TV Show review
Review basis: 8 seasons, 88 episodes · through May 24, 2026
January 7, 2018 · TV-MA · Returning Series
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
The Chi is an eight-season drama created by Lena Waithe about interconnected Black residents on Chicago's South Side. Characters face family duties, crime and violence, ambition, relationships, and community ties while growing up and making choices that can change lives. The series includes prominent Black queer characters such as lesbian couples, a trans woman in a relationship, and gay men in storylines, plus later arcs with local politics and power struggles.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The Chi.
Woke representation / casting
Nearly all prominent roles filled by Black actors in an ensemble centered on South Side Chicago residents. Multiple queer characters receive dedicated storylines, including trans and gay Black men and women in relationships, added and expanded intentionally over seasons.
Woke political dialogue
Characters discuss police distrust, violence, and community survival in ways fitting the setting. Later seasons add city politics and power arcs with references to institutional change. Some dialogue includes social or identity points without dominating every episode.
Identity-driven story themes
The premise and ongoing stories center Black South Side experiences, family, survival, and redemption. Creator goals and additions of prominent queer Black characters and community leadership arcs make identity and representation elements recurring and visible.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Police appear flawed and distrusted by residents. Storylines address poverty and crime cycles. Later arcs involve political maneuvering, including a mayor figure tied to policing changes, and shifts in community power that drew some viewer notes on gender dynamics.
Production
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Fans on Reddit and social platforms have called out woke agendas, trans relationship normalization, woke propaganda characters, and agendas against men. Limited older commentary on agenda-heavy narratives. Criticism stays mostly in online fan spaces with thin mainstream coverage.
Creator track record context
Lena Waithe has a clear record of Black and queer visibility work, including her Emmy-winning coming-out episode and a production company focused on BIPOC and underrepresented storytellers with high LGBTQ participation in programs. Writers like Patrik-Ian Polk specialize in Black queer narratives. Other contributors include moderate identity emphasis per available records.
