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Episode 1 “Black Friday” Details

• Available On: Showtime
• Public Release Date: May 16, 2025
• Director(s): Nancy C. Mejia
• Writer(s): Lena Waithe, Justin Hillian

Episode 1 “Black Friday” Recap (With Spoilers)

This Is Too Much: Fatima, Victor, Alicia, Tiff, Bianca, Roselyn

Between Douda and Rob’s deaths, a lot of people feel overwhelmed, unsafe, and ready to leave Chicago. Fatima is ready to go, but Victor’s desire to make his time and efforts in Chicago worth something keeps him from leaving, and it seems this could be the end for them. As for Alicia, like Tiff, she is devastated, but unlike Tiff, she isn’t staying in bed, grieving around the house, and reminiscing over what was and what could be; she wants answers, she wants vengeance, and she isn’t waiting for a whole season to get it.

As you can imagine, not everyone is trying to get blood on their hands and make war. Roselyn, despite Douda’s death, pretty much hunches it off. She doesn’t want to investigate, she doesn’t want answers, and this perhaps complicates Alicia’s plans for Roselyn, who could take out Nuck for her. But Roselyn isn’t alone in this. Bianca doesn’t really want to partake in any violence either, and as she witnesses a murder in cold blood, it seems, like Fatima, she finds herself ready to leave Chicago.

Solidifying One’s Position: Zay, Nuck, Ezekiel, Charles, Victor, Jake

While Nuck isn’t a new face, being in his position is an adjustment, and for those ambitious like Zay, who think this is the time to test the waters and try to be a partner over a minion – Nuck shuts that down quickly. After all, with taking note of what Zay is capable of, what he eventually wishes to do, while Nuck commits to not killing family, he becomes firm in the belief that Zay is going to be a problem who has to be handled.

But let it be clear, Nuck isn’t the only one not fond of how Zay operates. When Jake tries to give Zay his money back and mouths off too much, Zay leaves him bloodied and bruised in a way that leads Victor to visit and rough him up. Thus putting a mark on him and Jake, for you know Zay wasn’t going to just let that happen.

And as all this happens, Ezekiel begins to realize that he needs to begin working with Nuck to help fund his pockets, if not the church, and being that Charles is fresh back on the scene, needing clout and visibility, he offers to go, but Ezekiel rejects this help. He knows why Charles is here, and blackmail is one of the sole reasons they are in each other’s presence, so while Nuck needs some convincing that he needs a $1000 per session spiritual advisor, he takes the deal and seems like he is willing to play ball.

The Next Move: Alicia, Bakari, Gardner, Michelle, Keisha, Tiff, Emmett, Zay, Nuck

With how Nuck’s life is, setting up Zay and having him killed by Alicia was a good move for him. However, telling Bakari this may not have been the best idea. Why? Well, Professor Gardner and his wife Michelle are close to Alicia, and they use this relationship to get Bakari a scholarship into Professor Gardner’s school – partly to help his housing situation. Alicia had to meet with him before getting the money, and with Bakari presenting the money as life-changing, she presents the idea that now Bakari owes his life. Which could mean that he becomes the one who ends Nuck’s.

But, while Bakari is making connections for his future, Nuck is trying to make peace and co-parent with Emmett. This is difficult for Emmett with everything that is going on, but like Ezekiel, he recognizes it is better to have Nuck look on him with favor than be another person to use. However, while Emmett might be making peace with Nuck, due to Keisha having EJ move in with her and Emmett, the peace is temporary for you know Emmett barely wants to raise his kids.

Review and Commentary

On The Fence

Like Most Season Premieres, There Is So Much To Take In That It’s Hard To Feel Much If Anything [73/100]

The Chi is a bloated show. There is no denying this, and it comes with pluses and minuses. The plus is that it allows many different perspectives, from Ezekiel’s to Michelle’s, Victor to Tiff, and it allows Chicago to be multifaceted and not exist within the viewpoint of being a crime-ridden city or a place that fosters entrepreneurship.

But the trade-off is that you have a massive number of characters who exist on different tiers. As noted in past season reviews, this means characters with potential being ignored. Then others who could have been written off, taking up screen time, and as a viewer feeling sometimes overwhelmed by so much going on and then questioning why this person is joining this one’s storyline besides the need to consolidate what’s going on?

Even with just one episode on the books right now, trying to remember minor characters like Bianca, Tiff’s mom, Professor Gardner and more leads to a mix of appreciating how fleshed out Chicago is and wondering how this show, when so many Black shows get cancelled or have to make concessions regarding its budget, can be so bloated?

Overall

Our Overall Rating [73/100]

By no means is The Chi a bad show, or is this a bad episode, but too much goes on from Zay beating up Jake, Zay being murdered, and more, that it doesn’t feel like any moment can truly be special, shocking, or meaningful. Even in terms of Tiff’s grief, because of the energy in different storylines conflicting with her feelings, it makes none of the dramatic scenes feel like anything, and I don’t think there should be this level of numbness after a character is killed, no matter who it is.

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