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As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and after eight wonderful seasons, The Chi streams its series finale on Friday, July 24, for Paramount+ Premium Plan subscribers and on the Showtime cable network on Sunday, July 26, at 9 PM ET. This will no doubt be a bittersweet moment for fans who have watched from the beginning as TV series creator Lena Waithe developed a multigenerational and layered version of The Windy City that showed the ebbs and flows of family, romance, and journeys of self-exploration.
Someone who has helped spearhead the drama from the Season 1 Episode 1 is singer and actor Jacob Latimore. For over eight years, he’s portrayed Emmett Washington, a character viewers have watched transform from a reluctant teenage parent into a businessman, family man, and all-around valued member of his hometown.
Ahead of the series finale, I had the opportunity to speak with Latimore one-on-one and inquire about his character’s voyage on the show and what he makes of the overall legacy of The Chi. Plus, with an exclusive sneak peek of the last episode, I had to ask his thoughts on how it all ends.
The Themes of ‘The Chi’: “Family, Forgiveness, Healing, Uncomfortable Conversations”
Men’s Journal: Jacob, congratulations on eight successful seasons of The Chi. Looking back at the legacy of the show, what’s the impression you want fans to walk away with after watching the final episode?
Latimore: I think our show has always kind of just leaned into these really big themes of family, forgiveness, healing, uncomfortable conversations. What things could look like in certain dynamics and certain conversations, where you know maybe you’re like ‘I wouldn’t say this, but let’s see what this could look like.’ And that’s the beauty of storytelling. And I think that when people look back on our show, I think they’ll be able to see some things that maybe relate to their lives and say, ‘You know what, let’s try that. Let’s try to talk about that.’ And I think our show has been incredible in that way.
Men’s Journal: Well, along those lines, how has Emmett shaped you in your own life?
Latimore: Yeah, it’s different. I mean, Emmett’s life is very different. Actually, it’s really humbling for me. I came up in the music business and film industry at a very young age. Booked my first television show gig when I was 11. So I was homeschooled. My life was just a little bit different. And I tried to stay as social as possible to feel normal as possible. But I think a lot of the moments in the show just kind of humbled me. Like working at the chicken shop, and picking up the kids, and holding the baby, and changing, and the life things, and running to work, and clocking into work, and trying to make side-hustle money. Those real, real life things that I feel make the character so relatable.
Even just loving shoes. I think I even love shoes more now, after the show. Because I want to say the first, or the first two seasons, I’m a super sweatpants hoodie kind of guy, and I feel like the first thing people would do is look at me like that [looks down toward his feet]. [Laughing] Look down at my shoes. And I may not have had the best shoes on. I didn’t think about it, but it was becoming important. It was becoming important that I had some Jordans.
The Evolution of Father/Son Duo: Darnell and Emmett
In an early sneak peek of The Chi series finale that Showtime shared with Men’s Journal, Emmett (Latimore) and Darnell (Rolando Boyce) have a heart-to-heart about Emmett’s upcoming wedding, showing once more how remarkably far they’ve come in their relationship. Take a look.
Men’s Journal: Watching a clip of the finale, where it’s Emmett and Darnell talking wedding plans, what do you credit as the reason their relationship drastically improved from when Darnell first appeared in Season 2? Do you think Emmett’s own complicated journey of fatherhood played a role?
Latimore: Yeah man, breaking generational curses is a real thing. We get to witness that with this show. We get to see it all up close and personal. And we get to see Emmett try to be intentional about that. Because he has young sons now, and he’s trying to make time for each and every son. And he wants to instill whatever he can to be the best father he can be and learn from his father’s mistakes, so he can move forward and heal. It’s a really interesting dynamic of he’s being a better son to be a better father, and learning from his dad’s mistakes and his vulnerabilities.
Men’s Journal: Zooming back out again on the legacy of the show, was there one scene or moment that really took you by surprise?
Latimore: Man, so many scenes, so many moments. Honestly, Season 8, the father/son talk just about sex, was definitely, I feel, was one of the most important scenes Emmett’s had as a father. And just really getting to the big elephant in the room of just like, ‘This is what we’re dealing with, son, and you’re my son. So if I’m my dad’s son, you’re my son. [Laughing] We gotta address something that’s very important.
Maybe to take it back. Just, Season 1, just out the gate. Yolanda [Yolanda Ross portrays Jada Washington] coming in there and sitting on that bed and Keisha’s [Birgundi Baker] under there, and you’re just like, ‘Ok.’ Everybody gets to that moment where they wanted to experience something they’re not supposed to be doing right now, and the parent is like, ‘What are you doing?’ That was the first take. That was the first day I worked on set, too, so we just got right to it [laughing].
What to Expect in ‘The Chi’ Series Finale
Men’s Journal: I know you can’t give too many spoilers away, but in no more than three words, how would you describe the series finale?
Latimore: Forgiveness, surprise, home.
Again, the series finale of The Chi airs on Friday, July 24 for Paramount+ Premium Plan subscribers and on the Showtime cable network on Sunday, July 26, at 9 PM ET.
