With final season of ‘The Chi,’ Lena Waithe and cast bid ‘hard goodbye’ to 8 years of South Side stories

“The Chi” is full of little tributes to creator Lena Waithe’s real-life experience as a Chicago native.

Coogie, a pivotal figure who dies tragically in Season 1, is named after a person from her childhood.

Emmett, a protagonist juggling fatherhood and entrepreneurship, is inspired by a dear friend.

Shaad, a character navigating life after incarceration, is loosely based on her late uncle.

But for years, Waithe, 42, has made the personal feel universal to millions of viewers. From Atlanta to New York, she can’t walk down the street without someone telling her how much they love the Showtime series. Now, it is coming to an end after eight seasons and 88 episodes, making it the longest-running scripted Black drama on TV.

“Chicago feels like everyone’s city now,” she said. “Even if they aren’t from Chicago and they’ve never been to Chicago, they recognize what it’s like to be a part of a city that helps to define you.”

The final season begins streaming Friday on Paramount+ with the Showtime add-on. Viewership has remained strong for the sprawling show, known for its large cast and genre-switching — from thriller to soap opera and more — between seasons. Last year, its Season 7 opening became the most-streamed premiere of the series. 

The series will be remembered for employing a wealth of up-and-coming and veteran Black talent in front of and behind the camera, including iconic Chicago filmmaker and West Side native Robert Townsend, who directed an episode this season. And with storylines about family, politics, gang violence, religion and LGBTQ+ romance, it is celebrated for its multifaceted portrayal of Black life on the South Side.

Waithe said she wanted to end “The Chi” on her own terms.

“A lot of our shows don’t get the opportunity to have a beautiful bow,” she said. “I didn’t want us to go out with a whimper. It feels like a big deal. It feels like a hard goodbye. If the goodbye doesn’t hurt, then you’re not doing it right.”

Keeping fans guessing

The first two seasons of “The Chi” chronicle how the murders of two young people impact others in the neighborhood. While the story tackles gun violence and police corruption, it is also a coming-of-age tale for several young characters grappling with the ups and downs of parenthood, romance, friendship and more.

Waithe said it was important for her to broaden the narrative about Chicago by showing the tight-knit bonds that form between members of Black neighborhoods, which often function like families.

“There was only one story coming out of the city,” she said. “It was a true story. There was a lot of gun violence, a lot of pain, a lot of confusion, a lot of frustration. But what Chicago represents is community.”

During those early years of the show, Waithe said she was full of excitement and naivete. As a new show creator, she said it took a while for her to find her voice and gain the power to hire the best team to execute her vision. By the third year, she said, she had found the right showrunner, Justin Hillian.

Driven by a desire to keep things fresh, she tasked him with helping her change the direction of the show. For example, for Season 3, which Hillman described as a thriller, they intentionally left out police officers. Instead, they focused on the kidnapping of a young Black girl, Keisha (Birgundi Baker), who had to rely on her own strength and the help of her community to escape.

Later, in Season 4, experienced civilians de-escalated conflicts instead of calling the police. The story mirrored real-world discussions following the murder of George Floyd.

“Sometimes people say the show’s all over the place, or it lost its way in Season 3,” Waithe said. “We were fluid in terms of what we needed to do with the show, and what the show needed from us at the time. And we weren’t afraid to allow life that was happening around the show to affect what was happening in the show.”

In Season 5, the show became “a pure soap opera,” according to Hillman, while the subsequent seasons revolved around villains Douda (Curtiss Cook) and Alicia (Lynn Whitfield).

“A lot of times, Lena is like, ‘What do they not see coming?’” said Jewel Coronel, who became a co-showrunner in Season 6. “How do you punch them in the face and then give him a hug after?”

Platforming Black talent

Those shocking stories were brought to life by a parade of well-known cast members and guest actors that included Phylicia Rashad, Leon, Kadeem Hardison, Kandi Burruss, Vic Mensa, La La Anthony, Common and Da Brat.

But the show also has made stars out of newcomers.

Among them are young Chicago actors Michael V. Epps and Shamon Brown Jr., who essentially grew up on the show. Though it was tough to juggle schoolwork and acting, Epps, 20, said working alongside seasoned actors and other up-and-comers was a highlight.

“We don’t even look at it as work,” said Epps, who portrays Jake. “We’re having fun. With my friends that are now brothers, I’ve gone on this journey with them and I know I’m going to see bigger and better things with them in the future.”

Brown said he has enjoyed portraying Stanley, aka “Papa,” a preacher’s kid who has had to grapple with imperfect religious figures and his own tests of faith.

“Papa isn’t the typical Chicago kid,” said Brown, who also voices Michelangelo in the recent “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” movies. “So the fact that I got the opportunity to play that — I’m blessed and I’m grateful.”

Chicago actress Hannaha Hall said she appreciated being on a show that provided an authentic look at local culture, including scenes on the lake, and at skating rinks and block parties. 

“People don’t see that side of Chicago,” said Hall, who plays Tiffany. “It’s a city for food, it’s aesthetically pleasing. The architecture is beautiful. I love that we showcase the lingo too, like we don’t say soda, we say pop. I have literally been that one to say, ‘I see soda in the script, can we change that?’”

And shooting on location, especially in the South Side, made a difference for residents, according to veteran Chicago actor Jason Weaver.

“We’re right there where the community and the people can see us,” said Weaver, who portrays Shaad. “As a proud Chicagoan, that made me feel good, knowing that our people normally don’t get an opportunity to see that kind of positive energy coming through. We were there to bring that, and it inspired them.”

As one of few Black dramas currently on TV, “The Chi” will undoubtedly leave a vacuum, but actor and singer Luke James said he has faith that more shows are on the horizon.

“I can’t wait to see the creators that have been inspired by this work, and also given a better opportunity because of this work, because Lena broke down the door for this work to exist,” said James, who portrays the character Victor, aka “Trig.”

“We made history. We did the damn thing. It is bittersweet, but not bitter at all, really. If you really think about it, it’s just uber sweet.”