Well the season two finale of Fox’s hit series Empire has answered many questions, but it also brought up even more.

For starters, Jamal Lyon (Jussie Smollett) does not die after nearly being fatally shot by Empire artist Freda Gatz (Bre-Z). (She turned the gun on him after she found out that Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard) killed her father earlier in the season). But he is definitely not the same Jamal that we all know and love. He is incredibly gloomy and somber as he tells his family he refuses to sing anymore until they end their vicious cycle of “death and incarceration.” He even refuses to sing at Hakeem and Laura’s upcoming wedding after both of them along with the entire family say they couldn’t see the two lovebirds getting married any other way than Jamal being a part of it. Still, he said he wants no parts in it.

Meanwhile, Anika Calhoun (Grace Gealey) doesn’t waste time in telling Lucious and Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) that the feds questioned her about Lucious as they continue to investigate his criminal past and try to prove that he has murdered several people. Anika makes it clear she doesn’t want to testify against her ex-fiance, so Lucious and Cookie agree to help her. They are also being extra nice considering she’s pregnant with Hakeem (Bryshere Gray)’s child.

But as if right on cue, Rhonda (Kaitlyn Doubleday) comes storming in and punches Anika and reveals she knows Anika is the one who pushed her down the stairs when Rhonda was pregnant with the heir to the Lyon throne. Anika completely denies it and shockingly enough everyone believes her— even Andre (Trai Byers). Which of course makes Rhonda pretty livid.

Cookie and Lucious’ past continues to haunt them as they are forced to invite a pretty dangerous man, Shyne, to their wedding; which does not make Laura’s father happy as Shyne’s reputation is an ugly but well-known one.

As for Lucious, he is Team Jamal after Jamal jumped in front of Freda’s gunshot that was meant for Lucious. So he goes to see Freda in jail and convinces her through his trickery that he wasn’t the one who killed her father. He then encourages her to make new music to help out Jamal, and she does. Of course it works because Jamal absolutely loves Freda. So he begins to work on beautiful music for Hakeem and Laura’s wedding.

But that’s where the real drama begins. Anika tries to take her own life to avoid having to testify against Lucious. And Cookie is the one who reminds her that she is one of them now and she has nothing to worry about. So Anika listens and backs away from the ledge.

Once the wedding day arrives, one of the “caterers” brings in a summons for court just before Laura walks down the aisle. This was her breaking point as she breaks down and refuses to live a life like this any longer. So she calls off the wedding, leaving Hakeem heartbroken. But the Lyons take that opportunity to have Anika and Terrence tie the knot so she won’t have to testify against him. Meanwhile, Lucious’ mother (who never told reporters that she is still alive thanks to Thirsty), drops another bomb that the FBI agent investigating Lucious Tyriq (who grew up with Luciuos and Cookie) is his half brother and they have the same father who was also a cop back in the day. Lucious refuses to believe that any of his family is still alive and tells Andre “get my wife.” (Interestingly enough, Byers and Gealey tied the knot in real life last month)

But Andre is distracted by another occurrence and his shock leaves him stiff and speechless. The camera pans over to Anika and Rhonda fighting on a balcony as Anika finally admits that she did push Rhonda down the stairs. Andre breaks his silence and tries to break up the fight but it was too late as one of the ladies fall over the edge. It’s not clear who, so of course fans will have to wait until season three to find out.

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Empire Show, Fox, Television