The Chi

The Chi (pronounced THE-SHY) is an American drama series created by Lena Waithe about life in a neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago.[4] The pilot was directed by Rick Famuyiwa.[4] It premiered on Showtime on January 7, 2018. In September 2020, the series was renewed for a fourth season.[5]

The Chi
GenreDrama
Created byLena Waithe
Starring
ComposerPatrick Warren
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes30 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time60 minutes
Production companies
Distributor
Release
Original networkShowtime
Picture format1080i (HDTV)
Original releaseJanuary 7, 2018 (2018-01-07) –
present (present)
External links
Website

Premise

The Chi is described as following "a fateful turn of events that sends shockwaves through a community on the Southside of Chicago and connects the lives of Emmett, Brandon, Ronnie and Kevin in unexpected ways."[6]

Cast

Main
  • Jason Mitchell as Brandon Johnson[4] (seasons 1–2)
  • Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine as Ronnie Davis
  • Jacob Latimore as Emmett Washington[7]
  • Alex Hibbert as Kevin Williams
  • Michael Epps as Jake Taylor
  • Shamon Brown as Stanley "Papa" Jackson
  • Yolonda Ross as Jada Washington,[7] Emmett's mother.
  • Tiffany Boone as Jerrika Little (seasons 1–2), Brandon's girlfriend.
  • Armando Riesco as Detective Cruz (seasons 1–2)
  • Barton Fitzpatrick as Reg Taylor (seasons 1–2), Jake's older brother and gang leader.
  • Birgundi Baker as Kiesha Williams (season 3; recurring seasons 1–2), Kevin's sister.[8]
  • Luke James as Victor "Trig" Taylor (season 4; recurring season 3), Jake's estranged older brother.[9]
  • Curtiss Cook as Otis "Douda" Perry (season 4; recurring 2–3)[10]

Recurring
  • Lucien Cambric as Jason Roxboro (season 1)
  • Jahking Guillory as Charles Frederick “Coogie” Johnson (season 1)[11]
  • Brian King as Detective Wallace (season 1)
  • Steven Williams as Quentin "Q" Dickinson (season 1), a kingpin elder.
  • Tosin Morohunfola as Trice (season 1)
  • Byron Bowers as Meldrick[12] (season 1)
  • Sonja Sohn as Laverne Johnson (seasons 1 and 3),[11] Brandon's mother.
  • Cedric Young as Sonny, Q's brother and Emmett's boss.
  • LaDonna Tittle as Ethel Davis, Ronnie's grandmother.
  • Tyla Abercrumbie as Nina Williams, Kevin and Keisha's mother.
  • Hannaha Hall as Tiffany, the mother of Emmett's child.[13]
  • José Antonio García as Mr. Gasca (seasons 1–2), Kevin's teacher.
  • Genesis Denise Hale as Maisha
  • Mariah Gordon as Andrea (season 1)
  • Chris Lee as Hannibal, Brandon's cousin.
  • Tai Davis as Tracy Roxboro, Jason's mother.
  • Common as Rafiq
  • Crystal Dickinson as Detective Alice Toussaint (season 2)
  • Miriam A. Hyman as Dre, Nina's partner who is a high school counselor.[14]
  • Jasmine Davis as Imani, Trig's girlfriend.
  • La La Anthony as Dominque "Dom" Morris[8]
  • Judae'a Brown as Jemma
  • Kandi Burruss as Roselyn Perry, Douda's estranged wife.[15]
  • Lena Waithe as Camille Hallaway, a mayoral candidate.
  • Lil Rel Howery as Zeke Remnick,[8] Sonny's landlord.
  • Tabitha Brown as Octavia (season 4)[10]
  • Jason Weaver as Rashaad "Shaad" Marshall (season 4)[10]

Episodes
SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
110December 15, 2017 (2017-12-15) (online)
January 7, 2018 (2018-01-07) (Showtime)		March 18, 2018 (2018-03-18)
210April 4, 2019 (2019-04-04) (online)
April 7, 2019 (2019-04-07) (Showtime)		June 16, 2019 (2019-06-16)
310June 21, 2020 (2020-06-21)August 23, 2020 (2020-08-23)

Season 1 (2018)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code		U.S. viewers
(millions)
11"Pilot"Rick FamuyiwaLena WaitheDecember 15, 2017 (2017-12-15) (online)
January 7, 2018 (2018-01-07) (Showtime)		1BEO780.533[16]
22"Alee"David RodriguezElwood Reid & Lena WaitheJanuary 7, 2018 (2018-01-07) (online)
January 14, 2018 (2018-01-14) (Showtime)		1BEO020.570[17]
33"Ghosts"David RodriguezAdam Glass & Ayanna Floyd DavisJanuary 21, 2018 (2018-01-21)1BEO030.707[18]
44"Quaking Grass"Tanya HamiltonStory by : Elwood Reid & Mike Flynn
Teleplay by : Elwood Reid & Justin Hillian		January 28, 2018 (2018-01-28)1BEO040.751[19]
55"Today Was a Good Day"Darren GrantMarcus GardleyFebruary 11, 2018 (2018-02-11)1BEO050.679[20]
66"Penetrate a Fraud"Roxann DawsonCasallina KisakyeFebruary 18, 2018 (2018-02-18)1BEO060.673[21]
77"The Whistle"David RodriguezLena Waithe & Dime DavisFebruary 25, 2018 (2018-02-25)1BEO070.791[22]
88"Wallets"Tanya HamiltonAdam Glass & Marcus GardleyMarch 4, 2018 (2018-03-04)1BEO080.675[23]
99"Namaste Muthafucka"Zetna FuentesAdam Glass & Sylvia L. JonesMarch 11, 2018 (2018-03-11)1BEO090.797[24]
1010"Ease on Down the Road"Justin TippingElwood ReidMarch 18, 2018 (2018-03-18)1BEO100.872[25]

Season 2 (2019)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code		U.S. viewers
(millions)
111"Eruptions"Jet WilkinsonAyanna Floyd Davis & Lena WaitheApril 4, 2019 (2019-04-04) (online)
April 7, 2019 (2019-04-07) (Showtime)		2BEO010.454[26]
122"Every Day I'm Hustlin'"Darren GrantJoe WilsonApril 14, 2019 (2019-04-14)2BEO020.375[27]
133"Past Due"Justin TippingJ. David ShanksApril 21, 2019 (2019-04-21)2BEO030.339[28]
144"Showdown"Carl SeatonCasallina KisakyeApril 28, 2019 (2019-04-28)2BEO040.392[29]
155"Feeling the Heat"Jet WilkinsonAyanna Floyd Davis & Joe WilsonMay 5, 2019 (2019-05-05)2BEO050.439[30]
166"A Leg Up"Cheryl DunyeJustin Hillian & Dime DavisMay 12, 2019 (2019-05-12)2BEO060.397[31]
177"A Blind Eye"Rebecca RodriguezCinque Henderson & J. David ShanksMay 26, 2019 (2019-05-26)2BEO070.350[32]
188"Lean Into It"Salli Richardson-WhitfieldTerri KoppJune 2, 2019 (2019-06-02)2BEO080.328[33]
199"Guilt, Viral Videos, and Ass Whuppings"Tanya HamiltonJoe WilsonJune 9, 2019 (2019-06-09)2BEO090.427[34]
2010"The Scorpion and the Frog"Jet WilkinsonAyanna Floyd DavisJune 16, 2019 (2019-06-16)2BEO100.474[35]

Season 3 (2020)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code		U.S. viewers
(millions)
211"Foe 'Nem"Jet WilkinsonLena Waithe & Justin HillianJune 21, 2020 (2020-06-21)3BEO010.348[36]
222"Brewfurd"Rashaad Ernesto GreenMarcus GardleyJune 28, 2020 (2020-06-28)3BEO020.347[37]
233"Buss Down"Gandja MonteiroLolis Eric ElieJuly 5, 2020 (2020-07-05)3BEO030.351[38]
244"Gangway"Jet WilkinsonT.J. Brady & Rasheed NewsonJuly 12, 2020 (2020-07-12)3BEO040.367[39]
255"Terror Town"Jet WilkinsonRicardo Gamboa & Nambi E. KelleyJuly 19, 2020 (2020-07-19)3BEO050.438[40]
266"Woo Woo Woo"Darren GrantJewel McPhersonJuly 26, 2020 (2020-07-26)3BEO060.525[41]
277"A Stain"Sam BaileyMarcus Gardley & Jade BranionAugust 2, 2020 (2020-08-02)3BEO070.415[42]
288"Frunchroom"Jet WilkinsonJustin HillianAugust 9, 2020 (2020-08-09)3BEO080.430[43]
299"Lackin'"Alonso Alvarez BarredaT.J. Brady & Rasheed NewsonAugust 16, 2020 (2020-08-16)3BEO090.384[44]
3010"A Couple, Two, Three"Rebecca RodriguezJustin Hillian & Jewel McPhersonAugust 23, 2020 (2020-08-23)3BEO100.382[45]

Production
Official poster

On January 30, 2018, Showtime renewed the series for a second season which premiered on April 7, 2019.[46][47] On April 30, 2019, Showtime renewed the series for a third season which premiered on June 21, 2020.[48][49] On May 20, 2019, it was announced that Jason Mitchell would not be returning to the show for season 3 because of "sexual misconduct allegations".[50] On September 8, 2020, Showtime renewed the series for a fourth season.[5]

Filming started in Chicago in April 2017.[11]

Reception

Critical response

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds a "certified fresh" approval rating of 87% based on 46 reviews, and an average rating of 7.47/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Like an optimistic companion to The Wire, The Chi explores the complexities of life in the South Side of Chicago, with a tender touch and a clear affection for its captivating characters."[51] On Metacritic, the season has a weighted average score of 73 out of 100, based on 22 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[52]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2018 Black Reel Awards Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series Rick Famuyiwa Won [53]
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series Lena Waithe Nominated
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Jacob Latimore Nominated
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series Common Nominated
Outstanding Drama Series Barry M. Berg, Common, Derek Dudley, Rick Famuyiwa, Aaron Kaplan, Erin Mitchell, Elwood Reid, Shelby Stone and Lena Waithe Nominated

References
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  1. Known as Fox 21 Television Studios until 2020
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