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#TheChi 
had the potential to be great, but is now falling down. Here's why. A thread...
The show features an ensemble cast, but Brandon, played by Jason Mitchell, was the clear protagonist. He was the thread that connected almost all of the show's characters.
had the potential to be great, but is now falling down. Here's why. A thread...The show features an ensemble cast, but Brandon, played by Jason Mitchell, was the clear protagonist. He was the thread that connected almost all of the show's characters.
Brandon was haunted and motivated by the death of his brother Coogie at the hands of neighborhood Can't-Get-Right Ronnie (more on him later).
Brandon wanted to be a chef. The pride he took in making his dream come true, even naming his food truck after Coogie was inspiring.
Brandon wanted to be a chef. The pride he took in making his dream come true, even naming his food truck after Coogie was inspiring.
Brandon's life was trending upward. He started dating Jerrika, a young woman from an upscale Black family. She was looking to start a real estate career, but she had a heart for folks who were struggling. Jerrika was good Brandon. She upgraded him and he grounded her.
Brandon mentored Kevin and Emmett. He wasn't just going to survive the Southside of Chicago and succeed. He was going to take other young brothers with him. Neighborhood Capo Reg said it best. "Brandon a square n***a." Basically, he was a good dude and it showed.
With Brandon secured as the clear hero, the show needed a clear villain. Enter Otis 'Douda' Perry. Brandon was too motivated and smart to be lured in by the streets. Reg and his crew could never turn him no matter their threats or anything else.
Douda is another story. He is a successful businessman who has the money and clout to help Brandon achieve his dreams. Douda gives Brandon a new food truck, a revenue stream and someone to look up to.
Douda revealed himself in a Devil's Advocate kind of way. He's Reg's boss and the leader of the 63rd Street Mob. In addition to selling dope, Douda is running a real estate scam with his mom to force poor residents out.
Douda was grooming Brandon to serve him up to the police in a scheme cooked up by him and the 63rd Street Mob Godfather from prison. Det. Cruz, who arrested Ronnie for Coogie's murder, knows Brandon to be a good guy. His new partner, Det. Toussaint, isn't convinced.
Toussaint wants Brandon and Douda in cuffs. The cops get Brandon to work with them and at the end of Season 2, our heroes are in a van ready to take down Douda.
Then, Jason Mitchell blew up the spot. Allegations involving his behavior on set got him fired and caused Tiffany Boone, who played Jerrika, to leave the show. Producers decided to kill off Brandon, Jerrika vanished, and their storylines left with them.
The third season began with Brandon's funeral and a lot of noticeable absences, omissions, and things that just don't make sense. Cruz, Toussaint and their storylines are gone. As a matter of fact, Chicago no longer has a police department in the world of #TheChi .
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The 63rd Street Mob is gone. Sure, Douda has a random henchman here and there, but no corner boys, no trapping, no nothing. The real estate scam Douda was running with his mom is gone. They're enemies now as he is inexplicably running for mayor.
The big story line is Kiesha going missing. She was kidnapped by a track coach and held in his basement. Since Chicago doesn't have cops anymore, Ronnie becomes the hood's detective. Fans could see this one coming from a mile away. Ronnie's gonna find Kiesha and redeem himself.
Ronnie found Kiesha and Kevin stopped by his hospital room to say thanks. Again, no authorities talked to Ronnie. I'm not sure the doctors even know he's in the hospital. This is his redemption for killing Coogie, but with Coogie's family gone, does it matter?
Douda had Reg killed to keep a gang beef from jumping off. He admitted as much to Jake and Jake didn't even get mad. Jake inexplicably lives with Douda. Like I know people think child services is a joke, but you just can't have someone else's child.
Enter Reg doppelganger and Jake's new brother, Trig. He wants Jake to live with him and get him away from Douda. Yawn. I often forget this because Trig only appears in every other episode. Oh, and Jake's mom is still alive while he's playing musical houses.
Dom is the new culinary prodigy here to replace Brandon, I guess. Dom has no backstory. She fell out of the sky right into Emmett's, literally and figuratively. Emmett is a get-over brother and has gone right back to getting over.
There's really no one to root for in this show. #TheChi has become a Steven Soderbergh movie. It can go on forever or it can stop right now and there'd be no difference. The characters are just existing.
End Thread.
has become a Steven Soderbergh movie. It can go on forever or it can stop right now and there'd be no difference. The characters are just existing.End Thread.
