Waithe Reflects on Giving The Chi a Thoughtful, Celebratory Finale
Lena Waithe explains to The Hollywood Reporter why she ended The Chi after eight seasons with a finale she hopes audiences will remember and feel good about. She describes rewriting and plotting the ending to honor Black TV shows, paying homage to films like Menace II Society, and prioritizing growth, redemption, and a communal, familial ending over pandering or dragging the story. Waithe also reveals she turned down two additional seasons to avoid an extended, unsatisfying conclusion, making the finale a deliberate, earned moment for the ensemble and fans; all eight seasons are available on Paramount+ with Showtime.