‘Empire’ Returns with Bat-Swinging Cookie; “Desperate Housewives” Star Joins Cast

Fox's musical drama series "Empire" delivers a great comeback after a midseason finale, focusing on love, hate, and music. As the gate to the Lyon's den reopens, new characters will be introduced, including Eva Longoria and Demi Moore.

Jamal, played by Jussie Smollett, gets a new friend during his stay at the rehab, Tory Ash, played by "Empire" newcomer Rumer Willis. A former big name in the music scene that got hooked on heroin, Tory and Jamal become close as glue and starts to support one another. After being asked by his parents to stay in rehab despite his desire to go back in the recording booth, Jamal and Tory break out of the facility and record a song in a studio. As Lucious (Terrence Howard) and Cookie (Taraji P. Henderson) get a hold of their son, they hear his new song and are amazed by the track.

As reported by Variety, the March 22 episode of "Empire" ends with Cookie wielding a baseball bat as she proceeds to the Empire office. Fueled by her anger, feeling that Lucious is slowly getting rid of her, she mows down the office, hitting everything in sight, including Lucious. What follows is a steamy and passionate scene between the two, with Cookie ending the moment reminding his ex-husband that she was done with him.

Willis is the first of four new ladies that will join the cast of "Empire." According to the Hollywood Reporter, Nia Long, Longoria and Moore will be joining the cast, each playing an important role in the series.

Long will be a character from Lucious' past that returns to become a threat to the family, particularly to Cookie. Longoria, on the other hand, is set to play as a government official that holds the future of "Empire" in Las Vegas. As for Moore, she's scheduled to appear at the end of "Empire" season 3, turning the wheels for the drama's fourth season.

"Empire" can be seen on Fox on Wednesdays.