Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources

The Chi (2018)
A relevant, timely and distinctive coming-of-age story following a half dozen interrelated characters in the South Side of Chicago. The story centers on Brandon, an ambitious and confident young man who dreams about opening a restaurant of his own someday, but is conflicted between the promise of a new life and his responsibility to his mother and teenage brother back in the South Side.
A relevant, timely and distinctive coming-of-age story following a half dozen interrelated characters in the South Side of Chicago. The story centers on Brandon, an ambitious and confident young man who dreams about opening a restaurant of his own someday, but is conflicted between the promise of a new life and his responsibility to his mother and teenage brother back in the South Side.
The Chi's dominant themes align with progressive values, primarily focusing on the systemic roots of urban poverty and violence, and championing community resilience and social justice in the face of racial inequality.
The series authentically portrays the lives of a predominantly Black community, featuring a diverse cast that reflects its setting without explicit race or gender swaps of traditionally white roles. The narrative explores social issues and the experiences of its characters, focusing on their realities rather than explicitly critiquing traditional identities.
The Chi features multiple LGBTQ+ characters across different generations, exploring themes of self-discovery, love, and acceptance within the Black community. While initial struggles with prejudice are depicted, the narrative consistently affirms queer identities and relationships with dignity, complexity, and empathy, leading to a net positive portrayal.
The Chi features Bakari, a trans man, as a central character and love interest. His portrayal is affirming, depicting him with dignity, agency, and a supportive relationship. The show respectfully explores his identity and challenges, framing obstacles as external and promoting understanding and acceptance within the narrative.
The series consistently portrays Christianity, its churches, and its adherents as a foundational pillar of the community, offering solace, moral guidance, and a strong sense of belonging amidst adversity. While individual characters or institutions may exhibit flaws or hypocrisy, the narrative generally affirms the positive role of faith in providing hope and resilience, rather than critiquing the religion itself.
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
The Chi is an original drama series created by Lena Waithe. All characters introduced in the show are new and original to this production, not adaptations of pre-existing characters from source material or prior installments. Therefore, no gender swaps occur.
The Chi is an original drama series created for television in 2018. As such, all its characters are new and original, without prior canonical or historical racial depictions to be altered.
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources























