The first season of Empire is based on Lucious Lyon the undisputed CEO of Empire entertainment but his medical challenge throws up a need to find a new heir.
Empire soars highest when probing the conflicts and contradictions of the black family, making high drama out of the dysfunction lying just beneath the surface.
One hopes that Daniels and writer Danny Strong, who teamed up on the 2013 civil rights film The Butler, can keep this good stuff coming even as they follow their over-the-top storyline to its sudsy conclusion.
The series' sudsy premise might work if it were matched by more energy in the acting and staging, but the presentation suggests we're supposed to take the action seriously. Most viewers will simply shrug.
Empire's première is a densely packed affair, dealing as it must with character introductions, background details and multiple-storyline establishment, but it handles the job in a smooth and entertaining fashion.
