The Chi: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

87% Tomatometer 47 Reviews 76% Audience Score 250+ Ratings

The South Side of Chicago carries daily danger, and the smallest and simplest of decisions can have life or death consequences for the residents. Life continues as the kids prep for school and their parents shuffle off to work. The young adults of the area are trying to scrape a living for themselves, while the elders sit on their front porches and observe the goings on. The South Side has the potential to crush dreams, and this coming-of-age series focuses on Kevin, a preteen who embraces the normal rites of childhood, Brandon, who makes a leap of faith to succeed in love and life with Jerrika, Emmett, who seeks guidance from his mother, and Ronnie, who is a drifter struggling to be loved. All of them are linked together by sheer coincidence as they seek redemption. Read More Read Less

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The Chi — Season 1

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Watch The Chi — Season 1 with a subscription on Paramount+, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

The Chi — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

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.

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Critics Reviews

View All (47) Critics Reviews
The Chi: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Veronica Hilbring Bitch Media One of the most authentic onscreen depictions of Chicago. Mar 5, 2021 Full Review The Chi: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Mike Hale New York Times Ms. Waithe has succeeded in putting a wide web of interesting and sympathetic characters on screen and telling their stories with a minimum of sentimentality and a consistent, welcome dose of low-key humor. Mar 5, 2018 Full Review The Chi: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Doreen St. Felix New Yorker All this plot leaves characters with so little downtime that they can only appear skeletally sketched. Jan 22, 2018 Full Review The Chi: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Phumlani S Langa City Press (South Africa) The best parts of this show are provided by a trio of primary school kids by the names of Kevin, Jake and Papa. These three kill it. Rated: 4/5 Mar 6, 2019 Full Review The Chi: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Dominic Patten Deadline Hollywood Daily [It] is at its best when it drills into the minutia and intimacy of its wide cast of characters. Jan 9, 2019 Full Review The Chi: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Valerie Ettenhofer Film School Rejects Lena Waithe positions South Side life front and center like we've never seen before. Oct 24, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (22) audience reviews

Natnael B Kind of dark it had great story and the casts performance is another level good casting. I liked it it is good starting i wish everyone could watch this drama. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/02/23 Full Review Michael G This show is amazing . I love it! Shout out to the entire cast for making this such a great show. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/24/23 Full Review Big d Must watch entertaining Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/25/23 Full Review Audience Member one of the best shows to ever be produced, it really does a good job of making you feel for the characters, even the ones that we are supposed to dislike, what's more, it makes you care for the people who in real life might go through these things, in other words, in my opinion it is powerful in off to make you care. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member I love the show. Is very accurate within setting. I am from the Gary/Chicago area it feels like home. I love the plot. It feels like the wire (the show)but better. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member I was born and raised in the CHI....I know this city and the complexities of home. Even though I am a Westsider, I have many friends and family on the Southside. The foundations are the same, as are the issues. To those criticizing that have NO CLUE how accurate and targeted the essence of this show is, please take a seat and learn something.... I was immediately captivated within the first few episodes, how the intricacies of the environment are displayed in the characters, music and scenery masterfully...not much is missed in the attempt to holistically capture that aspect of Chicago. Down to referring to Jerrika as that "Jack and Jill ***" - (it's a Chi thing) our social clubs, cliques, nuances are captured, showing that there was a concerted effort to study, represent and make this as authentic as possible. I just appreciate the "real" effort...the dynamic cast (where did you get those kids?) and the involvement of native Chicagoans - to make this literally feel like home. When watching, I feel like I know EVERY character either as one of my family members, someone from the neighborhood or a friend. Everyone was relatable on a real-life level. Whereas, I don't feel that way about most shows, this one hit the mark with everyone. Grandma Ethel is ALL of my Aunties - outstanding job LaDonna Tittle! This show is more than on the mark, with outstanding writing, producing, cast, music, cinematography.. So, to those who WANT to understand THIS aspect of Chicago and take a peek into "the neighborhood-" this is your show. Don't listen to movie/tv critics that have NEVER had this experience, will never have this experience to speak with any authority or intelligence on; or don't GO into/or live in these neighborhoods because they are too afraid - but will venture on Rotten Tomatoes & sites of the like, to spew their high and mighty opinion of ZERO substance. Enjoy the Chi - on the real! I digress..... Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Chi — Season 1

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

Lena Waithe Creator Jason Mitchell Brandon Ntare Mwine Ronnie Davis Jacob Latimore Emmett Alex R. Hibbert Kevin Yolonda Ross Jada
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Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jan 7, 2018 Pilot A fateful event sends shockwaves through a community on the south side of Chicago, connecting four lives. Details Episode 2 Aired Jan 14, 2018 Alee Brandon reels from a loss; Ronnie realizes he made a mistake; Emmett's carefree life gets upended; Papa and Jake taunt Kevin about Andrea; conflicting clues shake Cruz. Details Episode 3 Aired Jan 21, 2018 Ghosts Brandon asks Kevin for help; Laverne and Greavy make a decision; Amir tries to capitalize on Emmett's side gig; Quentin launches his own investigation. Details Episode 4 Aired Jan 28, 2018 Quaking Grass Brandon seeks refuge when Jerrika kicks him out; Ronnie runs into Rafiq; Quentin takes something from Trice; Brandon makes a bad deal with Reg. Details Episode 5 Aired Feb 11, 2018 Today Was a Good Day A neighborhood block party brings Brandon, Ronnie, Emmett, and Kevin together; Brandon has a confrontation with Ronnie and gets surprised by Jerrika. Details Episode 6 Aired Feb 18, 2018 Penetrate a Fraud Brandon's actions jeopardize his relationship with Jerrika; Ronnie uncovers secrets about his surrogate son's past and gives a crucial piece of information to the police; Emmett's shoe hustle goes awry. Details Episode 7 Aired Feb 25, 2018 The Whistle Brandon compromises his employment by defending a co-worker; Emmett spends an eye-opening day with Quentin; Kevin tries to get Andrea's attention at the roller rink. Details Episode 8 Aired Mar 4, 2018 Wallets Brandon branches out on his own; Emmett searches for his son after Tiffany takes him away; Ronnie seeks redemption at a mosque where he meets Rafiq; Kevin tries to stop his best friend from going down a dark path. Details Episode 9 Aired Mar 11, 2018 Namaste Muthaf... Brandon attempts a reconciliation with Jerrika, but struggles to establish his business; Kevin realizes he can't stop Jake; Emmett reels when Jada is offered a job in another state. Details Episode 10 Aired Mar 18, 2018 Ease on Down the Road Ronnie faces his past crimes; Brandon's plan to finance his business goes awry; Kevin stars in the school play and attends a cast party with his friends; Emmett decides to fight for full custody. Details

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The Chi — Season 1

The Chi: Season 1 Episode 8 Clip - You, Keisha, or the Missus The Chi: Season 1 Episode 8 Clip - You, Keisha, or the Missus 2:03 The Chi: Season 1 Episode 9 Featurette - Yolonda Ross on Jada's Repercussions The Chi: Season 1 Episode 9 Featurette - Yolonda Ross on Jada's Repercussions 1:40 The Chi: Season 1 Episode 9 Clip - Just Gotta Drop Off A Package The Chi: Season 1 Episode 9 Clip - Just Gotta Drop Off A Package 0:43 The Chi: Season 1 Episode 9 Sneak Peek - Wrong Place Wrong Time The Chi: Season 1 Episode 9 Sneak Peek - Wrong Place Wrong Time 1:19 The Chi: Season 1 Episode 9 Preview The Chi: Season 1 Episode 9 Preview 0:29 The Chi: Season 1 Episode 10 Sneak Peek - Need to Hear You Say It The Chi: Season 1 Episode 10 Sneak Peek - Need to Hear You Say It 1:06 The Chi: Season 1 Episode 10 Preview The Chi: Season 1 Episode 10 Preview 0:30 View more videos

Photos

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The Chi — Season 1

The Chi The Chi The Chi The Chi Photo Credit: Courtesy of Showtime View more photos

Creator
Lena Waithe

Executive Producer
Aaron Kaplan, Common, Elwood Reid, Lena Waithe

Network
PARSHO

Rating
TV-MA

Genre
Drama

Original Language
English

Release Date
Jan 7, 2018
The Chi: Season 1 | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

FAQs

Why did peaches leave The Chi? ›

Actress Tiffany Boone Left 'The Chi' After Accusing Her Castmate of Sexual Misconduct. Jerrika “Peaches” Little was featured on two seasons of The Chi before a controversy involving a former castmate caused the actress to leave the show.

What episode of The Chi was picture day? ›

Kevin and Keisha mourn

The last time we saw Kevin in Episode 4, he was fly because it was picture day. When we first see him in this episode, he's getting dressed for his father's funeral, who died from a heart attack.

Who is the brat in The Chi episode? ›

L-R: Da Brat as LaPorsche and Tyla Abercrumbie as Nina in season 6, episode 16 of The Chi, streaming...

How many views does The Chi get? ›

EXCLUSIVE: The Chi is still going strong. The second half of Season 6 debuted on May 12, scoring nearly 2M viewers across platforms in its first seven days, according to Paramount+. That's its best premiere viewership yet on streaming, up 4% versus the last premiere episode (for the first half of Season 6).

Why did trig girl leave The Chi? ›

The trans actress has tweeted that she exited the show because she had to leave “that very toxic environment.” Davis shined alongside Luke James as a ride-or-die couple and foster parents raising teenage Jake played by (Michael Epps) for two seasons.

Who is Trigs' new girlfriend on The Chi? ›

Imani Played by Jasmine Davis - The Chi - Paramount+ Trig's loving girlfriend Imani is ride-or-die for her man, but will stand up to him when she feels he is wrong. She has a good heart and is happy to help people who need it, including aiding Trig in getting custody of Jake.

What season did the girl get kidnapped on The Chi? ›

Kiesha is kidnapped at the beginning of season 3. She is locked in a basem*nt by Omari who wants to save her by making her "clean".

Who is Mr. Bennet in The Chi? ›

The Chi (TV Series 2018– ) - Richard Gant as Mr. Bennett - IMDb.

Who is Q on The Chi season 2? ›

Quentin Played by Steven Williams - The Chi - Paramount+ Quentin is a neighborhood kingpin elder. He has been gone for a while, but has recently returned to try to re-stake his claim.

Is Imani on The Chi really a man? ›

Born a male, Imani has always identified as a woman since a young age. An ordeal that her father didn't receive well. In fact, when Imani was 16, her father tried to kill her with a knife after catching her in drag.

Who killed Douda? ›

Douda and his archenemy Alicia finally come head-to-head in the season finale. Looking for retribution for her brother's death, Alicia pulls out a gun on Douda and is ready to pull the trigger until Nuck shoots his boss first.

Why did Miriam Hyman leave The Chi? ›

Hyman's Dre leave The Chi? Since 2020, Miriam A. Hyman played Dre, and she bid farewell to Showtime's The Chi in Season 6 Episode 9. The reason behind her character's exit is that Dre confessed to her wife Nina about her true feelings.

Why is Kevin leaving The Chi? ›

As expected, Kevin said goodbye to the South Side on last weekend's episode of the Showtime series to take a job as a gamer in Los Angeles. “I'm forever grateful for Chicago. It made me who I am,” Kevin told a crowd at his going-away party. “And I promise, I promise to go out there and make y'all proud.”

Why did Reg leave The Chi? ›

Reg was killed towards the end of the second season. Speculation around his sudden death has led many to believe and even some sites to report that the character was allegedly killed off due to Barton Fitzpatrick refusing to have an on screen trans girlfriend.

Did Showtime cancel The Chi? ›

Good news for fans: Paramount+ and Showtime officially renewed The Chi for a seventh season in May 2024.

What happened to Keisha in The Chi? ›

She was held hostage and raped by a man named Omari; she later gave birth to his child, whom she named Ronnie. The Chi Premiere Recap: Emmett Is in Way Too Deep - Plus, Grade It!

What happened to Douda on The Chi? ›

So, Nuck (Cortez Smith) was dealing on the side and Douda finds out. He is Douda's number two, and Nuck get beaten within an inch of life by his boss. But why allow Nuck to be the one to kill Douda at the end, when Alicia had him within her crosshairs? We didn't want to outsmart ourselves.

What happened to Trice on The Chi? ›

In Season 1, Reg killed Trice (reminder: the former head of his gang faction) and put himself in charge.

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