The reach of the "Empire" is getting larger each week. The musical drama from Fox has again made a major leap in its viewership in its third episode and even surpassed the old big players.
"Empire"'s "averaged a 4.3 rating/13 share in adults 18-49 and 10.9 million viewers overall - rising in the demo by 8% from last week (4.0) and 13% from its premiere (3.8). Similarly, it has grown in total viewers from 9.9 million to 10.3 million and is now at nearly 11 million." In a report by Variety.
The website added that "Empire" TV series has "more than doubled the demo delivery of CBS' "Criminal Minds" and more than tripled NBC's "Law and Order: SVU."
Inside the show, one character is also slowly growing, whether as a man or as a musician. (Watch out for "Empire" TV series spoiler ahead if you haven't seen the Jan. 21 episode.)
Jamal (Jussie Smollett), the gay and blacksheep son of Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard), finally learned how to fight back. He and his father got into an argument (like each time they meet) after his mother Cookie (Taraji Henson) made him sing a song from a former suitor named Puma. Lucious seems to be upset with it and so, he turned his attention to Jamal who he can't accept is gay. The father is shoving to his son that he is the one who pays for the latter's apartment and so, Jamal decided that's it. He has to be on his own from there on.
This moment could also mark the start of the rise of Jamal, and one more conflict within the family.
In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Smollett said his "Empire" TV series character will learn that he has to push himself to greatness, too, but that will come at the expense of ambitious brother Hakeem (Brysheere Gray).
"There will come a point where Jamal kind of goes into a cocoon and does what he has to do and gets that fire in his eye. It's coming up in episode five and six," Smollett said.
"It really is the transition of Jamal and Hakeem's relationship and where seams start coming loose. They will fight, and they will compete, but they will always find their way back to each other."
"Empire" TV series will return on Jan. 28 for its fourth episode.
