Empire: The Complete Second Season

Centering on a family competing for control of a hip-hop music and entertainment company founded by rap legend turned music mogul Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard), Empire was the surprise smash hit of last year's TV season. The second season opens with Lucious in prison, struggling to maintain authority over the record label while his ex-wife Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) plots a hostile takeover of the company that their son Jamal (Jussie Smollett) now runs in Lucious's absence. Cookie then leaves to start her own rival label with youngest son Hakeem (Bryshere Y. Gray). This is a classic nighttime big business soap opera in which family members are rivals and competitors, but with a cast of African-American actors in a show that explores black culture—both artistic and social—in between melodramatic twists and turns. Lucious and Cookie hail from the streets and their volatile past is still very much a part of their current life in the music industry. Murder is simply another business tactic and allegiances constantly shift but family members periodically unite against outside threats. The second season tips into more extreme soap opera storylines, but still features plenty of original music from top talents. The music mix (rap, hip-hop, and R&B), notable guest stars (including Alicia Keys and Pitbull), and sexy melodrama continue to make Empire a top-rated network series. Compiling all 18 episodes from the 2015-16 second season, extras include uncut music performances and behind-the-scenes featurettes. Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)