10 Shows Like The Chi You Must See

Created by Lena Waithe, ‘The Chi’ chronicles a community in the South Side of Chicago that gets brought together by a fateful event. The key characters in the story include preteen Kevin Williams (Alex R. Hibbert), who is trying his best to have a normal childhood, Brandon Johnson (Jason Mitchell), who is head over heels for Jerrika Little (Tiffany Boone), Emmett Washington (Jacob Latimore), who follows the guidance of his mother, and Ronnie Davis (Ntare Mwine), a drifter who craves love and acceptance. Living in a society where the smallest of actions can result in a choice between life and death, the five meet at the same crossroads and learn to work together. If the coming-of-age drama has piqued your interest, here are some more shows similar to ‘The Chi’ that you may consider watching next.

10. Seven Seconds (2018)

‘Seven Seconds’ by Veena Sud explores the aftermath of an accident where a white police officer, Peter Jablonski (Beau Knapp), fatally runs over 15-year-old black cyclist Brenton Butler (Daykwon Gaines). Jersey City boils over with racial tension as the police department rallies to support their own and attempts to cover up the case. However, Assistant Prosecutor KJ Harper (Clare-Hope Ashitey) pushes for the case to be prosecuted as a hate crime as well as negligent homicide. The mini-series makes a case for the plight of the Black community as a whole, similar to ‘The Chi.’

9. All American (2018-)

Inspired by the life of NFL star Spencer Paysinger, ‘All American’ by April Blair revolves around Spencer James (Daniel Ezra), a rising football star from Crenshaw. Beverly High football coach Billy Baker (Taye Diggs) recruits Spencer for his team, offering to change his life. While hesitant at first, the teenager later agrees and moves into Beverly Hills, meeting new people and creating new bonds. Much like ‘The Chi,’ ‘All American’ delivers a powerful story of young adults making the best of shifting dynamics.

8. Empire (2015-2020)

From the minds of Lee Daniels and Danny Strong, ‘Empire’ tells the story of drug dealer-turned-hip hop mogul Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard) who gets diagnosed with ALS. As the CEO of Empire Entertainment, he begins to look for his successor from among his children. His favourite, Hakeem (Bryshere Y. Gray), is a gifted musician who values fame over hard work. The middle son, R&B singer-songwriter Jamal (Jussie Smollett), is talented but embarrasses Lucious with his sexual orientation.

Meanwhile, the eldest son, Empire CFO Andre (Trai Byers), simply lacks charisma. The situation is further complicated by the release of Lucious’ ex-wife, Cookie Lyon (Taraji P. Henson), from prison after serving 17 years. She claims that Lucious owes her for taking the fall for the drug hustle that financed his early career. The plot brings the family together at a time of crisis, even though they find it difficult to trust each other blindly.

7. Wu-Tang: An American Saga (2019-2023)

‘Wu-Tang: An American Saga’ is a fictionalized take on the formation of the real-life band Wu-Tang Clan, created by band leader The RZA and Alex Tse. The story begins in New York City in the 1990s, when Bobby Diggs, aka The RZA (Ashton Sanders), turns to rap music as a means to get out of the drug trade. Going against the wishes of his older brother Mitchell, he brings together a dozen young men who are at a similar crossroads in their lives. The group fights against mounting pressure to get to the top, demonstrating the collective effort also highlighted in ‘The Chi.’

6. Atlanta (2016-)

Helmed by Donald Glover, ‘Atlanta’ follows two cousins trying to make their mark in the city’s music scene. Donald stars as Earn Marks, who manages his rapper cousin Alfred Miles (Brian Tyree Henry), in a desperate attempt to redeem himself in the eyes of his loved ones. A dropout from Princeton, he is completely broke and stays alternately with his parents or ex-girlfriend and mother of his child, Vanessa Kiefer (Zazie Beetz). The surrealist comedy drama brings people together on a serious note, yet maintains the light-hearted tone that sets it apart.

5. Treme (2010-2013)

Set in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, ‘Treme’ by David Simon and Eric Overmyer details the lives of the locals in the aftermath of the 2005 tragedy. Ordinary people, as well as celebrities, joined hands as they tried to rebuild their lives and preserve their way of living. The ensemble cast for the series includes Khandi Alexander, Rob Brown, Chris Coy, Kim Dickens, India Ennenga, John Goodman, David Morse, Clarke Peters, and Wendell Pierce, among others. The role of the fateful incident that unites the community in ‘The Chi’ is played by Katrina in ‘Treme.’

4. Power (2014-2020)

Created by Courtney A. Kemp, ‘Power’ centers around cold-hearted drug dealer James St. Patrick (Omari Hardwick). Going by the alias Ghost, he wishes to leave the illegal trade and own a nightclub instead, making his business completely legitimate. The decision is a desperate attempt for James to save his crumbling marriage to Tasha (Naturi Naughton). As the show progresses, he faces old and new individuals, most of whom share their best interests at heart. The series exemplified human solidarity in the face of serious trouble.

3. Godfather of Harlem (2019-)

Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein’s ‘Godfather of Harlem’ is a fictionalized retelling of the life of crime boss Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker), who ran the streets of New York in the 1960s. When Bumpy is released from prison after a decade, he is disappointed to find the streets of his neighborhood being run by the Italian mob. Making alliances and compromises, he steadily climbs up the business ladder. He also participates in the Civil Rights movement after becoming close with Malcolm X. The series showcases the struggle of the displaced Black person to find their place in a society that itself is in flux.

2. BMF (2021-)

Inspired by a true story, BMF centers around two brothers, Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory (Demetrius Flenory Jr.) and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory (Da’Vinchi). They give birth to one of the most influential crime families in the US, dabbling with drug trafficking across borders. In the early days, their venture grew as a result of Demetrius’s leadership and charisma, as well as Terry’s business acumen and far-sightedness. With unwavering faith in themselves and their family, they set out to achieve the American dream. The united spirit that shines through ‘The Chi’ is also highlighted in ‘BMF.’

1. The Wire (2002-2008)

Former police reporter David Simon created ‘The Wire,’ loosely based on the experiences of former homicide detective Ed Burns. It dives into the illegal drug trade in Baltimore, Maryland, and its impact on the prominent institutions of the city, such as law enforcement, bureaucracy, the education department, and the media. Dealing with the themes of institutional dysfunction and surveillance, each episode is seemingly independent and linked only by greater overarching themes and settings. As with ‘The Chi,’ ‘The Wire’ addresses issues that affect the community rather than the individual. It shows the plight of the minority groups, the workings of the criminal underbelly in cities, as well as its co-existence with ordinary lives. As such, the two shows greatly resemble each other in spirit.