SPOILER ALERT: This recap of Season 4, Episode 9 contains explicit plot details.
In my episode two recap, one of the storylines I told viewers of “The Chi” to keep in mind surrounds Mayor Douda’s need to remind the streets who’s the boss — and how he aims to do so:
“Will Douda continue to keep one foot in the streets and the other in City Hall, knowing he’s made a public claim to defund the police?”
Based on what viewers witnessed in this episode, Mayor Douda, played by Curtiss Cook, aims to do just that by keeping secrets, and laying down the hammer — or in his case, his walking cane — to keep everyone in line:
- After Douda, Marcus (Joel Steingold) and Trig (Luke James) see Jake (Michael Epps) and Marcus’ daughter Jemma (Judae’a Brown) off to a school dance, Douda and Marcus get into a fight that’s been a long time coming.
- Marcus, who has long believed Douda routinely ignores his advice, gets into a fight with Douda after addressing the underlying issues of his daughter’s dating life (Jemma leaving Kevin for Jake.)
- In the midst of the fight, Douda uses his walking cane to strike Marcus several times, leaving him in a near-death state. Trig walks in and sees Marcus on the ground.
- The irony of Trig wanting to help Marcus is that he can’t call 911 since Douda’s defund-the-police plan — like Douda himself — probably is not a favorite of Chicago cops these days.
- Now Trig may have to keep a potentially deadly secret — a secret Jake walks right into when he and Jemma leave the school dance to go back to her house to get his bookbag.
- Jake reunites with Jemma, and she senses something’s wrong. Jake, clearly bothered by what he witnessed, shuts down any doubts.
- This isn’t the first time Jake shares the brunt of keeping a violent act associated with an older brother-father figure under wraps. In the finale of season one, Jake watched as his brother, Reg (played by Barton Fitzpatrick), killed Trice (Tosin Morohunfola).
As for the rest of the cast:
- Keisha, played by Birgundi Baker, juggles her dating life and motherhood. Also, she’s staying in touch with Octavia, played by Tabitha Brown, to whom she initially gave up her son for adoption. The two plan to stay in each other’s lives.
- Kevin, played by Alex Hibbert, naturally feels awkward in regard to Jake, his best friend, dating his ex-girlfriend.
- Kiesha tags along with Emmett (Jacob Latimore) while he looks for a house for his mother, Jada (Yolonda Ross). While at the open house, a real estate agent recognizes Kiesha as the woman who escaped her kidnapper and tells her she’s an inspiration to survivors.
- Jada and Darnell (Rolando Boyce) have a heart-to-heart conversation about their lives, her cancer treatment, and raising Emmett. Later, the three have a family dinner.
Episode nine, named “Southside With You,” shares a name with the critically acclaimed 2016 film that chronicles Barack and Michelle Obama’s first date. The Obamas’ first date, which took place at a former Baskin-Robbins in Hyde Park, is commemorated with a plaque on the spot where they shared their first kiss.
Storylines to think about:
- What’s next for Tracy (Kai Davis) and Community Protection?
- Will Emmett stand firm on his ultimatum to Tiff (Hannaha Hall)?
- How will Nina (Tyla Abercrumbie) and Dre (Miriam A. Hyman) save their marriage?
- What’s Kiesha’s plan when taking things slow in her dating life?
- Will Trig take Marcus’ advice into consideration knowing what he witnessed?
- Will Jake tell Jemma what he saw?
