Somebody Tell Me What's Happening on Empire (Tinashe Is Helping Jamal With a Visual Album???)

Previously on Empire, Rhonda became the first and last woman to ever wear a blowjob bib, after falling to her death in the Season 3 premiere last September. That is my most recent memory of the show because somewhere along the way, my ability to indulge in the Lyon family drama dropped to a new low.

Literally every second of Empire over the past three seasons has left us more confused than the last, to the point that no one ever truly understands what’s happening, which means checking back in with the show should be easy. After a months-long hiatus, I’m ready to find out what everyone’s up to. Last night’s episode opens with Nia Long’s character (who is she?) flirting with Lucious as he plays the piano in cornrows, which signals that it’s a flashback. Although Lucious and Cookie are on speaking terms, Cookie has a new dude named Angelo, who she says is about to propose. There’s mention of a “primary,” which I presume means he works in government? (Later, I realize it’s Taye Diggs.)

Despite the potential engagement news, Lucious dismisses it and wishes Cookie well, in the nicest way he can: “Whatever you and him got, it ain’t nothing compared to what we had.” Cookie notes that Vegas—whatever Vegas is—is “moving ahead” and Lucious appears to be opposed to the Vegas thing. Andre is meanwhile dealing with “a very dangerous woman.” Who? More dangerous than Rhonda? During a meeting between Andre, Nia Long’s character and the rapper Xzibit plays, I wonder who is the “gaming commissioner” they keeping speaking of, and Nia kindly provides some bad exposition: “The head of the Vegas gaming commission has flown out here as a personal favor to me. We’re gonna have to present facts, figures, revenue projects and hit songs by our headliner.” Got it, thank you.