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While all of us are playing checkers, the Lyon clan is playing chess, and in the words of the ever slick and seductive Lucious Lyon, “It’s game time bitches!” To kick off our Season 2 Binge-A-Thon (all day Saturday starting 9am), we thought it only appropriate to devote each day leading up to it to a Lyon, with a breakdown of how their role mirrors a piece on a chessboard, because after all, each one is playing HARD to depose the king.

ALL HAIL THE QUEEN

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 The Queen is the most powerful piece on the board because it can move any number of squares vertically, horizontally and diagonally. We all know Cookie is not only the most vocal but has the grit to make anything happen. She’s constantly moving herself and other people back, forth and sometimes even sideways to her will, to win the game.

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ULTIMATE CHECKMATE MOVES

Cookie’s top 3 power moves to check Lucious include:

Starting Lyon Dynasty. (Season 2, Episode 2)

Where there’s a will there’s a Cookie way and when Empire slipped through her fingers she made a Lemonade-worthy move, threw up her deuces and started her own music company.

Using her arrest to thwart Lucious’ Apex radio deal. (Season 2, Episode 4)

Refusing to become a jailbird again, she (sorta) snitched and made sure Lucious’ entertainment mogul moniker did not include his ownership of any radio stations.

Refusing to sign over her rights to Empire’s music catalog. (Season 2, Episode 9)

Realizing her power rests mainly in her ownership of Empire’s music, she didn’t give up her masters. Prince would be proud.

 

QUOTES FIT FOR A QUEEN

“You can’t even dyke right.” (Season 2, Episode 1)

Pimps up. Hoes down. Anika failed to rep as the bottom b—h when it came to saving Empire from Lucious.

“Hooking up with the lead singer in your all-female group; that’s like an Unsung episode waiting to happen.” (Season 2, Episode 3)

A TV One reference? Of course we had to highlight this and mama knows best.

 “Look where we from, if snitches don’t kill themselves, somebody else will.” (Season 2, Episode 5)

Snitches get stitches and in Cookie’s hood, much more! Don’t come for the Queen unless you’re ready to make your peace with God.

 

TM & © 2016 FOX and its related entities. All rights reserved.

 

ENDGAME

At this point in the season Cookie’s position is good. She has her own company and is now also sharing the presidential responsibilities of Empire with Lucious. If she continues to stay in her sons’ good graces, especially now that Lucious’ mother dearest secret has been revealed, she should be able to deflect any backstabbing move he’ll make to remove her. Because y’all KNOW he will.

Missed yesterday’s? Check out “The Knight” and “The Pawn”. Next, we break down “The Bishop”. In the meantime, get ready for our Season 2 Binge-A-Thon. Watch all day Saturday, starting 9 am.