The Chi

The Chi has built a devoted audience in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on fuboTV and Paramount Plus Premium among viewers who want their drama to earn its emotional beats. 8 seasons in, and the quality has not slipped. An 8/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Every performance stays in register with the material. Put it on tonight on Disney Plus and see for yourself.

There is a reason The Chi keeps coming up in conversation. The writing in The Chi treats its characters as people first, plot devices second. 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. It ran for 8 seasons (2018–2026), and the writing holds up across every one of them. The writing trusts the audience to sit with ambiguity rather than wrapping everything up in a tidy conclusion — it is the approach that separates good drama from great. The hit rate here is high enough that skipping ahead never feels like an option.

Drama fans who appreciate slow-burn storytelling will feel right at home with The Chi. Fans of Parish will recognise the sensibility here immediately. The 8-season run rewards the patience it asks of you. Every performance here earns its place, lead or not. The patience it asks of you early on is paid back with interest.

The Chi is currently airing new episodes, created by Lena Waithe — so there's no better time to catch up before the story moves forward. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.