‘Empire’ finale spoilers: Extensive details on story, Rita Ora, Jennifer Hudson, more

Here’s a sad thought for you: We are less than three weeks away from the end of “Empire” on Fox. We imagine that there is a part of Fox’s executives who wish that this show had been ordered for more than just 12 episodes in its first season. After all, it has drawn enormous ratings!

With that being said, there is something beneficial that comes from the series having what is ultimately a limited run here. It compacts the story, and it makes it a little easier to keep up with for more casual viewers. That’s why we hope that Fox decides to be conservative, and give season 2 around 13 episodes. It gives you maybe an extra hour to enjoy, but it does not stretch out the season to the point where it becomes unwieldy.

We don’t want to spend all of our time here talking TV politics, since there is quite a bit of worthy discussion when it comes to the big, two-hour finale airing on Wednesday, March 18. These two episodes will feature appearances from everyone from Rita Ora to Juicy J to Snoop Dogg to Jennifer Hudson, and the synopsis below shows that Jamal and Lucious are seemingly on better terms than they were during this past episode:

“Jamal and Lucious are on their way to forming a music-centered relationship, but once again, Lucious has a secret that’s about to change everything. Hakeem decides to flirt with the enemy, while trying to figure out what the best move is for his career. Meanwhile, Cookie is cooking up a plan of her own.”

When does Cookie not have a plan? At this point, that may be a better question.

What do you think is coming at the end of “Empire” this season? Share right away with a comment.