Everybody Hates Chris: Ending Explained & Plot Summary

In 2005, the first season of Everybody Hates Chris was released and quickly gained popularity. The sitcom, which drew inspiration from comedian Chris Rock’s teenage years, was created by Chris Rock himself and Ali LeRoi. It received recognition with a Golden Globe nomination and multiple Emmy nominations. Known for its exceptional writing and humor, the show had a talent for bringing laughter to its viewers. The series finale, which aired in 2009, left fans on the edge of their seats with a cliffhanger ending. Unfortunately, despite its success, the show was canceled after that season, leaving many wondering about the conclusion. Thus, we present Everybody Hates Chris: Ending Explained.

Originally produced for Fox, the show found a new home on UPN and eventually transitioned to The C.W. Featuring a talented cast including Tyler James Williams, Terry Crews, Tichina Arnold, Tequan Richmond, Imani Hakim, and Vincent Martella, the series caught the attention of Chris Rock, who felt it had run its course and publicly expressed that it was time for it to conclude.

Plot

The narrative centers around a teenage boy named Chris, who resides in Brooklyn, New York in 1982 as the eldest of three siblings. The series follows Chris, portrayed by Tyler James Williams, as he navigates through his adolescent years. Chris aspires to embody the image of a “cool teenager” and his family relocates from the projects to a different neighborhood. Being the eldest, Chris is entrusted with the responsibility of caring for his younger brother, Drew (played by Tequan Richmond), and sister, Tonya (played by Imani Hakim), while their parents are at work. Chris faces difficulties in trying to outshine his siblings, given that his brother is taller and more self-assured, while his sister receives more attention from their parents.

Due to their financial difficulties, Julius, portrayed by Terry Crews, works multiple jobs to support the family, while his strict and resourceful wife, Rochelle, played by Tichina Arnold, manages the household on a tight budget and works part-time at a small real estate office. In order to secure a good education, Chris is enrolled in Corleone Junior High, situated in the Italian neighborhood of South Shore, where he must endure a long commute on multiple buses each day. Despite facing bullying, Chris forms friendships, notably with Greg, who also becomes a target. The show highlights Chris’ intelligence and charisma, which will undoubtedly lead him to success. However, before reaching that point, he must navigate the challenges of being a teenager and taking on additional responsibilities for his siblings.

Everybody Hates Chris: Ending Explained

Fans continue to adore the show even years after its conclusion, fueled in part by the lingering question left unanswered when the series ended on a cliffhanger. Recently, Tyler James Williams, the star of the show, finally provided an answer. In the series finale, Chris, the main character, found himself in his sophomore year of high school. Constantly changing buses made him consistently late for school, jeopardizing his academic progress. Despite keeping up with his schoolwork, Chris faced the possibility of repeating the year due to his chronic tardiness. Ultimately, his efforts to improve his punctuality failed, leaving him unable to advance to the next grade. Faced with this setback, Chris made the difficult decision to drop out instead of repeating the year.

Subsequently, he made the decision to pursue a G.E.D. in order to secure a respectable employment opportunity. Taking the exam, the last episode culminated with his mother unveiling the results while he anxiously awaited her response. Regrettably, the show was abruptly concluded, leaving devoted fans in the dark about his outcome. Years later, during a Twitter Q&A session, Williams finally addressed the burning question of whether Chris had passed. Tyler confirmed that he had indeed succeeded, having left high school prematurely, obtaining his G.E.D., and undertaking various odd jobs prior to establishing himself as a comedian. Furthermore, Tyler divulged that there had been discussions regarding a revival of the show, but the busy schedules of the cast members had hindered its realization thus far.