Season 8 premieres on Friday, May 22 on Paramount+
As ‘THE CHI’ enters its eighth and final season and its coldest winter ever, life or death choices must be made. The question becomes, who is willing to make them? Legacy, conflict, joy, and pain — it all collides in the biggest, most emotionally riveting way ever seen this season on ‘THE CHI.’
The eighth season premieres today, Friday, May 22, on Paramount+, with new episodes rolling out weekly on Fridays. The series stars Jacob Latimore, Birgundi Baker, Luke James, Shamon Brown Jr., Michael V. Epps, Hannaha Hall, and Jason Weaver.
Latasha M. Ford with Awards Buzz recently spoke with the cast about the series coming to a close. Michael V. Epps highlighted the “family foundation” built on set over eight seasons, while Shamon Brown Jr. expressed that despite the show ending, the cast remains a close-knit family. Hannaha Hall reflected on the show’s beautiful depiction of community and the “different colors” of love, noting how these lessons have impacted her personal life.
In the recent interview, Jacob Latimore noted that his character, Emmett, is reaching a “new level of fatherhood” while grieving the loss of his mother and working to secure his relationship with Kiesha. Birgundi Baker added that fans will see Kiesha and Emmett “fight for their love” and tackle hurdles together as they grow. Meanwhile, Shamon Brown Jr. described his character Papa’s journey this season as a “roller coaster,” and Michael V. Epps shared that playing Jake has been “therapeutic,” allowing him to explore his character’s vulnerability.
Check out the full interviews below:
Luke James on working with Jason Weaver “I know it sounds crazy but being a kid who spent a lot of his time by himself — the different mediums like film, television, and music were my siblings. I spent much of my life watching these things, so I watched him [Jason Weaver] grow up. This black kid on television, it inspired me to aspire to be who I desire to be. So fast-forward to working with the guy who inspired me from long ago, it’s like, I finally get to fan out and work with this guy.”
Shamon Brown Jr. reflecting on 8 incredible seasons “It’s great and bittersweet! I’m gonna miss the family but I feel great because I know the core foundation we’ve built over the years, the integrity we kept, and the communication we’ve kept over the years, we’re not losing anything. The fans might feel like they’re losing a big part of us, but because like I talk to everybody so much and have a certain type of connection with everybody, I feel like I’m not losing anything at all.”
About ‘The Chi’ Season 8 Finale:
The final chapter explores heavy themes of legacy, joy, and conflict. Following Alicia’s shocking death in the Season 7 finale, Victor and Rashaad were arrested and must navigate a high-stakes police investigation while keeping their hands clean. Meanwhile, characters like Emmett, Kiesha, and Tiff face life-or-death decisions as their past actions catch up to them.
Emmett is reaching a new level of fatherhood as he manages his household while grieving the loss of his mother. He and Kiesha continue to fight for their relationship, with Kiesha challenging him to step up to the plate as they tackle hurdles together. Tiff, ever the boss, must handle the aftermath of the incidents from Season 7, including the news about Alicia. As they navigate the coldest winter yet on the South Side, the community faces the fundamental reality of their inherent nature in this emotionally riveting conclusion.
Where to Watch:
You can stream new episodes weekly on Fridays via the Paramount+ Premium Plan. The final season also airs on the Showtime cable network on Sunday nights.
Watch Official Trailer:
