EXCLUSIVE | 'The Chi' star Michael V Epps says his character Jake will find 'right love and care' in Season 3
'The Chi' Season 3 hit the ground up and running on June 21 and one of the stars of the show, Michael V Epps, promised that a great character journey and some real-life situations not typically seen on TV are in store for the audience this season. In an exclusive interview with MEA WorldWide (MEAWW), Epps, who plays Jake, opened up about the show and the journey so far and also teased Season 3.
For Epps, coming back to a new season meant the audience loved his character. "It feels great because that means they like my character and the show itself is doing well," he says. The actor, after being a pivotal part of Seasons 1 and 2 added that he was excited for the new installment as it sees Jake clawing back to finding the right path. "He finally has the right guidance in his life right now," he said.
Over the course of the season, viewers were given a look at Jake's past. While his father is not in the picture throughout the series, his mother is a drug addict in recovery, both of whom Jake has not seen. The Chicago native agrees that background had a major impact on shaping Jake's upbringing. "He didn’t have a father growing up so there are some things in life that he doesn’t really understand," Epps explained. "Because he didn’t have a father in his life to teach or guide him the right way."
He also agrees that Jake's growth and evolution as a character has been anything but terrible. "He has been heading down a bad path and it looks like Jake is completely throwing his life away all because he had the mindset that that is the right way to go." Much of this had to do with the relationship he shared with his brother, Reg (Barton Fitzpatrick), who was gunned down in the Season 2 finale. Reg was more of a dealer and a goon and that did play a role in steering Jake in the wrong direction.
The season opener 'Foe' 'Nem' saw Jake pay a heartfelt tribute to Reg when the teens are seen drinking wine in the kitchen during Nina Williams (Tyla Abercrumbie) and Dre's (Miriam A Hyman) wedding. Jake pours some wine on the floor saying it was for his brother, and Kevin Williams (Alex R Hibbert) does the same to pay his respects. "I would describe him as lost because he is lost. He doesn’t know what to do in life," Epps opined. "He has his brother in one ear telling him the streets are the right way to go and then his friends saying it’s not. At the end of Season 2, we see his brother got shot and now Jake feels extremely lost."
However, there's light at the end of the tunnel for Jake. Epps teased that "love" was in store for the character this season. "I feel that this season Jake has found the right love and care he needed," he said. As far as audience expectations for the new season goes, Epps remarked there would be a "whole lot" of changes ringing in and they could expect a bunch of real-life situations that we don't typically see on television.
'The Chi' airs Sundays 9 pm ET on Showtime.