The first half of season six was record-breaking for The Chi, with the award-winning drama series delivering its most-watched season yet on SHOWTIME, and a surprise finale with Douda (Curtiss Cook) being killed by his former right-hand man, Nuck (Cortez Smith).
The filming of Season 7 will wrap on Wednesday, October 9 and we are all looking forward to where The Chi takes us when the new season airs in 2025.
Since its debut on Showtime in January 2018, The Chi has emerged as one of television’s most compelling portrayals of life in urban America, focusing on the residents of Chicago’s South Side. Created by Lena Waithe, an Emmy-winning writer, producer, and actor, the show takes an intimate look at the community, family dynamics, and daily struggles faced by those living in an area often associated with crime and poverty. At its core, however, The Chi is about more than hardship. It’s a series that focuses on resilience, love, dreams, and the strong bonds that hold communities together.
The setting of the series—the South Side of Chicago—is crucial to the story. Known for its cultural richness as well as its socio-economic challenges, this part of the city has a history that reflects both achievement and hardship. While it has been home to cultural icons in music, literature, and the civil rights movement, the South Side also faces deep-rooted problems such as economic disparity, systemic racism, and gun violence. The Chi carefully balances these challenges with moments of beauty, hope, and joy, creating a nuanced portrait of life in the area.
The Chi does not shy away from addressing real-world issues, but it presents them with empathy and depth. Gun violence is a central theme, but rather than sensationalizing it, the show explores its underlying causes and the long-lasting emotional damage it inflicts on families and individuals. The show also delves into systemic inequality, portraying the ways in which racism, economic deprivation, and lack of opportunity shape the lives of its characters. The narrative touches on issues of gentrification as well, showing how the community grapples with outside forces that threaten to displace long-established residents. Yet, amid these heavy themes, the series consistently emphasizes the importance of family and community ties. Whether biological or chosen, families in The Chi provide love and support in the face of adversity, highlighting the strength that comes from unity.
The vision behind The Chi comes from Lena Waithe, the first Black woman to win an Emmy for comedy writing (for her work on Master of None). Waithe drew inspiration from her own upbringing on Chicago’s South Side. She has stated that she wanted to tell stories about the people she knew—ordinary individuals living in a challenging environment, whose lives are not solely defined by violence.
“Lena Waithe is a generational storyteller, whose authentic and unflinching narratives in The Chi resonate deeply, offering a powerful lens into both the complexities of life in Chicago as well as the Black experience in America,” said Nina L. Diaz, President of Content and Chief Creative Officer, Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios and Paramount Media Networks.
In an interview with The New York Times, Waithe explained, “We always hear the story of gun violence in Chicago, but there’s never the why or how it affects families and how it affects the community.” This personal connection to the material gives the show an authenticity that resonates with viewers, grounding its dramatic elements in lived experience.
Now with six seasons into its run, The Chi continues to evolve, tackling new societal issues and deepening its exploration of its characters’ lives. With each season, the show remains committed to telling authentic stories that reflect the complexity of life in Chicago’s South Side. Its cultural significance has grown as it brings attention to issues that are often overlooked in mainstream media while also celebrating the beauty and strength of a community that, despite its challenges, remains filled with hope.
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