Parents' Guide to

The Chi

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Well-written South Chicago-themed drama isn't for kids.

TV Showtime Drama 2018
The Chi Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 18+

Based on 2 parent reviews

KiaraJoe
KiaraJoe Adult
July 5, 2022
age 18+

Lazy

I mean honestly, what’s up with all the sex now in tv and film. Lazy. Maybe try having a good story. That means you, Euphoria.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Champlewis2000
Champlewis2000 Adult
July 11, 2020
age 18+

Not for kids

I personally like this show based of realism and story line but don’t let your kids watch it. If you watch it with them too often will you need to tell them to cover their eyes and or look away. Sometimes you never know when a sex scene is going to come up so it’s better to be safe than sorry. If you don’t think they can handle the birds and the bees talk they don’t need to watch it. It gets Very graphic as far as sex and violence.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Created by Master of None's Lena Waithe, THE CHI is a dramatic series about a group of residents living on Chicago's South Side. After the nighttime shooting of a young man, what transpires connects the lives of Emmett (Jacob Latimore), a young father of three who lives with mom Jada (Yolonda Ross); young Kevin (Alex R. Hibbert), a nice kid trying to survive his tough surroundings; Ronnie (Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine), a perpetually unemployed man with a broken heart; and Brandon (Jason Mitchell), a man working hard to improve himself and build a restaurant career with his girlfriend, Jerrika (Tiffany Boone). They each struggle with their individual personal relationships and challenges, all of which are impacted by the poverty, gang violence, and illegal activity taking place in their neighborhoods daily. Meanwhile, South Side law enforcement officers like Detective Cruz (Armando Riesco) wrestle with the residents' distrust of the police while trying to work with them to stop the bloodshed.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (2 ):

Edgy and complicated, this series presents a character-driven story that highlights the realities of living in Chicago's South Side. It has a large ensemble cast, but the main characters reveal themselves to be well-rounded and complex as they fight their individual inner demons while collectively grappling with cyclical violence, poverty, and institutional racism.

It's well-written, but some folks may find the beginning a little hard to follow thanks to the sheer number of characters and plotlines. But everything becomes more focused as the overall story moves forward and the characters' lives become more interconnected. If you're looking for good, solid drama to commit to, The Chi has a lot to offer.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about some of the social problems urban neighborhoods must often face. Why do certain parts of cities seem more prone to violence and illegal activity than others?

  • Does The Chi offer an accurate portrayal of what life on Chicago's South Side is like? If so, what has to happen in order to make life there less dangerous?

TV Details

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