So how’d you like that “Empire” finale, boo boo kitty?
The explosive two-hour episode aired on Wednesday, and with it a catfight for the ages: Taraji P. Henson‘s Cookie Lyon versus Grace Gealey’s Anika Calhoun. The smackdown made Dynasty’s Alexis and Krystle’s rumble in the lilypod look like child’s play.
Cookie, as the weary matriarch returning to her successful clan after 17-years in jail, pegged Anika as a nemesis from the start. Debutante Anika was on the arm of Cookie’s ex and “Empire” leading man Lucious (Terrence Howard), with one women undercutting the other at every turn , verbally. Until tonight.
Cookie and Anika tussle in a heart-stopping, surprisingly violent turn of events. Situated in penthouse billiard room, Cookie saunters to Anika swirling a cocktail.
“Tell me why I shouldn’t throw this drink in your bitch-ass face?” Cookie asks, to which Anika responds, “Because you’ll never get up off the floor, bitch.”
What ensued was a drink-tossing, punching, slapping, hair-pulling, jewel-snatching, pool-table-damaging brawl. And it was amazing.
Cast members had previously teased a catfight, which had social media users anxious for the water-cooler moment.
Waiting for Cookie and Anika fight like pic.twitter.com/MSqKzHgbhc
— Jess Day 4/02 (@amor_jessica_) March 19, 2015
I’m really just trying to see cookie and Anika fight. — 6 (@thegirlbenny) March 19, 2015
When Anika & Cookie fight Imma be like cookie: pic.twitter.com/GvUUJJSC6G
— (@Arrogantasskay) March 19, 2015
After the fight aired on the east coast, reactions were predictably stunned.
That fight between boo boo kitty and cookie made my WHOLE night!! #empire — Kisha (@twistedl0gic) March 19, 2015
I literally can not stop watch Cookie’s and Anika’s fight like…! Cookie got hands man!!!
— Serenity (@serenity23star) March 19, 2015
Boo boo kitty got them nails up on her head tonight. Cookie ain’t no rookie in a fight lol #EmpireFinale #CookieLyon #FOXTV
— Cesar R (@unicornprinceCA) March 19, 2015
but when cookie got all up on anika, i dIPPED like that was bitch vs bull dog, like, wHY WOULD YOU FIGHT WITH A FED, SOMEONE WHO WAS IN JAIL — joey,,!! (@httoplinson) March 19, 2015
Tell us your thoughts on this gift of a scene from Lee Daniels and Danny Strong in comments below.