Why ‘Empire’ should be your go-to drama on Tubi
Why ‘Empire’ should be your go-to drama on Tubi
A cultural heavy-hitter with awards, iconic characters, and real depth.
When you first open up Tubi, the idea that you’re getting something this good for free might feel too good to be true. But that’s the magic of “Empire.” It’s a glossy, addictive saga packed with power struggles, family drama, and genuinely great original music, all wrapped around two knockout performances from Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard. If you’re new to the platform and wondering where to start, this one’s a no-brainer. “Empire” is must-watch TV that just so happens to cost you nothing on Tubi. Here’s why it’s the first drama show you should on the platform.
Top drama TV show to stream first when you sign up for Tubi
Why ‘Empire’ is the must-watch drama on Tubi
“Empire” obviously didn’t start on Tubi, but now that it’s there, free to stream with ads, it might be the smartest first stop you can make. The show originally aired on Fox back in 2015 and was the TV obsession for a hot minute. And for good reason. The show is a wild blend of family power plays, music industry drama, and some truly legendary performances. You watch one episode, and boom — you’re pulled into the Lyon family’s world and not getting out anytime soon.
At the center of all the chaos are Lucious and Cookie Lyon (played by Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson) and they’re both doing career-best work here. Cookie, especially, became an instant icon. Fur coats, one-liners, and enough swagger to power an entire record label. Taraji even won a Golden Globe for the role, and the show ended up snagging over 100 award nominations across its six-season run. It was also the rare broadcast drama that dominated both the ratings and the culture.
And when I say it was a hit, I mean huge. The first season actually grew its audience every single week, which is something that hadn’t happened in over two decades on network TV. By the time the finale aired, nearly 17 million people were watching live. That kind of week-to-week buzz just doesn’t happen anymore, and “Empire” earned every bit of it.
Part of what makes this show stand out is the music. Every episode has original songs baked into the story, and they aren’t just filler either, but really good tracks. The Season 1 soundtrack even hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200, beating out Madonna. With real producers like Timbaland behind the scenes, the music actually felt like it belonged in the charts. So you’re not just watching drama unfold. You’re hearing it too, and it’s catchy as hell.
For me, what makes “Empire” hit that next level is that it mixes all this style with something deeper. Like all great dramas, it’s ultimately a show about answering life’s important questions about legacy, identity, power, and family. It tackles stuff like homophobia, mental illness, and generational trauma, and it does it through the lens of a Black family at the center of a billion-dollar empire. It’s bold in a way most primetime dramas still aren’t. So yeah, it’s flashy. But it’s also got heart, brains, and something to say. And now, it’s all waiting for you — free — on Tubi.
What is ‘Empire’ about?
Set in the cutthroat world of hip-hop and high-stakes business, “Empire” kicks off when music mogul Lucious Lyon finds out he’s been diagnosed with ALS. With his health declining and his legacy on the line, he’s got to choose one of his three sons to take over the family’s record label, Empire Entertainment. Each son brings something different to the table: Andre, the eldest, is a business-savvy exec battling bipolar disorder. Jamal’s a musical genius pushing back against his father’s homophobia. And Hakeem is the flashy youngest, trying to grow up fast. What unfolds is a full-blown power struggle packed with betrayal, ambition, and way more drama than any boardroom should legally allow.
But Lucious isn’t the only force to reckon with… enter Cookie Lyon. Fresh out of prison and ready to reclaim what’s hers, Cookie shakes up the entire empire (and pretty much steals the show). She helped build the label from the ground up before taking the fall for Lucious and spending 17 years behind bars — and now she’s back, unapologetic and sharper than ever. Cookie isn’t just here to stir the pot, either. She’s got vision, guts, and zero patience for anyone standing in her way. Whether she’s dropping truth bombs in a fur coat or fighting for her sons to get the spotlight they deserve, Cookie brings both the heart and the heat. The show’s part Shakespeare, part soap, part concert… and all fun. Check it out.
Other must-stream drama shows on Tubi
If “Empire” doesn’t sound like what you’re looking for, don’t worry, Tubi’s got a ton of other great dramas worth checking out.
Start with “Black Sails.” It’s a gritty pirate drama that’s way more than just sword fights and treasure maps. Set in the early 1700s, it’s a prequel to “Treasure Island” that follows Captain Flint and a crew of outlaws fighting for survival, power, and freedom in Nassau. The show mixes brutal battles with sharp political drama, and it’s got a surprising amount of depth. If you liked “Game of Thrones,” but wish it had more ships and less snow, this one’s for you.
Next up is “Scandal,” a high-stakes political soap that never lets up. Kerry Washington stars as Olivia Pope, a former White House comms director turned crisis management fixer in D.C. — and she’s got secrets of her own. It’s fast, messy, addictive television full of affairs, conspiracies, and jaw-dropping twists (this is a Shonda Rhimes show, after all).
Or try “Killing Eve.” This stylish cat-and-mouse thriller is just as funny as it is violent. Sandra Oh plays Eve, a bored MI5 analyst who gets obsessed with tracking down Villanelle, a charismatic assassin played by Jodie Comer. What starts as a basic spy chase turns into something way more personal… and weirdly flirty. The writing is sharp, the performances are killer (pun intended), and if you’re into fashion, you’re gonna love the outfits.
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