In Empire Season 2 episode 16, which airs at 9 p.m. EST Wednesday, Andre introduces the family to Leah Walker, Lucious’ mother, who he previously claimed died of suicide when he was eight years old. Lucious has told his family and the public that he became homeless at a young age and began selling drugs because his mother died. He told his family in episode 13 that his mother suffered from bipolar disorder, similar to his son, Andre, and that she shot herself in front of him. Lucious even takes Andre to visit his grandmother’s grave.
However, in episode 15 , a journalist divulges to Andre that a woman named Leah Walker is alive and has been living in a family home, for which Lucious has provided money. An episode 16 promo shows Andre bringing Leah Walker to meet her family and Lucious becoming uneasy at the sight of his mother. He tries to convince Cookie that his mother is still extremely dangerous. He tells Cookie his mother did put a gun to her head and pulled the trigger, but clearly, she did not die.
It is well known that his mother and his early childhood are tough subjects for Lucious. Flashbacks throughout Season 2 show Lucious as a child, dealing with his mother as she experienced her bipolar highs and lows. Some flashbacks show Leah Walker showering a young Lucious with birthday gifts, even though it isn’t his birthday. Later, as his mother is severely depressed, Lucious urges her to return the gifts so they can pay rent for their apartment. Most traumatizing is a flashback of Leah Walker attempting to drown Lucious in a bathtub, claiming that she wanted to cleanse his spirit. Lucious wrote a song called “Boom Boom Boom Boom” about his mother and his childhood and the music video includes a recreated scene of the horrifying experience.
Andre’s wife Rhonda will have an experience that makes her believe she was pushed and didn’t accidentally fall down the stairs during the first half of Season 2. Andre has suggested to Rhonda that her fall wasn’t an accident, but she wasn’t convinced. However, a first look at episode 16 shows what happens to make Rhonda have a change of heart. Now she has an idea of who may have pushed her down the stairs, resulting in the fall that made her lose her and Andre’s son. Rhonda is expected to soon confront the person about their actions.
What will Rhonda do after she realizes her fall wasn’t an accident? We will find out in the coming episode, called “The Lyon Who Cried Wolf,” which is best viewed in television or live online through Fox Now .
Meanwhile, Lucious and Cookie have recently been named co-CEOs of Empire Entertainment, but Lucious is having a hard time sharing control of the company.
The rest of the story unfolds Wednesday, when Empire airs at 9 p.m. EST on Fox.
