and she's worried about her sons Hakeem and Jamal, whose music careers have both hit rough patches.

As the episode progresses, we see the Lyon family struggling to find their footing in a changed landscape. Andre Lyon (Trai Byers), the eldest son, seems to have taken over the family business, but is dealing with personal demons and family drama that threaten to derail both his career and his mental health.

Hakeem Lyon (Bryshere Y. Gray), the youngest son, is struggling to find his voice as an artist, as he battles with a public perception that he's more interested in partying than making music. Meanwhile, Jamal Lyon (Jussie Smollett), once hailed as the "savior of Empire," is recovering from a shooting and struggling with PTSD that threatens to derail his career.

As the episode progresses, we also see a number of new characters enter the picture, including Nessa (Sierra McClain), a talented young artist who catches Hakeem's eye, and Angelo Dubois (Taye Diggs), a politician who catches Cookie's eye.

The central conflict of the episode, however, comes from a new rival record label, Dubois Records, which is determined to steal Empire's thunder and become the biggest name in music. As Lucious and his family try to navigate this new threat, they're forced to confront their own shortcomings and insecurities, both as individuals and as a family.

Overall, Empire season 3 episode 1 offers a strong start to a new season, with compelling characters, complex relationships, and plenty of twists and turns to keep viewers hooked. As always, the show's musical performances are a highlight, and the new additions to the cast help to keep the series feeling fresh and exciting. Whether you're a longtime fan of Empire or someone who's just tuning in for the first time, this episode is worth checking out.