EMPIRE Crumbles Under Scrutiny

Article first published as EMPIRE Review on Seat42F.

Do you like the idea of ABC’s Nashville, but aren’t a fan of country music? If so, FOX’s EMPIRE, premiering this week, might just be for you. A similar structure, a soap opera-style drama set in the music scene, with natural performances interspersed but no spontaneous bursting into song, is the format. EMPIRE goes for the hip-hop world, though, and keeps the plot more concentrated with a five-member family at its heart.

Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard, Law & Order: LA, Iron Man) is a former criminal, now the head of a major record label that he plans to take public. He’s also secretly dying, so he begins looking to his three sons to figure out who to groom as his successor. There’s Andre (Trai Byers, Selma), the businessman married to a white woman, who seems the natural choice, but Lucious thinks the company might need a more artistic figurehead. Hakeem (newcomer Bryshere Gray) is going to be a big music star, so he might give Andre some competition. The dark horse in the race is Jamal (Jussie Smollett, On Our Own, The Mighty Ducks), who is musically talented, but uninterested in the spotlight, and, much to his father’s disappointment, gay.

Of course, EMPIRE needs plenty of drama, not just a singular through-line, so enter Cookie Lyon (Taraji P. Henson, Person of Interest, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button). Ex-wife of Lucious, she helped found the company before spending the past decade-plus behind bars, likely for something they were both connected to. She re-enters the scene determined to win her rightful place in the EMPIRE (sic), and thinks Jamal is the way to do it, positioning the middle child against his younger brother, Hakeem.

There are multiple layers to every character, albeit not necessarily interesting ones. We see much of Lucious’s shame concerning Jamal in flashback, but Cookie may not be as accepting as she pretends to be, with selfish motives only for now in line with her motherly instincts. The boys don’t want to fight amongst themselves, but it’s easy to pick at old battles and reignite them. Andre’s wife, Rhonda (Kaitlin Doubleday, Catch Me If You Can), smells money and power and wants both. Cookie feels jilted since Lucious has moved on with Anika Gibbons (Grace Gealey). An old business partner (Malik Yoba, Alphas) may find his loyalty shifting.

It’s convoluted and cheesy. EMPIRE presents the glitz and glamor of the record industry as it once was (before its current downslide), while also keeping the thug life alive, and allowing the grittiness of the characters’ pasts to come to the forefront. Unfortunately, it doesn’t do any of this all that well, feeling like a repeat of so many other efforts, paling by comparison, and even sticking the always-wonderful Gabourey Sidibe (Precious, The Big C) in a recurring role doesn’t save it.

For me, part of the turn-off is this particular style of music, which isn’t my favorite (yes, I know that’s going to earn me some mean-spirited comments, but it’s true). However, a bigger disappointment is the lack of character development and thin story, which are also the reasons I stopped watching Nashville.

There is an argument to be made that African Americans deserve more representation on television, and that’s a valid point. But they also deserve better fare than EMPIRE, very much a black copy of an existing white show. If one wants to delve into subject matter like this, I wish a stronger voice shone through. Or you can just watch Starz’s Survivor’s Remorse, which contains many of the same themes and is a far superior program, smartly written. For music in this genre, well, this is your only real option on the small screen right now, so maybe you’ll want to watch this.

EMPIRE premieres Wednesday, January 7th on FOX.

Person of Interest searches in vain for the "Root Cause"

CBS's Person of Interest's newest installment is "Root Cause." The latest number to pop up from the machine is for a man named Scott Powell (Myk Watford), who, after losing his job and lying to his family about it, wracked by debt, and pushed to the breaking point, sure looks guilty. But Reese (Jim Caviezel) realizes, almost too late, that it's a frame job, set up to make it look like Powell assassinates a Congressman, through Powell is really innocent. Finch (Michael Emerson) looks for a way to prove that innocence, relying on Carter's (Taraji P. Henson) inside info, and bringing in a previous P.O.I., Zoe Morgan (Paige Turco, Damages, April O'Neal from the early '90's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies), to help. But he is thwarted by an expert hacker, the woman behind the frame job, who calls herself Root (Rachel Miner, Californication, Guiding Light), and knows Finch's name. 

Person of Interest is shaping up to be a mostly procedural series, but with enough serial elements to keep things interesting. For instance, the Congressman that is killed in "Root Cause" has been seen on posters and in the background during other episodes. Which leads one to believe that Root is involved in other events in prior episodes, but has just never been seen before this week. What is her connection to Finch? How does she know him? Does she have a grudge, or fancy herself in competition with, the fellow computer whiz? Or is he merely just crossing paths with her because her goals run contrary to his? There are so many questions, and so few answers. It seems Person of Interest will likely continue to dole out information in small, tantalizing pieces, thus keeping interest high.

Which is good, because the initial arc, that of Finch and Reese clashing with Carter, seems to be at an end. She still doesn't completely trust the pair, but seems to have acknowledged that they work for the greater good. Until they cause something really bad to happen, or betray her trust in a very serious way, she will probably stay on board. She is actively helping them a little, keeping the lines of communication open, and has stopped hunting them. She's kind of unneeded in "Root Cause," but it's been better in other episodes.

While her turnaround does seem a little too easy, and a waste of a great dynamic, it's also nice to have things resolved. Of course, that basically makes Fusco (Kevin Chapman) expendable, and true to that form, he does not appear in "Root Cause." Of course, this story may be reawakened if Fusco and Carter, who each do not realize that the other knows Finch and Reese, ever come to odds. Will they be the pawns in a Reese versus Finch battle?

That is a whole other ongoing story that is barely touched on this week. Reese is secretly investigating Finch, as Reese is more suspicious of his partner than Carter is of either of them. It really makes sense for Reese's character to be paranoid, despite the ways that Finch has been shown to earn Reese's trust. Still, as Finch's past remains unclear, it would not be surprising if Reese uncovers something very bad that leads to a (temporary) falling out between the two. Which could be a heck of a story.

As Person of Interest continues to take shape as a series, it's inevitable that recurring characters get added to the mix. Zoe looks to be the first one, and is a fine choice. Turco hasn't been in the Hollywood spotlight all that much lately, so she seems like a fresh face. She serves as a love interest for Reese, someone Finch is intrigued by, and a wild card, as she has her own agenda and past, as well as a murky job description. The character is great, and is welcome as much as the writers can find ways to use her.

As for "Root Cause" itself, and the case of the week contained within the episode, it's a thrilling, tightly played out plot, with some terrific twists, and wonderful action sequences. The case of Powell being framed and hunted is intriguing, and Reese crossing a major line by breaking Powell out of federal custody in the way that he does is fantastic. There really can be no complaints about this story, making "Root Cause" another excellent installment in a series that is quickly becoming a favorite.

Watch Person of Interest Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.

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Save your "Judgment" for Person of Interest

     On this week's episode of CBS's Person of Interest, "Judgment," Finch (Michael Emerson) identifies a judge (David Costabile, Breaking Bad, Damages) that might be in danger. Before Reese (Jim Caviezel) can figure out the threat fully, the judge's young son is kidnapped. Reese reveals himself to the judge, hoping he can rescue the kid before the judge is forced to throw a case, the ransom that the bad guys demand. Finch is not pleased, wishing Reese would stay behind the scenes. The case is lost, but the kid is rescued, and the villains get arrested.

     "Great procedural" is a term that should be rarely, if ever, used. Procedurals are, by definition, very similar from week to week, as the good guys solve new criminals and try to stop them by hour's end. Even if an individual hour is well made, or most of them are, the same premise week to week finds the series getting stale for regular viewers fairly soon. Procedurals are popular for people bouncing in and out when they have the time, but for regular television watchers, it is very difficult to make one good enough to repeatedly, episode after episode, hold one's interest. Generally, this is done by putting together a colorful ensemble cast. Person of Interest has the odds stacked against it, and makes things even tougher with what is basically a two man show. Yet, Person of Interest is a great procedural.

     The most important element of Person of Interest are the two leads. Yes, there are four main characters, but the central duo are much more important, and get much more screen time, than the other two. While both leads have many mysteries surround them, the series starts revealing things about both immediately, and still maintains many unanswered questions. Emerson and Caviezel are expect performers, capturing nuance brilliantly. Both characters see much more going on in the world, as well as everyday situations, than the average person. Watching the show, viewers will be moved to start to do the same.

     In "Judgment," Finch grows suspicious when Reese asks the seemingly innocent question, "What's good here?" at a restaurant. Finch sees any response to those seemingly innocent words as important clues about his habits and living space. He doesn't want to give Reese any inkling of personal information when not necessary. But in the end, after Reese solves the case, Finch admits to frequenting the establishment, clueing Reese in, but in a small, controllable way. It's exchanges like these that keep Person of Interest highly engrossing.

     "Judgment" brings the other two central characters closer to each other. Carter (Taraji P. Henson) begins to appreciate Fusco (Kevin Chapman) when he helps her solve a murder. Fusco knows the woman's death is connected to the kidnapping because Reese is using him as a spy, but Carter is in the dark. It's a delicate balance, requiring an excellently choreographed dance. Reese must know when to push Fusco, and what to tell him, but also massage the details he needs from the source, without letting Fusco learn too much. The fact that Fusco is able to work both sides, while keeping Carter, an incredibly intelligent detective, in the dark, is fantastic. And it won't last.

     The story in "Judgment" is pretty darn good all by itself. Person of Interest struggles to keep fans guessing what is going on. With a few 'surprise' bad guys already under its belt, the series wisely makes the judge, who looks a good man, an actual good man. But considering that the protagonist is a judge, this provides a particular conundrum, especially when the stakes get higher, and Reese must reveal himself. Having a judge in their corner may help keep Finch and Reese a step ahead of the law. On the other hand, it exposes them to someone in the legal system, something they try to avoid. Hopefully, the judge character will return, and it's anyone's guess, given Finch and Reese's differing opinions, as to whether he will prove a help or hindrance in the future.

     Person of Interest airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.

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Person of Interest has some interesting persons

     CBS's newest drama is Person of Interest, which comes from J.J. Abrams's production company. John Reese (James Caviezel, The Passion of the Christ, The Prisoner), a former special forces soldier, lost the woman he loved, so now he rides the subway and drinks a lot, looking like a bum. After being picked up by Detective Carter (Taraji P. Henson, Boston Legal, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Reese is recruited by Mr. Finch (Michael Emerson, Lost).

     Finch developed a complex tracking system to determine when crime is going to happen. The government uses it to find terrorists, but Finch builds himself a back door, and gets social security numbers of people about to be involved in something bad, non-terrorist related. These people may be criminals or victims, and Finch would like Reese to help him track them down and stop the bad thing from happening. Reese reluctantly agrees, and convinces a dirty cop with redeeming qualities named Fusco (Kevin Chapman) to be his man on the inside.

     Yes, Person of Interest is a crime procedural, but it's a damn good one, far better than the tons currently polluting the airwaves. One reason is the concept of the super computer that can warn of future events, but many crime shows have unique hooks. Another is the editing that often makes bits appear to come from various cameras, but again, that isn't the whole story. What raises Person of Interest to a whole other level, one that will make it a fantastic series, is the writing and the acting. With a movie-quality cast, and intense sequences that one would expect from film, there is a cinematic quality and weight to the proceedings. Maintained week after week, this could signal a whole new type of procedural.

     The two main characters are both interesting men, with tragic back stories. While Finch remains mostly a mystery, there is a reason he is haunted by the crimes he could prevent, but doesn't. Reese needs a purpose. Though they both understand they will likely die during one of their cases, they don't care. They both need a reason to live, and this gives them one.

     Another positive is that J.J. Abrams is involved. Not all of Abrams's shows run for years, but he's not made a bad one. Remember a unique little procedural called Fringe? It sure didn't stay static for long, and hopefully Person of Interest will not either. Of course, it is on CBS, a network renowned for crappy, same-thing-every-week, crime series. But even if Person of Interest stays in a case of the week format, the talent involved will raise it befor the standard fare.

     In the first episode alone, the show proves its mettle. Reese and Finch follow an assistant district attorney (Natalie Zea, Justified). They assume that she will soon be attacked by a corrupt group based on a case she is working on. Given Zea's usual roles, and the manner in which she plays this part, that seems safe. So when Reese discovers she is the ring leader behind the bad guy gang, it's a shocker. It shouldn't be, given the reminder that the person of interest could be victim or perp, but it is.

     Person of Interest is definitely worth your time. Watch it Thursdays at 9 p.m.ET on CBS.

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