Empire: The Complete First Season

Oscar-nominated actors Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson, costars in 2005's Hustle & Flow, are reunited here as both fierce rivals and wary partners in a hip-hop music entertainment company. Howard is rap legend turned music mogul Lucious Lyon, who rules his business—Empire Entertainment—like a king but is dying of a fatal disease, while Henson is Cookie, who went to prison to protect husband Lyon and their company, only to be divorced while locked up, and now she's back and wants her piece. Lucious has his three sons compete for his place as head of the company when he dies: the youngest a rising young rapper, the middle son an R&B singer/songwriter dismissed by his father because he's gay, and the eldest an underhanded businessman who sabotages his brothers. Created by Lee Daniels (Precious) for Fox, Empire was the top new show of 2015—featuring plenty of original music produced by top talents (a mix of rap, hip-hop, and R&B sure to draw viewers)—a sexy melodrama with a glamorous music-industry setting and dangerous backdrop that will satisfy fans of compelling soap opera drama. Compiling all 12 episodes from the 2015 first season, extras include a pilot episode commentary, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and uncut song performances. Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)