Once you’ve rewatched the first season of Empire (every episode is on Hulu if you need to refresh your memory), you can finally plan your season 2 viewing party! Before you send out your Facebook e-vites, you need to have everything in place. Remember: you’re not throwing a watch party for any old show. Your Empire-themed party needs to be as glamorous and dramatic as the soap itself. Well, just make sure nobody ends up in prison.
The Look
Drum up some fun by throwing a costume party! Seeing your friends imitate some of the show’s iconic outfits will make the night memorable. Just make sure nobody arrives in Cookie’s bootylicious lingerie from “Out, Damned Spot”—that is, unless it’s under the luxe fur coat she wore with it.
If you’re trying to throw a swanky affair, take another page from season 1 and have an all-white dress code. The Lyon pride and their crew were decked out in some of the most stunning ensembles seen on the show. Can someone find a replica of Jamal’s ivory embroidered jacket? And if they do, can they tell me where they bought it?
The Cookie
It's a requirement for all Empire watch parties to have a plate of freshly baked cookies. No exceptions. Lucious Lyon may be the main character (by technicality), but we all know that Cookie Lyon steals the spotlight any time she’s on screen. It doesn’t matter if you serve snickerdoodles or a giant chocolate chip cake; you need to pay your respect. Don’t want your cookies to be alone? Feel free to serve a full-fledged dinner. Take a page from Cookie’s book if you’re going to say grace.
The Shenanigans
Before or after the season premiere, throw a karaoke party and see if any of your guests can out-sing the Empire cast. Every song from season 1 is on Spotify, which has a lyrics feature in the desktop app. Who needs a karaoke machine anymore? And if you can’t get your guests to loosen up, our Empire drinking game will do the trick.
The Drinking Game
Whether you’re hosting a season 1 binge-watch or a season 2 viewing party, give our Empire-centric drinking game a try.
Take a sip every time…
- Cookie puts someone in their place.
- A celeb makes a cameo.
- There’s a flashback.
- Someone alludes to Jamal’s sexuality.
- Hakeem shows his mommy issues.
- Andre appears to have no morals.
Take a shot every time…
- Cookie wears animal print.
- Someone breaks into song.
- Lucious seems to care about anybody but himself.
- Anika is called “boo boo kitty!”
Finish your drink whenever…
- Lucious is compared to the devil.
- Lucious tries to win Cookie back.
- Someone is betrayed.
- Someone is murdered.
- Tiana comes back! (At least, that’s what I’m hoping for.)
(Featured image via alien_artifact)
