'The Chi' Season 3 Episode 8 Review: Slow, gentle look into a woman's psyche after physical and mental abuse
Spoilers for 'The Chi' Season 3 Episode 8 'Frunchroom'
As expected and as is it should ideally be, the episode is all about a now-recovering Kiesha Williams (Birgundi Baker). The mental and physical trauma she endured at the hands of her abductor is still fresh and it is safe to say she was and by the end of the episode is still hurting. 'The Chi' has taken a stance on social issues over the season and 'Frunchroom' sees it make a fervent attempt to showcase the mindset of women suffering from the after-effects of physical and mental abuse.
And it does so by taking the old-fashioned route. This is no tale of grit and determination that sees Kiesha rise like the phoenix. This isn't about her finding her way back on her own. Nor is it about her pretending on the outside as if everything is just fine under the sun. Instead, we see a crystal clear image of what a family goes through — fractured relationships, misunderstandings, fury, helplessness and an attempt to find comfort by the end of it all.
The episode may come across like a soap opera considering the storyline. Slow-paced and gentle 'Frunchroom' maybe, but in no ways is it subtle and rightfully so. Women like Kiesha are an example of the unfortunate women who succumb to rape and more horrid forms of sexual abuse in the present day, and while the series gives a second lease of life for the character, the world isn't really so kind as to provide a second chance to most women.
In the end, it all boils down to relationships in 'Frunchroom'. Kiesha finds a relief and a temporary getaway from her stress in the form of Emmett (Jacob Latimore) who makes her laugh by recounting his own life incidents. His fling with Dom (La La Anthony) was an example of how he's just jumped from the frying pan to the fire. And while that along with Jake (Michael V Epps) and Papa (Shamon Brown Jr) may have added to the comic relief, there are still valuable lessons to learn from the episode.
Support is essential. No, scratch that. Support is integral and is absolutely crucial at a time when a grave incident occurs. And the importance of counseling and therapy cannot be stressed upon enough. These are the biggest lessons 'Frunchroom' gives as family and friends make their way to cheer up and check in on Kiesha. It is a heartening episode and leaves you with a lump in the throat by the end of it. Kiesha may have started her process of recovery, but the road is a long one.
This is an episode where just everything else happening on the South Side takes a backseat. There's no Douda (Curtiss Cook) politics, no Trig (Luke James), no Jada's (Yolonda Ross) storyline. It's just Kiesha and to some extent, Ronnie (Ntare Mwine) who thanks her for helping him gain purpose in life. While that may make the viewers feel the episode is a slow-burner, it justifies it by telling a story of sadness and the beginning of looking at the silver lining despite life being a dodge ball.
'The Chi' Season 3 airs Sundays 9 pm ET on Showtime.