The Chi: Pilot
January 9, 2018 2:59 PM - Season 1, Episode 1 - Subscribe
A fictional drama following the lives of several people growing up in contemporary South Side Chicago; available on Showtime and Amazon.
(Extended description courtesy of Metacritic)
The coming-of-age drama from Common, Elwood Reid, and Lena Waithe follows a group of residents in the South Side of Chicago including Brandon (Jason Mitchell), who dreams of opening up a restaurant with his girlfriend (Tiffany Boone) but is torn by his responsibilities toward his younger brother Coogie (Jahking Guillory) and their alcoholic mother (Sonja Sohn); 13-tear-old Kevin (Alex Hibbert) who finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time; and Jada (Yolonda Ross) a single mother to her son Emmett (Jacob Latimore).
(Extended description courtesy of Metacritic)
The coming-of-age drama from Common, Elwood Reid, and Lena Waithe follows a group of residents in the South Side of Chicago including Brandon (Jason Mitchell), who dreams of opening up a restaurant with his girlfriend (Tiffany Boone) but is torn by his responsibilities toward his younger brother Coogie (Jahking Guillory) and their alcoholic mother (Sonja Sohn); 13-tear-old Kevin (Alex Hibbert) who finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time; and Jada (Yolonda Ross) a single mother to her son Emmett (Jacob Latimore).
It was heavy but I enjoyed it. I tend to be really choosy in my TV shows. The characters were believable and the characters weren't one-sided; we saw the awkwardness of the little boy Kevin with his crush; the
The only subplot line that I didn't care for was the flirting between the chef's wife and Brandon.
posted by fizzix at 4:27 PM on January 11, 2018
The only subplot line that I didn't care for was the flirting between the chef's wife and Brandon.
posted by fizzix at 4:27 PM on January 11, 2018
Obligatory Chicagoan freakout about how they definitely didn’t film most (any?) of this actually on 79th
I haven't seen this yet, but owing to the amount of time they spent blocking streets, I think a very large chunk of it was filmed just a few blocks away from where I live. Approx 19th and Albany right on the dividing line between Little Village and Douglas Park/North Lawndale.
posted by phunniemee at 6:07 PM on January 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
I haven't seen this yet, but owing to the amount of time they spent blocking streets, I think a very large chunk of it was filmed just a few blocks away from where I live. Approx 19th and Albany right on the dividing line between Little Village and Douglas Park/North Lawndale.
posted by phunniemee at 6:07 PM on January 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Have now watched and can confirm that nearly every scene in this first episode outside of the bougie restaurant was shot between Kedzie and Albany around 19th Street. So weird seeing where I walk my dog and drive through every day on tv.
posted by phunniemee at 7:30 PM on January 26, 2018
posted by phunniemee at 7:30 PM on January 26, 2018
Really liked the pilot. Solid writing, some standout performances (all the moms on this show!!). And I love a show/ movie in a black universe. Looking forward to more.
posted by latkes at 10:36 PM on February 3, 2018
posted by latkes at 10:36 PM on February 3, 2018
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This was heavy, but good. I’ll watch more of it. I don’t know how much more I have to say about it after just the one episode.
posted by jeweled accumulation at 9:28 AM on January 11, 2018