I expect many dynamics to change on the season finale of Empire, especially Cookie and Malcolm's relationship. Look, this is hard for me to say. I'm not against their relationship. Nor am I against Derek Luke — I waited eight weeks for his Captain America character to appear on Agent Carter in vain. On Empire, I love how aggressive Cookie is with Malcolm. It's refreshing and physical and fun! I also think staying with Malcolm would be the healthy thing to do for someone like Cookie... if they weren't in the heightened, melodramatic world of television. As much as I want them to stay together, I'm predicting a Cookie and Lucious "reunion" in the season finale.
Here's the thing. Cookie and Lucious have a major pull on one another. As twisted as their relationship is, their chemistry is undeniable. We know that Lucious is all in and eager to get his family back together with Cookie at his side. We know that Cookie has seen Lucious at his absolute worst and hasn't completely shut him out yet. She was right when she said that Lucious mainly does not want to die alone, and I don't think she's going to let him. Also, I am a staunch believer in the rule of threes. Cookie and Lucious have hooked up twice this season, so a third is coming. As obnoxious as he can be, the two of them have been through a lot together. Cookie and Malcolm's affair is hot as hell, but I'm not sure it has staying power just yet.
Am I wrong to also be worrying about Malcolm's intentions? I get paranoid with shows like this, and his declaration that he'd fallen for his boss' wife was a little too dramatic and overtly romantic. What if he's seducing her for someone else? We don't know anything about his history. We just know that he's handsome and formal — neither of which are not bad qualities to have, gentlemen. However, he's either setting himself up to get hurt or reveal a major secret.
Plus, as Bustle's Kelly Schremph pointed out, Malcolm could lose his job. Lucious Lyon has a selective memory. The fact that Malcolm saved them from Reg when they were being held hostage at the end of the last episode may not hold up when Lucious finds out that Malcolm has been cozying up to the love of his life.
If you're not Team Cookie, you're watching Empire wrong, in my humble opinion. This relationship, as well as Cookie's overall arc this season, has been about finding herself. She's been out of the real world for 15 years. Lucious was her only major relationship. It's only natural to want to explore other options and rediscover her own power. If any show is going to show a woman reuniting with her husband in a way that displays her strength, it's Empire. Whether it is a move for his company or her own heart, a reunion is bound to happen.
Unless this show pulls a Game of Thrones and kills Lucious off in the season finale, I have a feeling that he and his wife are going to end up in each other's arms. Even if he dies, that loss would be enough to break her and the security chief up. As much as it pains me to let this man go, Cookie and Malcolm's tryst is coming to a close.
Images: Chuck Hodes/FOX; Giphy (3)
