The Chi

I was excited to watch this show over the first maybe 3 episodes. A lot of street interaction, gangs, a window into their South Side of Chicago tough lives. The past two seasons though, kinda suck. If I wanted to see boyfriend / girlfriend in the ghetto stories, I would be watching BET - or Lifetime.

Kissie-kissie - nice-nice.

Story line has become way too simplistic and unrealistic. Please !! Get this ship back on course !!!

This show seemed like it was going to be really good, but fell off tremendously and drug on with no end in sight. Very boring in season 2

I'll tell you straight up, I'm from Chicago long time resident of the South Side and this show is by far the best portrayal of the South Side I have ever seen on TV. The Chi doesn't pull any punches and we get a show were the characters are so complicated and diverse, and the chemistry between them all is just so well balanced. The best way I can describe this show is like a fine tuned wristwatch. Don't go into this show thinking its all about gangs and poor black people living on food stamps.

As a citizen of Chicago living on the South Side, I am glad this show is showcasing how everyday life is. You watch the news and all you hear is "there was another shooting, possibly gang related.' Hence the words "Gang Related' this is the media's attempt to write off the violence that occurs in SOME not ALL of the communities on the South Side. Whenever I hear a shooting was a so-called gang hit on the news, I just shake my head. Most if not 100% of the time, shootings are the result of beefs or feuds between peoples that are not linked to a gang. And this show the Chi hits that mark square on with its first episode and its continuation. And also 100% of those shootings happen to be mistaken identity or what have you.

But moving away from the shootings and the gangs and all that, the South Side of Chicago is so much more than this. In the Chi. the creators of the show have highlighted these aspects, things people even living in Chicago do not know about.

If you're a TV buff with a taste for an authentic storyline, try the Chi. You won't disappointed.

I have never reviewed a show or movie before. I feel that this show is probably more realistic than some reviewers are giving credit. I listened to an interview from the writer of this show and she is from Chicago. From what I understood, her goal was to take a murder and build from that. To show the audience the ripples that the murder we see on the news actually has on the people in a neighbourhood like this. Most of the characters are good people but the murder of that one person creates consequences and impacts all those around. To think this is fiction or couldn't happen is naive in the world we currently live in. I agree with the one reviewer who compared it to The Wire. An excellent show with great writing and acting.

The Chi is one of the best shows to air in a long time. Watching it after the utter dross that is MacMafia reminded me of how good television should look and feel. The writers take their time to introduce you to the characters, and give them space to develop. A rare thing these days. It's been compared to The Wire, and there are definite similarities (obviously no bad thing), but The Chi has a vibe all of it's own and gradually hooks you in. Most shows aim to have someone on screen you can empathise with, or at least identify with, but here there are so many members of the cast you genuinely want to go along with for the ride. I'm surprised this show doesn't have a higher rating. From the reviews so far it's clear some people just don't get it, or have the time to let something grow, but this is top class television and I hope it gets the audience it clearly deserves.