After eight seasons, *The Chi* is approaching its series finale, bringing to a close its portrayal of love, grief, violence, family and resilience within Chicago’s South Side communities. Creator Lena Waithe says the Showtime/Paramount+ drama grew beyond her initial plans into a broad, interconnected portrait of people from differing backgrounds, and its conclusion matters as the culmination of that community-centred story.

The series depicts South Side residents ranging from working-class families and small-business owners to churchgoers, LGBTQ people and gang members, whose lives repeatedly intersect at social gatherings, weddings and funerals. Ahead of Friday’s finale, tensions rise around engaged couple Emmett Washington and Keisha Williams, with the penultimate episodes testing loyalty and previously close family relationships.