'The Chi' Season 3 Episode 1 Review: New beginnings and steady storyline gives it a promising start
Spoilers for 'The Chi' Season 3 Episode 1 'Foe' 'Nem'
'The Chi' Season 3 Episode 1 'Foe' 'Nem' marks new beginnings. With the series undergoing a string of changes, it brings Brandon's character arc to a close, while opening a new chapter in Nina's (Tyla Abercrombie) life as she marries Dre (Miriam A Hyman), her girlfriend. The season opener is a tale of acceptance, understanding and effort all blended into one episode. 'The Chi' became an instant success because of its knack to weave in storylines of people in Chicago's South Side seamlessly. And while at it, it introduces new characters set to play multi-episode arcs this season.
It is just typical 'The Chi' as it shows happiness isn't an everyday thing for the people in that part of town. Even as Nina and Dre gear up for a new life, the other end is mourning the death of Brandon (Jason Mitchell), with his mother, Laverne (Sonja Sohn) declaring she wasn't worthy of raising two children as all she could give them was trauma and pain. Mitchell was an integral part of the drama, in Brandon, Mitchell played an aspiring chef, a great boyfriend, a good brother figure to Kevin Williams (Alex R Hibbert) and most importantly, a responsible son.
While Mitchell's alleged inappropriate behavior may have resulted in his exit from the show, his send-off in the show was touching. While the drama opens with Nina and Dre's wedding, it quickly switches to Emmett and Kevin tearing up as they sit in church listening to Laverne lament and pay a rich tribute to Brandon. 'Foe' 'Nem' develops new storylines early on in the season. Otis Perry (Curtiss Cook) uses Brandon's death as a platform to run for Mayor while Victor "Trig" Taylor (Luke James), Jake's estranged brother hits town with every intention of taking him back.
Speaking of Jake (Michael V Epps), Papa (Shamon Brown Jr), and Kevin, the trio seems to have graduated to the next level drinking wine, rolling up joints, and experiencing their first dose of getting intimate with the girls. 'The Chi' has seen the growth of these three characters over the last two seasons and now their teenage part adds more layers to each character. At the moment, it is evident that these kids have experienced the good and bad the town has had to offer. Only time will tell what's in store for the trio.
A major part of the episode manages to put a wide smile on the audience's faces. The group twerking scene that's part of the wedding celebrations is an absolute delight as it gets these characters to let their hair down and forget the torrid times they were all in at some stage. Emmett's (Jacob Latimore) storyline this time around might be the most interesting as he still holds a special place for Keisha (Birgundi Baker) in his heart. He attempts to fill in Brandon's boots and his arc just might be the one actually planned for Brandon.
Trig Taylor is unconventional and he's not a man afraid to kill if it means securing his family. With Reggie's (Barton Fitzpatrick) passing, Jake and Taylor's relationship will most obviously be a rockier one this season and that can be a small plotline in itself that the series might cover at some stage. Ronnie (Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine) is still a man searching for his calling. His ouster from Brandon's funeral and his incessant drinking puts him in the 'Not Wanted' zone.
'The Chi' Season 3 gets off to a promising start and the only challenge it faces is giving these characters more depth as the series goes deeper. It maintains its traditional style of dropping a shocker in the final minutes with Keisha's abduction. 'Foe' 'Nem' gets steadier by the minute as it goes back to its tried and tested method of juggling multiple storylines enough to fuel theories about how they move forward. 'The Chi' fans will be quite pleased with the start.
'The Chi' Season 3 airs on Sundays 9 pm ET on Showtime.