The Chi

The Chi (/ˈʃaɪ/ SHY) is an American drama television series created by Lena Waithe about life in a neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago. In May 2024, the series was renewed for a seventh season; which premiered on May 18, 2025. In May 2025, the series was renewed for an eighth season. Five months later, it was announced that the eighth season would be the final season.

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."

Cast

Main

• Jason Mitchell as Brandon Johnson (seasons 1–2)
• Ntare Mwine as Ronnie Davis (seasons 1–3)
• Jacob Latimore as Emmett Washington
• Alex R. Hibbert as Kevin Williams (seasons 1–6)
• Tiffany Boone as Jerrika Little (seasons 1–2), Brandon's girlfriend
• Yolonda Ross as Jada Washington (seasons 1–7), Emmett's mother
• Armando Riesco as Detective Cruz (seasons 1–2)
• Rolando Boyce as Darnell Carway (season 2–present), Emmett's father
• Barton Fitzpatrick as Reg Taylor (season 2; recurring; season 1), Jake's older brother and gang leader
• Shamon Brown Jr. as Stanley "Papa" Jackson (season 2—present; recurring; season 1), Kevin and Jake's best friend
• Michael V. Epps as Jake Taylor (season 2–present; recurring; season 1), Kevin and Papa's best friend and Reg and Trig's younger brother
• Birgundi Baker as Kiesha Williams (season 3–present; recurring; seasons 1–2), Kevin's older sister
• Luke James as Victor "Trig" Taylor (season 4–present; recurring; season 3), Reg and Jake's estranged older brother
• Curtiss Cook as Otis "Douda" Perry (seasons 4–6; recurring; seasons 2–3)
• Lynn Whitfield as Alicia (season 7; recurring season 6), Shaad's lover
• Hannaha Hall as Tiffany (season 8; recurring seasons 1–7, the mother of Emmett's child
• Jason Weaver as Rashaad "Shaad" Marshall (season 8; seasons 4–7)

Recurring

• Lucien Cambric as Jason Roxboro (season 1)
• Jahking Guillory as Charles Frederick "Coogie" Johnson (seasons 1, 5, and 6)
• Brian King as Detective Wallace (season 1)
• Steven Williams as Quentin "Q" Dickinson (seasons 1 and 5), a kingpin elder
• Tosin Morohunfola as Trice (season 1)
• Byron Bowers as Meldrick (season 1)
• Sonja Sohn as Laverne Johnson (seasons 1, 3 and 4), Brandon's mother
• Cedric Young as Sonny (seasons 1–3), Q's brother and Emmett's boss
• LaDonna Tittle as Ethel Davis (seasons 1–3), Ronnie's grandmother
• Tyla Abercrumbie as Nina Williams (seasons 1–6), Kevin and Keisha's mother
• Sherrice Eaglin as Vanessa "Peaches" Taylor (seasons 5–6) Jake Trig and Reg mother a recovering a heroin addict
• José Antonio García as Mr. Gasca (seasons 1–2), Kevin's teacher
• Genesis Denise Hale as Maisha
• Mariah Gordon as Andrea (season 1)
• Chris Lee as Hannibal (seasons 1–3), Brandon's cousin
• Tai Davis as Tracy Roxboro, Jason's mother
• Common as Rafiq (seasons 1–2)
• Crystal Dickinson as Detective Alice Toussaint (season 2)
• Miriam A. Hyman as Dre (season 3–present), Nina's partner who is a high school counselor
• Jasmine Davis as Imani (seasons 3 and 4), Trig's girlfriend
• La La Anthony as Dominque "Dom" Morris (seasons 3–present)
• Cortez Smith as Isiah "Nuck" Rogers (season 3–present), Douda's former right-hand man, In season 6 finale, he kills Douda and take over, as new leader of the 63rd street mob.
• Judae'a Brown as Jemma (season 3–present)
• Kandi Burruss as Roselyn Perry (season 3–present), Douda's estranged wife
• Lena Waithe as Camille Hallaway (season 3), a mayoral candidate
• Lil Rel Howery as Zeke Remnick (season 3), Sonny's landlord.
• L'lerrét Jazelle as Fatima (season 5–present), Victor's love interest
• Ahmad Ferguson as Bakari (season 3–present)
• Tabitha Brown as Octavia (season 4)
• Vic Mensa as Jamal (seasons 4 and 6)
• Da Brat as LaPorsha (seasons 4 and 6)
• Cory Hardrict as Dante (season 4–present)
• Zaria Imani Primer as Lynae (season 4–present)
• Iman Shumpert as Rob (seasons 4–6), Tiffany's love interest
• Amari Ferguson as Britney (season 6)
• Kadeem Hardison as Professor Gardner (season 6)
• Jill Marie Jones as Bianca (season 6)
• Leon Robinson as Alonzo (season 6), Alicia's ex-husband, Rob's father
• Kennedy Amaya as Kenya (season 6–present), Papa's love interest & Zay's lover
• Aaron Guy as Zay (season 6–present), Kenya's lover
• Daniel J. Watts as Pastor Zeke, (seasons 6–present)
• Brett Gray as Damien (season 6–present), Darnell's son, Emmett's half-brother
• Rotimi as Charles (season 7–present; guest season 6), a former assistant of Pastor Zeke, who returns to church for a second chance
• Wendy Raquel Robinson as Riley Dalton (season 7)

Episodes

Season 1 (2018)

Season 2 (2019)

Season 3 (2020)

Season 4 (2021)

Season 5 (2022)

Season 6 (2023–24)

Season 7 (2025)

Production

On January 30, 2018, Showtime renewed the series for a second season which premiered on April 7, 2019. On April 30, 2019, Showtime renewed the series for a third season which premiered on June 21, 2020. On May 20, 2019, it was announced that Jason Mitchell would not be returning to the show for season 3 because of "misconduct allegations". His character was killed off in the season 3 premiere. On September 8, 2020, Showtime renewed the series for a fourth season which premiered on May 23, 2021. In March 2021, production on the series was paused due to a positive COVID-19 test. On August 2, 2021, after the conclusion of the fourth season, it was announced that the series was renewed for a fifth season. The fifth season premiered on June 24, 2022. On August 18, 2022, the series was renewed for season six before the conclusion of season five. On May 8, 2024, Paramount+ With Showtime renewed the series for a seventh season that wrapped production on early October 2024. The seventh season premiered on Paramount+ With Showtime on May 16, 2025, before making its air debut two days later on Showtime. On May 29, 2025, the series was renewed for an eighth season. On October 1, 2025, it was reported that the eight season is going to be the final season. Production on season 8 started in January 2026.

Release

The Chi premiered on January 7, 2018, on Showtime.

Home media

20th Century Fox Television released Seasons 1 and 2 of The Chi on DVD in Region 1.

Reception

Critical response

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds an approval rating of 87% based on 47 reviews, with an average rating of 7.5/10. 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." On Metacritic, the season has a weighted average score of 73 out of 100 based on 22 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

Accolades

Notes

External links

• at IMDb