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The Chi

2018 – 2026Show8 seasons88 episodesTV-MA

Drama
71
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb7.5Metacritic735.8Rotten Tomatoes–65%

A moving, slow-burning drama series about everyday modern life and family, with standout performances and world-building.

Good for date night · friends night · teens

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for laughs, scares or warmth.

Shows with

Episodes

8 seasons · 88 episodes · best: S8E5 "The Dead of Winter" 9.1

Episodes

7.8
7.9
7.6
7.1
7.7
8.2
8.5
8.6

Story

Love lives on.

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.

Feels like

  • Gritty Urban Realism
  • Ensemble Character Study
  • South Side Chicago Setting
  • Complex Family Dynamics
  • Socioeconomic Struggle
  • Authentic Dialogue
  • Coming-of-Age Drama
  • Emotional Resonance
  • Systemic Inequality Commentary

Cast

24 of 209 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Gandja Monteiro, Quincy LeNear Gossfield, Deondray Gossfield
Written by
Lena Waithe, Whitney Beckwith, Mia A. Brumfield

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

January 7, 2018 · July 26, 2026 · Ended

First aired
January 7, 2018
Last aired
July 26, 2026
Status
Ended
Length
8 seasons · 88 episodes
Age rating
TV-MA
Content
Violence, Strong Language, Drug Use, Sexual Content
Genres
Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
50 countries

Tropes

Character Death, Disappeared Dad, One-Word Title +4

  • Character Death
  • Disappeared Dad
  • One-Word Title
  • Idiosyncratic Episode Naming
  • Creator Cameo
  • Alliterative Title
  • Tagline

From TV Tropes.

Q&A

4 questions, like "Where can I stream The Chi?"

Questions about The Chi

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Chi?

fuboTVParamount+Spectrum On Demand

In the United States, The Chi streams on fuboTV, Paramount+, and Spectrum On Demand. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 49 other countries.

Is The Chi worth watching?

71
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 71 (IMDb 7.5 and Metacritic 73). Season 4 is the weak spot, with an IMDb average of 7.1 against 8.6 for the best season.

Which season of The Chi is best?

Season 8, with an IMDb average of 8.6. Season 4 is the weakest at 7.1. The highest-rated episode is The Dead of Winter (season 8, episode 5) at 9.1, and the lowest is Native Son (season 4, episode 3) at 6.3.

Is The Chi plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and dialogue centrality (8 of 10) more than on its plot.