‘Empire’ Season 3, Episode 17 Spoilers: “Toil and Trouble, Part 1” – Cookie Plans Casino Heist to Defeat Giuliana for Good

‘Empire’ season 3’s episode 17, titled “Toil and Trouble, Part 1,” is set to follow Cookie as she plans a casino heist in order to take hold of Giuliana’s secret weapon and defeat her for good.

The lengthy synopsis for “Toil and Trouble, Part 1,” posted on TV Guide reads, “Part 1 of 2. In the Season 3 finale, when Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) is banned from Leviticus Vegas, she pulls together a team of her own allies to seek revenge on Giuliana (guest star Nia Long) and steal her secret weapon.

Meanwhile, Jamal (Jussie Smollett) is encouraged to put his album on hold, so as not to compete with Lucious' (Terrence Howard) "Inferno."

The upcoming episode will be the first in a two-part finale event and will be set mostly in Las Vegas, according to Cartermatt. Episode 17 will follow Cookie and Lucious’ seemingly never ending conflict. The promo opens to Lucious telling Cookie that she is banned from ever entering the Leviticus Vegas thus enraging the Lyon matriarch.

Cookie angrily replies, “Are you telling me I can’t come to our casino? Hell no.” In the next scene, she warns her son that if they fail to defeat Giuliana, there will be nothing left of their family fortune for themselves.

She is then seen planning a heist, telling her allies that they will infiltrate the casino and crack open the safe that is inside Giuliana’s office. By the end of the promo, Charlotte Frost (guest star Eva Longoria) tells Cookie that the new piece of evidence she is presented is enough to put Giuliana away for good. It seems that Cookie will stop nothing to take down her sworn enemy.

‘Empire’ season 3’s episode 17, titled “Toil and Trouble, Part 1,” is scheduled to air on Fox on May 17, 2017. It was directed by Bryshere Y. Gray and written by Serayah McNeill. It will be followed by episode 18, titled “Toil and Trouble, Part 2,” directed by Sierra McClain and scheduled to be released on May 24.