By Michael Slezak / November 4 2015, 6:57 PM PST

“Cowboy, just simply Take Me Away” isn’t only a winner by the Dixie Chicks, it could additionally make a truly good alternative name for Season 2, Episode 6 of Empire.

Except, this is simply not tale about resting for a pillow of bluebonnets, in a blanket made from stars. Nope, the topics with this story have actually longhorn bulls crudely tattooed between their neck — and their leader that is undercover Rodriguez’s Laz Delgado, has not simply infiltrated Lyon Dynasty documents, but additionally Cookie Lyon’s heart.

You realize whenever our woman ultimately figures out that Laz was the only behind Hakeem’s abduction and brutalization, she’ll make her techniques that are usual like butterfly kisses. Oh, and she actually is definitely, favorably likely to call him “bitch.” (really the only real question is exactly how many times she will drop the b-bomb on his lying, sorry ass.)

But until that delicious comeuppance comes, let us recap the action from “A High Hope for a Low Heaven.”

HAKEEM’S BACK… OR IS HE? | Lucious and Cookie negotiate Hakeem’s release from his captors using $40,000 in cash, but the traumatized youngest Lyon takes their busted-up attention and badly damaged psyche straight to the doorway of… Boo Boo Kitty! He kisses her like he is wanting to show their manhood, also it makes me personally wondering if he endured intimate assault during their captivity. (Am we overthinking right right right here, or did you have got that unexpected, horrifying idea, too?) right right Back at Lyon HQ, he blames Lucious and Cookie for just what occurred to him, though if they’re to be blamed for the popularity which is placed a target on their straight straight back, should never he additionally thank them for the popularity in as well as it self?

Hakeem spirals into a nearly hallucinatory state as he rehearses for a large performance together with Latina woman team, but behind the scenes, Lucious is negotiating with Cookie to allow their son get back to the Empire label — although she is maybe perhaps perhaps not invited along for the trip. “You ain’t a employer, Lucious. You a busta,since she exits not only with her ex’s glass, but also his whole damn bottle” she seethes — but silently concedes he’s a busta with good wine. ( Note: Lucious could not also you will need to concern the Lyon Matriarch’s employer status — not having an exit that way.)

At ex-cop Laz’s suggestion, Cookie creates a gathering utilizing the kidnappers, because of the possibility of employing them as protection detail or at the least paying them down — and figures she can kill two wild wild birds Lavalife with one stone by bringing along Hakeem to reconstruct their self- self- confidence. All of it goes laterally whenever Hakeem brings a weapon and threatens to shoot — but Cookie more or less stands you again! between him and his targets, pleading, “I’d rather die than lose”

Lucious makes yet another play for Hakeem’s heart, providing him a hot brand new track called “Boom Boom Boom Boom” — but their son quickly rejects it. “With you there is always strings — or ropes that choke,” he huffs. In the long run, it is Jamal and Andre who rally Hakeem’s spirits, telling him they mightn’t back have fought, either, and therefore their life ended up being well well worth much more than his road cred. Group hug? Well, let us phone it a note and huddle that it is nonetheless going.

DESTINY’S PROBLEM CHILD

Yep, which is Cookie’s nickname for Mirage a Trois, as she helps them get ready for their breakout minute at the big apple Jam. In the big night, though, Hakeem freezes up in the sight of Lucious’ taunting face in the market, and it’s really Laura whom pulls him away from their haze by having a next-level vocal sung right to their face. Later on, whenever Anika turns up at Hakeem’s apartment, she discovers he is having a celebration that is“boss-level — and she’s maybe perhaps not invited. Ouch!

JAMAL’S brand brand NEW BENEFACTOR | Meanwhile, Jamal’s working on a track called “Delta John to Alpha One” (aka the most effective damn thing he is delivered in every of period 2) and getting frustrated that the Staples Center rejected him for a trip date because of being “too slim of an artist.” He understands it is rule for “gay” and brings in his daddy’s old enemy Jameson Henthrop (William Fichtner) — a gay, David Geffen mogul type — to simply help turn their marketing fortunes around.

FRIDAIS ONLY ANOTHER TERM FOR NOTHIN’ LEFT TO GET RID OF | Andre has an epiphany (apparently supported by difficult figures) that Empire’s Ghetto lifestyle unit should really be a Christian label — bad news for the designers he is about to drop, but very good news for Becky’s illicit love J. Poppa, whom warms towards the concept such as for instance a nun hearing Handel’s “The Messiah” at Christmas time. Usually the one musician Lucious claims positively can’t be cut is Frida Gathers — even though she concludes an awe-inspiring performance at Leviticus by throwing the face area of a heckler. Lucious tracks her down, informs her he pertains to her more than his very own sons (ouch, dude!) and then provides her “Boom Boom Boom Boom,” to which she adlibs with raw fury and a dosage of humor. The lady is really good.

COOKIE COULD NEED ASSISTANCE WITH HER MATCH.COM PROFILE | Cookie ends the hour by showing up at Laz’s home last but not least giving directly into their available flirtation. “Make me personally forget precisely what took place this week, Laz,” she sighs, dropping into their hands as “Boom Boom Boom Boom” not subtly plays over their makeout session. However when guy will be taking off their hoodie, it isn’t an incident of sexy “Damn!” it’s a lot more of an uh-oh/oh-no “Damn!” He’s got exactly the same tattoo once the gang users whom kidnapped her son!

Exactly just exactly What did you contemplate this week’s kingdom? Did you suspect Laz had ulterior motives? Noise down below!