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- SHOWTIME
- Nov 30, 2017
- SHOWTIME
- Nov 30, 2017
Summary The coming-of-age drama from Common, Elwood Reid, and Lena Waithe follows a group of residents in the South Side of Chicago including Brandon (Jason Mitchell), who dreams of opening up a restaurant with his girlfriend (Tiffany Boone) but is torn by his responsibilities toward his younger brother Coogie (Jahking Guillory) and their alcoho...
Created By: Lena Waithe
- SHOWTIME
- Nov 30, 2017
- SHOWTIME
- Nov 30, 2017
Summary The coming-of-age drama from Common, Elwood Reid, and Lena Waithe follows a group of residents in the South Side of Chicago including Brandon (Jason Mitchell), who dreams of opening up a restaurant with his girlfriend (Tiffany Boone) but is torn by his responsibilities toward his younger brother Coogie (Jahking Guillory) and their alcoho...
Created By: Lena Waithe
Where to Watch
Season Episodes
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6 Seasons
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 22 Critic Reviews
73
82% Positive
18 Reviews
18 Reviews
14% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
5% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 22 Critic Reviews
73
82% Positive
18 Reviews
18 Reviews
14% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
5% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Whether young, old or in-between, all of these characters resonate in their own distinct ways as The Chi builds both momentum and suspense. This is no small achievement for Waithe, whose first TV series under her direct control is bursting with flavor and humanity in a South Chicago proving ground. The footing is always slippery, but the storytelling remains bracingly sure-footed.
Absorbing and organic from practically the get-go, The Chi will inevitably draw comparisons to "The Wire," the definitive drama about the perils of inner-city life. Yet this richly detailed look at intersecting paths, cutting across generations, quickly carves its own niche, one where tragedy begets tragedy, and vengeance comes with consequences.
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 51 User Ratings
5.9
59% Positive
30 Ratings
30 Ratings
6% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
35% Negative
18 Ratings
18 Ratings
User Score
Mixed or Average
Based on 51 User Ratings
5.9
59% Positive
30 Ratings
30 Ratings
6% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
35% Negative
18 Ratings
18 Ratings
Watched all 10 episodes. Great show! Yes, the dialogue for the children is a bit too adult - but funny. It works, the boy with the glasses is a comedian. And watch out for Birgundi Angel Baker, what a stunning beauty and talent, playing Keisha. Interesting characters, a good mix of modern music, emotional drama and action.
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SEASON 1
i really wanted to like this show but its plagued by some very bad acting. the kids are just terible in this show. i dont know who's idea it was for kids to do this much cursing and for them to take in adult commentary. i thought this would be between the wire and power but its neither of those shows. its far worse. the main character is always over act icing on small parts and trying to turn them into big ones for no reason. i watched every episode so far hoping that this show will get better but so far it hasn't
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SEASON 1
The meat of the story, a group of black men caught up in senseless, endemic violence, feels familiar, if with some very good acting, particularly from Mitchell. It’s the stories and the characters on the margins that feel fresh.
[Lena Waithe] gives us a large ensemble of Chicagoans, each well-drawn, and then slowly links them together--on occasion, a little awkwardly--across the first four episodes made available to critics. What at the start might seem like a somewhat random selection of neighborhood folks becomes increasingly intentional. The focus sharpens with each hour.
If its ambitions sometimes outstrip its execution, the drama’s generosity and seriousness of purpose give heft to its most successful storylines.
It is a sometimes frustrating experience in that there’s a lot to like regarding ambition and ensemble, but the writing often strains to connect its multiple threads in a way that feels organic. The show’s examination of the cycle of violence in particular feels forced and doesn’t really get to the truth about the way crime intrinsically feeds on itself.
For a series called The Chi, there’s remarkably little here that lends a sense of specificity or a deeper view into the machinations of Chicago’s South Side--or even where in that expansive area the story is unfolding.
I gave this show a shot and was completely underwhelmed. It was formulaic and stereotypical. Did it bother anyone else that all of the characters were wearing perfect outfits? Expensive, impeccably clean and pressed? It was like the wardrobe department didn't get the memo that the show was being set on Chicago's south side, where money would be tight. The swearing by the young kids seemed forced and unnecessary. Oh did I mention that every student had a brand new back pack? This lack of realism completely distracted me from the plot. One episode was enough for me.
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SEASON 1
I also really wanted to like this show. But it just doesn't work. At times over acted, most times poorly acted and badly contrived storytelling bring it down. Emotional beats don't land and the characters are wooden and not unique or compelling enough to inspire me to watch more than the first few episodes.
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SEASON 1