15. It feels like a narrative element that could have been abandoned. Also, why did Trice freeze? We dont see him leaving the apartment this episode, but maybe she will finally listen and allow him to tell her the story behind the gun and bloody shirt that caused her to kick him out in the first place. He mean mugs and flashes the gun on his hip at another kid from their school, who Jake says has been talking about his brother. While at The Rink, Jake is unable to leave the gang stuff out of the nights festivities. Its ironic she goaded Ronnie into taking matters into his own hands, and we find out Quentin had the same plan all along. Con Riley Keough (The Girlfriend Experience, Mad Max: Fury Road), Sam Claflin (The Hunger Games, Peaky Blinders), Camila Morrone (Death Wish, Never Goin' Back), Nabiyah Be (Black Panther), Will Harrison, Suki Waterhouse (The White Princess . Watching Brandon and Kevin reflect on the incident with Ronnie is NOT the heartlessness the news media would have you believe about Chicago. He also appeared in TOAST at The Public Theater; starred in JUNK at the La Jolla Playhouse and THE FUNDAMENTALS. Quentins background is still unknown, so he an actual wild card within The Chis universe. Emmett breaks down the door to witness Tiffany threatening her lover with a hair dryer. Riesco collaborates with Manhattan Theatre Clubs education program, helping at-risk youth in public high schools and correctional facilities develop a voice through theater. Quentin replies that its OK: if they throw in a few desserts from a nearby table, theyll call it an even trade. Also, in Season 1 it seemed like his girlfriend was pregnant, but she isn't on the show on season 2. comments The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth. Before heading to Sonnys, Quentin paid Emmett for the day and dropped him off at the babysitters to get his son, E.J. Its just going to be powerful and sad to watch, especially to real fans who are real supporters of everybody and the characters; you know its gonna feel like we really lost somebody for real.. The play which Jake, Kevin, and Papa had begun participating in has always been a backstory. Even last week a commenter guessed that Brandon would start a food truck by the seasons end. Hes trying to protect Kevin after not being able to save his own younger brother, and hes getting into more and more danger. This situation is clearly not how he envisioned the night going. Well see this Sunday; the show is as only as good as how the people receive it, said Latimore. But as the episode ends, hes taken aback and a bit fearful. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. I was 14 when he was shot and killed not too far from where. Detective Cruz (Armando Riesco) is also on the brink of trouble and is trying to cover his tracks after telling Ronnie he had a suspect in custody (Coogie) after. Or what happened? Armando Riesco as Detective Cruz in Showtime's new series, "The Chi," premiering on January 7, 2018. Quentin isnt the only person who gets a surprise. Later, Brandons boss, Chef, tells him that someone has stolen a box of fish from the restaurant and asks him to find out who the thief is. Wallace is also connected to Trices gang. Reg is a gun runner who brings violence to the community and its unlikely anyone would be surprised by his death. 1. The job is to take the guns to a Chicago Police Department gun buyback at a local church. Today you're 5 . Hell eventually realize that, but he could lose Jerrika, his job or both in the process. A soft-hearted police officer whose beat is the south side, Detective Cruz is doing his best to try and stem the violence and bloodshed in the neighborhood. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Maybe Reg will be able to save himself by aligning with Quentin, but hell likely remain a pawn in someone elses game. Jake looks like he's on schedule to end his childhood in the worst way possible by the end of the season. A soft-hearted police officer whose beat is the south side, Detective Cruz is doing his best to try and stem the violence and bloodshed in the neighborhood. Well done. OG walked into that barbershop. At the very end of the episode, we have one final flashback of what happened in the fight between Brandon and Ronnie. While a number of major story lines get wrapped up, Ease on Down the Road serves up a few plot points that are intentionally kept unresolved sure to be fodder for the shows second season, which Showtime approved early into its run this year. He goes to talk to Jakes brother, who now says he owes him a favor and that he likes it when people owe him favors. Hopefully its wrapped up by the end of the season. I thought you should know that. The quietly shocked look on Tracys face nearly broke me. On the first episode, she said over and over again how she didnt want Brandon involved in hood things. The Detective Emilia Cruz series takes on cartels, corruption and social inequality. The two seem close to physically fighting before Brandon walks away. Even at its best, The Chi still feels like four different shows that are forced to exist within the same ecosystem. 2. untainted8 2 yr. ago. Adult Content, Graphic Language, Violence, Nudity, Viewer Discretion Advised. Detective Cruz is still working the case of Jason's death, although it's been closed, and all roads in his investigation lead back to a dirty cop Detective Wallace. Cinque Henderson & J. David Shanks (writer) & Rebecca Rodriguez (director) (May 26, 2019). that she wanted black men to be at the center of this narrative, its been the shows women the mothers, the grandmothers, the sisters who have been there to hold everything together. Also, Papa is a font of information about the sciatic nerve! Basically, Quentin set up an elaborate plan to steal these guns from Trices crew and killed an entire stash house of people just to make a point possibly that hes one-upped the young gang leaders who work much differently. Then, theres Ronnie. He cant even share what he wanted to be as a kid. Readers who love police procedural series by Ian Rankin, Jo Nesbo, Ann Cleeves, Peter May, and . Now, theyre waiting on SCOTUS. 3. As well as Fighting Shadows, Richard has also written poetry. This! His mother, Laverne, and her new husband, Greavy, have plans sell their house and have hired her as their real estate agent. WL: And what about the boys this week? Kevin, Jake and Papa arent missed this week , which speaks to the strength of Penetrate A Fraud. The Chi has finally figured out how to juggle its complex plots and characters. When Brandon comes back with a box of fish to replace what Luis stole, Chef instructs Brandon to throw the fish out and tell Luis that hes fired. This website is intended for viewing solely in the United States and its territories and possessions. He might continue to bring attention to Cruzs mistake to distract anyone from learning about his own secrets. Kristen Bell to Befriend an Unorthodox Rabbi. The one thing Reg clearly does care about is Jake and providing for him in the absence of their parents. Im still not willing to believe that Detective Cruz is The Chis good cop, but its exciting waiting to see if or how he eventually breaks bad. Each week, William Lee and Nina Metz recap and discuss the first season of The Chi, which airs at 9 p.m. Sundays on Showtime. With the loss of a major character, the introduction of two new characters, and neither of the detectives, very little about this season feels organic. Everyone is on their phones at first, but the third kid in Kevins trio, Papa (Shamon Brown), pulls a speaker out of his backpack, puts on his own music, and starts dancing. The officers stop looking in his bag before finding the gun, and Brandon goes home. With only four episodes left, The Chi has navigated a lot of the issues that slowed down the start of the season. Quentin opens up to Emmett about why he was in Cuba and gives him a little background on his family. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google I wonder what Tracys reaction to this will be. He just took a huge risk working with Quentin and now has nothing to show for it. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive email correspondence from us. I hope that The Chi wont lean on this kind of punch line again next season. Affiliation Smooth and complicated and incredibly dangerous. 1. After graduation, he landed roles in productions at Chicago theaters, including Victory Gardens, Steppenwolf, AboutFace and Lookingglass. At the start, hes the calm, confident version of himself that weve seen since he mysteriously started appearing on-screen in the first episode. Quentin is right: Reg is disposable to Trice, to his gang and to the community he exists within. NM: What did you think about that scene in the boys locker room between Kevin and Papa? Also in the morning, Ronnies grandmother, Ethel (LaDonna Tittle), finds him passed out on the floor. he only started acting that way once Ronnie got out of prison. Pop culture obsessives writing for the pop culture obsessed. Armando Cruz Jakes brother, who is a local gang leader, tells Jake that he knows he took it and threatens him to bring it back. Quentin may be one of the most diabolical characters on TV. Although he earns a living illegally, he does seem to maintain a degree of civility and an interest in protecting the families of the neighborhood. Twisted as his worldview often is, I think hes one of the shows great characters and Barton Fitzpatrick brings an innate charisma to the role. Arionne Nettles is a digital producer at WBEZ. After all, many folks in the Black community are of the belief that missing Black girls arent a priority of the police. Cruz-er Watching Ronnie in police custody with his injuries adds an interesting element of terror. As a crime reporter, Ive seen plenty of examples of good kids even church kids like Papa falling victim to crime. Hows he dealing with the mothers of his children, walking in on his parents making out, and keeping his entrepreneurial spirit afloat without Brandon, his business partner? His plan works, and Andrea comes up to Kevin, apologizes, and gives him a kiss to make up for being mean to him earlier. Its not surprising that he returns to the mosque. Quentins interaction with her, brief as it was, left me queasy. Jake had stolen the gun from his brother and gave it to Kevin to protect himself. The scene is shot from outside the window of the shop, so we cant hear what hes saying. It was a nice way of bringing home the fact that Ronnie was the perpetrator of a violent crime, but this is ultimately a situation in which there are no victors. We may earn a commission from links on this page. With the end of its first season in sight, The Chi races toward closure for its myriad characters. Tom and Katie will learn how to respectfully set boundaries and get along at some point, but right now its not going so well. As we wind down the season, EJs mother shows up to relieve Emmett of his father duties. Sarah Michelle Gellar Remembers That Time Pedro Pascal Was on. Meanwhile, the girl Kevin likes, Andrea (Mariah Gordon), is throwing a party because her parents are out of town. Ronnie is reluctant to trust him and we, as viewers, should be too. share. We hear a gunshot as the first scene opens. Or did Ronnies call reporting fake elder abuse (to ensure Ethel would be taken care of in his absence) signal LaDonna Tittles departure from the show? @JasonMitch you are making us fall in love with Brandon, the struggle to be a good man, the grieving Coogie and the vengeance he feels. He looks up to see Reg holding a gun and instructing him to take a seat. Her kitchen is brightly painted. Vanessa Bryant Settles Helicopter-Crash Photo Lawsuit for $28.85 Million. Where Kevin is happy-go-lucky and Jake is teetering on the abyss, Papa knows who he is and what he wants. We still lost him. That she managed to make it out to the other side relatively intact (Im rooting for ya, Tracy) means something. Again, this a story line that has been really resolved. Also, in Season 1 it seemed like his girlfriend was pregnant, but she isn't on the show on season 2. Read next weeks recap after the episode airs on Showtime next Sunday. It is a nice redemptive moment, which is unfortunately ruined when Papa literally runs, with a curt Nope! The joke, yet again, seems to rest on Maishas presumed undesirability or unattractiveness. He has lent his voice to the video game series NEED FOR SPEED and GRAND THEFT AUTO, as well as DORA THE EXPLORER and several commercial campaigns. so basically they totally ditched the storyline of season 2??? For example, its easier to sympathize with Reg or Ronnie if we see how similar they are to characters like Emmett or Brandon. Afterward, the boys head to a party where Kevin apologizes to Maisha. Theres a gritty inner-city drama that looks at the choices black men are forced to make under corrupt systems with Quentin, Emmett, Ronnie and Reg. Whittling music. Luckily, Detective Cruz (Riesco) is a good cop, who knows the neighborhood, and always has justice as his ultimate aim. Armando Cruz is a main character on the Showtime coming-of-age original series The Chi. Other than the pilot and that one bar scene earlier this season, have we even seen Sonja Sohns Laverne outside of that house? Both Jake and Brandon are now involved in a lifestyle they didnt want to be in. Ronnie is in really bad shape, but he was able to get Jasons phone, which Jasons mother, Tracy, really wanted. Brandon changes his shirt, moves a gun from his waistband to his backpack, and heads home, too. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. By subscribing, you agree with Revues Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Who cares? We only have two episodes left, so Detective Cruz will have to reappear at some point. The Chi Hits Home With Post-Trauma Complexities, The Chi Creator Lena Waithe On Depicting Black Life In Chicago, The Chi Creator Lena Waithe Says Television Taught Me How To Dream, Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas vie for Lightfoot and Garcas supporters, Three things to know about Chicagos City Council races. I was 14 when he was shot and killed not too far from where The Chi takes place on the South Side. He couldnt care less about her. One of my favorite cousins would have turned 40 this week, but instead, he only made it to 22. But you know when you look back and you see all the protests going on you get educated on so many different police brutality events that went on over the past few years.. #TheChi gets me every week. And then he goes into the police station and confesses to killing Coogie. WL: Which is why Emmetts attention may be focused on his son, but he still has money troubles. Privacy Policy and Rapper Common, an executive producer of The Chi, will headline a virtual concert Sunday night leading into the shows season premiere. Hes forced to go stay with his mother, Laverne (Sonja Sohn), and her boyfriend. Im reminded of one teenage girl, Journey Jamison, who, thanks to training from a grassroots organization called UMedics, was able to save the life of a man who was shot near her home. I love the reveal that his cousin rents out a closet in his house. It isnt clear if Reg is there or not, but we know these menlike Ronnie, Brandon, and Emmettmatter to someone. And its not a stretch that other Chicagoans may see themselves in the characters, too. They tell Quentin that they werent expecting to receive that many guns and didnt have that much money on-hand. What happened to Detective Cruz's character on Season 2? The next morning, Jerrika (Tiffany Boone) shakes Brandon awake. 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