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. On January 30, 2018, Showtime renewed the series for a second season which premiered on April 7, 2019.[5][6] On April 30, 2019, Showtime renewed the series for a third season which premiered on June 21, 2020.[7][8] 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".[9]

The Chi
GenreDrama
Created byLena Waithe
Starring
Composer(s)Patrick Warren
Country of originUnited States
Original language(s)English
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes28 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
Production location(s)Chicago
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time60 minutes
Production company(s)Elwood Reid Inc.
Hillman Grad Productions
Freedom Road Productions
Verse Productions
Kapital Entertainment
Fox 21 Television Studios
Showtime Networks
Distributor20th Television
CBS Television Distribution
Disney-ABC Domestic Television
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."[10]

Cast

Main
  • Jason Mitchell as Brandon Johnson[4] (seasons 1–2)
  • Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine as Ronnie Davis (seasons 1-3)
  • Jacob Latimore as Emmett Washington[11]
  • Alex Hibbert as Kevin Williams
  • Michael Epps as Jake Taylor
  • Shamon Brown as Stanley "Papa" Jackson
  • Yolonda Ross as Jada Washington,[11] 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.[12]

Recurring
  • Lucien Cambric as Jason Roxboro (season 1)
  • Jahking Guillory as Charles Frederick “Coogie” Johnson (season 1)[13]
  • 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[14] (season 1)
  • Sonja Sohn as Laverne Johnson (seasons 1 and 3),[13] 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.[15]
  • José Antonio García as Mr. Gasca (seasons 1–2), Kevin's teacher.
  • Genesis Denise Hale as Maisha
  • Chris Lee as Hannibal, Brandon's cousin.
  • Tai Davis as Tracy Roxboro, Jason's mother.
  • Common as Rafiq
  • Curtiss Cook as Otis "Douda" Perry
  • Crystal Dickinson as Detective Alice Toussaint (season 2)
  • Miriam A. Hyman as Dre, Nina's partner who is a high school counselor.[16]
  • Luke James as Victor "Trig" Taylor, Jake's estranged older brother.[12]
  • Jasmine Davis as Imani, Trig's girlfriend.
  • La La Anthony as Dominque "Dom" Morris[12]
  • Judae'a Brown as Jemma
  • Kandi Burruss as Roselyn Perry, Douda's estranged wife.[17]
  • Lena Waithe as Camille Hallaway, a mayoral candidate.
  • Lil Rel Howery as Zeke Remnick,[12] Sonny's landlord.

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)
310[18]June 21, 2020 (2020-06-21)August 23, 2020 (2020-08-23)[18]

Season 1 (2018)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
11"Pilot"Rick FamuyiwaLena WaitheDecember 15, 2017 (2017-12-15) (online)
January 7, 2018 (2018-01-07) (Showtime)		0.533[19]
22"Alee"David RodriguezElwood Reid & Lena WaitheJanuary 7, 2018 (2018-01-07) (online)
January 14, 2018 (2018-01-14) (Showtime)		0.570[20]
33"Ghosts"David RodriguezAdam Glass & Ayanna Floyd DavisJanuary 21, 2018 (2018-01-21)0.707[21]
44"Quaking Grass"Tanya HamiltonStory by : Elwood Reid & Mike Flynn
Teleplay by : Elwood Reid & Justin Hillian		January 28, 2018 (2018-01-28)0.751[22]
55"Today Was a Good Day"Darren GrantMarcus GardleyFebruary 11, 2018 (2018-02-11)0.679[23]
66"Penetrate a Fraud"Roxann DawsonCasallina KisakyeFebruary 18, 2018 (2018-02-18)0.673[24]
77"The Whistle"David RodriguezLena Waithe & Dime DavisFebruary 25, 2018 (2018-02-25)0.791[25]
88"Wallets"Tanya HamiltonAdam Glass & Marcus GardleyMarch 4, 2018 (2018-03-04)0.675[26]
99"Namaste Muthafucka"Zetna FuentesAdam Glass & Sylvia L. JonesMarch 11, 2018 (2018-03-11)0.797[27]
1010"Ease on Down the Road"Justin TippingElwood ReidMarch 18, 2018 (2018-03-18)0.872[28]

Season 2 (2019)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
111"Eruptions"Jet WilkinsonAyanna Floyd Davis & Lena WaitheApril 4, 2019 (2019-04-04) (online)
April 7, 2019 (2019-04-07) (Showtime)		0.454[29]
122"Every Day I'm Hustlin'"Darren GrantJoe WilsonApril 14, 2019 (2019-04-14)0.375[30]
133"Past Due"Justin TippingJ. David ShanksApril 21, 2019 (2019-04-21)0.339[31]
144"Showdown"Carl SeatonCasallina KisakyeApril 28, 2019 (2019-04-28)0.392[32]
155"Feeling the Heat"Jet WilkinsonAyanna Floyd Davis & Joe WilsonMay 5, 2019 (2019-05-05)0.439[33]
166"A Leg Up"Cheryl DunyeJustin Hillian & Dime DavisMay 12, 2019 (2019-05-12)0.397[34]
177"A Blind Eye"Rebecca RodriguezCinque Henderson & J. David ShanksMay 26, 2019 (2019-05-26)0.350[35]
188"Lean Into It"Salli Richardson-WhitfieldTerri KoppJune 2, 2019 (2019-06-02)0.328[36]
199"Guilt, Viral Videos, and Ass Whuppings"Tanya HamiltonJoe WilsonJune 9, 2019 (2019-06-09)0.427[37]
2010"The Scorpion and the Frog"Jet WilkinsonAyanna Floyd DavisJune 16, 2019 (2019-06-16)0.474[38]

Season 3 (2020)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
211"Foe 'Nem"Jet WilkinsonLena Waithe & Justin HillianJune 21, 2020 (2020-06-21)0.348[39]
222"Brewfurd"Rashaad Ernesto GreenMarcus GardleyJune 28, 2020 (2020-06-28)0.347[40]
233"Buss Down"Gandja MonteiroLolis Eric ElieJuly 5, 2020 (2020-07-05)0.351[41]
244"Gangway"Jet WilkinsonT.J. Brady & Rasheed NewsonJuly 12, 2020 (2020-07-12)0.367[42]
255"Terror Town"Jet WilkinsonRicardo Gamboa & Nambi E. KelleyJuly 19, 2020 (2020-07-19)0.438[43]
266"Woo Woo Woo"Darren GrantJewel McPhersonJuly 26, 2020 (2020-07-26)0.525[44]
277"A Stain"Sam BaileyMarcus Gardley & Jade BranionAugust 2, 2020 (2020-08-02)0.415[45]
288"Frunchroom"Jet WilkinsonJustin HillianAugust 9, 2020 (2020-08-09)0.430[46]
299"Lackin'"[47]TBATBAAugust 16, 2020 (2020-08-16)TBD
3010"A Couple, Two, Three"[48]TBATBAAugust 23, 2020 (2020-08-23)TBD

Production
Official poster

Filming started in Chicago in April 2017.[13]

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."[49] On Metacritic, the season has a weighted average score of 73 out of 100, based on 22 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[50]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2018 Black Reel Awards Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series Rick Famuyiwa Won [51]
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
  1. DeNeal, Lisa (April 4, 2019). "Writer, Executive Producer Ayanna Floyd Davis is the New Showrunner for Showtime's 'The Chi'". Black Girl Nerds. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  2. Thorne, Will (September 16, 2019). "'The Chi' Ups Justin Hillian to Showrunner, Ayanna Floyd Davis Exits". Variety. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  3. Petski, Denise (June 16, 2020). "'The Chi's Lena Waithe & Common To Headline Virtual Concert Fundraiser For Equal Justice Initiative". Deadline. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  4. Andreeva, Nellie (January 9, 2017). "Showtime Picks Up Drama 'The Chi' To Series; Jason Mitchell Joins Cast – TCA". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  5. Swift, Andy (January 30, 2018). "Showtime Renews The Chi, Names New Showrunner for Season 2". TVLine. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  6. Green, Steve (January 31, 2019). "'The Chi' Season 2 Trailer: Showtime Drama Continues Look at All Sides of Chicago". IndieWire. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  7. Nemetz, Dave (April 30, 2019). "TVLine Items: The Chi Renewed, Westworld Casts Villain and More". TVLine. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  8. Andreeva, Nellie (April 1, 2020). "Showtime: 'Black Monday' & 'Billions' Seasons Split Into 2 By COVID-19 Shutdown, 'The Chi' Premiere Moved Up". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  9. Andreeva, Nellie (May 20, 2019). "Jason Mitchell Fired By UTA & Authentic, Dropped By 'The Chi' & 'Desperados' Over Misconduct Allegations". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
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