Interesting point-of-view, I was thinking either the DuBois' again or even one last desperate act by Tariq since he now knows Anika used a wire that ultimately made him a fugitive. But, I do hope it was Andre. He never did get back at Anika for what she did to his wife and unborn child and Lyons always clapback.

Now, I find it interesting they would remove Bella without an investigation first based on ONE claim of unsubstantiated child abuse. She's in a family that can provide excellent care for her, she was seated at the table with them for lunch so there is no neglect there, and you just had her father on live stream talking about his undying love for her. Yet, they raid the house to remove her? On top of that WHO BRINGS A SWAT TEAM TO REMOVE A CHILD FROM A HOME?! Armed weapons pointed at the family to take an infant away?? Seriously? They are investigating child **endangerment **and didn't think the **dangerous **weapons they are bringing along could, oh I don't know, **injure **the child in some way?? Overkill.

One thing is certain though, whoever is responsible is in for some hurt.

@Daijahv . Thanks for the reply

Interesting point-of-view, I was thinking either the DuBois' again or even one last desperate act by Tariq since he now knows Anika used a wire that ultimately made him a fugitive. But, I do hope it was Andre. He never did get back at Anika for what she did to his wife and unborn child and Lyons always clapback.

You may be right about Tariq, a person I totally ignored but the point you made is very valid. Anika sold him out and made him a fugitive, something he'll never forgive. Losing Bella was directly aimed at hurting Anika so I see how he could have planned it. Also being a former FBI, he knows how well the system works and could have given a solid reason for the SWAT team to barge into Lucious's house like that to seize the child. Tariq is more of a suspect to me than the Dubois. I don't see what they would gain by going after Bella. They would more likely want to hurt Cookie or Lucious directly.

Now, I find it interesting they would remove Bella without an investigation first based on ONE claim of unsubstantiated child abuse. She's in a family that can provide excellent care for her, she was seated at the table with them for lunch so there is no neglect there, and you just had her father on live stream talking about his undying love for her. Yet, they raid the house to remove her? On top of that WHO BRINGS A SWAT TEAM TO REMOVE A CHILD FROM A HOME?! Armed weapons pointed at the family to take an infant away?? Seriously? They are investigating child **endangerment **and didn't think the **dangerous **weapons they are bringing along could, oh I don't know, **injure **the child in some way?? Overkill.

I agree with this. That was just overkill. When the lady and the officer first walked in and demanded to take the baby, that was a surprise. I thought social services usually investigate first and give warnings to the parents before finally deciding to take the child. What reason could they possibly have to come and take away Bella like that because she most definitely has been well cared for.

When the SWAT team barged in, it was even more of a shocker because even if they had warned them that Lucious was a dangerous man, I don't think Lucious would have opened fire at the police. I hope there is a reason why the SWAT team got involved and I hope the writers reveal eventually why that was because it just seemed odd and ridiculous.

The story is on full blast now and I expect to see more shocking things happening from now till the finale. Can't wait.

@Nchi9

You may be right about Tariq, a person I totally ignored but the point you made is very valid. Anika sold him out and made him a fugitive, something he'll never forgive. Losing Bella was directly aimed at hurting Anika so I see how he could have planned it. Also being a former FBI, he knows how well the system works and could have given a solid reason for the SWAT team to barge into Lucious's house like that to seize the child.

Exactly! Tariq knows Anika's only reason for trying to stick with Lucious was in order to stay in Bella's life. She even told him that if she turned on Lucious, he would take her away and she couldn't live with that. He may have wanted to break her like she broke him.

Tariq is more of a suspect to me than the Dubois. I don't see what they would gain by going after Bella. They would more likely want to hurt Cookie or Lucious directly.

True. The only reason I said Dubois is because they know how close knit the Lyons are. Family is all that matters for them and they fight for theirs. Coming after their most vulnerable (as low as it may be) would be through the youngest of them, Bella. In my mind, it would reflect with Cookie hurting Angelo, Diana's youngest (assuming he's the youngest with the way she treats him).

I agree with this. That was just overkill. When the lady and the officer first walked in and demanded to take the baby, that was a surprise. I thought social services usually investigate first and give warnings to the parents before finally deciding to take the child. What reason could they possibly have to come and take away Bella like that because she most definitely has been well cared for.

RIGHT! I always thought that was how things are handled too. The baby is not taken before an investigation because people can make false allegations ALL the time to get revenge on someone they hate. And it's obvious Bella was loved and cared for. Makes no sense whatsoever.

When the SWAT team barged in, it was even more of a shocker because even if they had warned them that Lucious was a dangerous man, I don't think Lucious would have opened fire at the police. I hope there is a reason why the SWAT team got involved and I hope the writers reveal eventually why that was because it just seemed odd and ridiculous.

Lucious is crazy but he ain't that crazy! There's no way they should have been in so much fear they could justify bringing a SWAT team along to pick up an alleged abused child.

The story is on full blast now and I expect to see more shocking things happening from now till the finale. Can't wait.

Things are heating up. It's about to get crazy and dangerous!

@nchi9 said:

I have never felt anything for Anika since she pushed Rhonda down the stairs but I truly felt sorry for her this time. It was so sad.

After pushing Rhonda down the stairs, then over the balcony -there is nothing that will ever make me feel sorry for Anika, plus I can not get past the fact that she was with the father then got pregnant by his still wet behind the ears baby boy- then went back to the father -disgusting.

@nchi9 said:

I hope there is a reason why the SWAT team got involved and I hope the writers reveal eventually why that was because it just seemed odd and ridiculous.

It's Empire a lot of things on the show are over the top/ odd and ridiculous - do the writers explain why?

@ScorpionQ2 said:

After pushing Rhonda down the stairs, then over the balcony -there is nothing that will ever make me feel sorry for Anika, plus I can not get past the fact that she was with the father then got pregnant by his still wet behind the ears baby boy- then went back to the father -disgusting.

Completely agree. I find that kind of bed hopping disgusting. And I liked Anika up until she murdered Rhonda's baby and then her. Even felt sorry for her when the family kept treating her like garbage and she was at the point of depression. But then all that psycho plotting to harm Rhonda started and I checked out on her. She deserves what she gets but Bella is innocent. Just wish they could harm her outside of using the baby to do it.

@Daijahv said:

Completely agree. I find that kind of bed hopping disgusting. And I liked Anika up until she murdered Rhonda's baby and then her. Even felt sorry for her when the family kept treating her like garbage and she was at the point of depression. But then all that psycho plotting to harm Rhonda started and I checked out on her. She deserves what she gets but Bella is innocent. Just wish they could harm her outside of using the baby to do it.

Bella is okay.

Anika is a murderer and a baby killer, If Andre had snapped her neck It would have been okay by me.

@ScorpionQ2

After pushing Rhonda down the stairs, then over the balcony -there is nothing that will ever make me feel sorry for Anika, plus I can not get past the fact that she was with the father then got pregnant by his still wet behind the ears baby boy- then went back to the father -disgusting.

I agree. The Anika character was badly damaged when she pushed Rhonda down the stairs, had a baby with Hakeem and killed Rhonda also. Most people feel that way. I do too but she touched my feelings the way she cried when her baby was taken. Her acting was superb.

@nchi9

Yes great acting, but sad they have really turned her character into the Queen of ALL Wickedness. :witch:

Y'all seem to share my same issue with the Anika character. I've always thought the writers didn't know what to do with her since being Cookie's foil in season 1. Everything they have done with her since has been off, especially last season and now we are supposed to believe she's sane again this season. Like I've said before the character has overstayed her welcome and shouldn't be in season 4.

@danithang said:

Y'all seem to share my same issue with the Anika character.
I've always thought the writers didn't know what to do with her since being Cookie's foil in season 1. Everything they have done with her since has been off, especially last season and now we are supposed to believe she's sane again this season. Like I've said before the character has overstayed her welcome and shouldn't be in season 4.

Exactly this.

SPOILERS

So now Anika is (being framed) arrested- for the one thing she didn't do.

Empire used to be a great drama series- it has slacked way off, now it is just a soap opera with far-fetched and unbelievable story lines.

@ScorpionQ2

So now Anika is (being framed) arrested- for the one thing she didn't do. Empire used to be a great drama series- it has slacked way off, now it is just a soap opera with far-fetched and unbelievable story lines.

Cookie went to jail for 17 years for a crime she did not commit as well. Empire is a soap opera and is still the top prime time TV show. The finale was good and it has reset the show so that they can get back to great storylines again. The ratings had dropped but the fact that it has been rising lately indicates that the writing is getting better and the fans are getting back to watching their show.

There has been great reviews for the finale and it has left a lot to look forward to next season. Personally, I think that Empire is getting back to becoming the great show it once was.

The finale was excellent

I do think the show was better this season than season 2, but I was a little underwhelmed with the finale. It was clear they were making everyone happy so something could happen to destroy that happiness. I think what threw me off the most was the 3 months later. If they would have left it at the explosion or have Luscious regain his consciousness right after the explosion and not know who anybody was would have been better. With the 3 months later, I feel like it was obvious that Andre knew about the bomb so I would think they would ban him from the family unless he blamed everything on Shine. Also, they didn't seem to be concerned about Bella or Anika being in jail. I know they are saving this stuff for next season, but I really didn't think the 3 months later should have been there, it felt out of place.

@danithang

I think what threw me off the most was the 3 months later. If they would have left it at the explosion or have Luscious regain his consciousness right after the explosion and not know who anybody was would have been better.

How many millions of times have people seen shows with an ending where a bomb goes off leaving someone injured and then...THE END....?? The 3 months later part was what impressed me the most because it would have been really cliché had it ended right after the explosion.

I like the fact that the finale was grounded and not too over-the-top. They writers were not trying to out do themselves. I believe they were more focused on trying to right this ship and reset things to where they could restart with better writing. The story had continuity and it flowed well. There had been too many complains about dropping storylines and things being all over the place. At least with this finale, things continued where they left off the episode before.

I'm sure what happened during the "3 months" later will be addressed next season. That was a smart move. Now we know Lucious doesn't remember a thing. What happens next? Will he even know he owns a company called Empire? What will he be able to recall? We have the Dubois family they have to contend with, and how will they use Hakeem to do their bidding? So many great storylines to pursue next season. I like that.