The Chi: Season 8 Episode 10 (Series Finale) – Recap and Review

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Episode 10 “The Last Dance” Recap and Details

• Director(s): Deondray Gossfield, Quincy LeNear Gossfield
• Writer(s): Lena Waithe, Justin Hillian
• Public Release Date (Showtime): July 24, 2026
• Check out more of our “The Chi” coverage.
• Images © of Showtime

Reunions and Preparation: Angie, Hannibal, Rafi, Britney, Bakari, Shaad, Victor, Emmett, Kiesha, Tiff

A lot of familiar faces show up for the finale, such as Hannibal, who realizes Angie is moving on. But the one really worth noting is Rafi. That ass-whipping Bakari gave him isn’t forgotten, and rather than ask to fight again, be a man about it, Rafi seemingly wants to have a one-way altercation. Mind you, Bakari and Britney are prepping to move out of Chicago to Atlanta and move on with their lives.

Which, strangely, is something Kiesha is willing to do with Tiff – move on. Despite wanting to cut her off and everything, when Tiff comes to see her, talk woman to woman, they make peace. Not enough for Kiesha to still want to have her wedding at Tiff’s place, but enough to let Tiff still be a bridesmaid.

Which leaves Emmett to find a new venue, and he decides Shaad’s house will be perfect. So, alongside asking permission to get married there, he also asks Victor and Shaad to be his best men.

The Wedding & Day After: Kevin, Nina, Maisha, Shawnita, Isis, Jake, Desiree, Papa, Kenya, Victor, Fatima, Rafi, Bakari, Reg

For the most part, the wedding is uneventful. Yes, Kevin and Nina show up, as does Maisha, and other familiar faces. Shawnita and Isis finally get closer, as the flirting leads to a date proposal, and we start to get a sense of what life is going to be like after for many characters.

Jake and Desiree talk about moving in together, Papa speaks on removing alcohol and other crutches from his life, and doubles down on his commitment to Kenya. Victor and Fatima reconcile, and the event goes off flawlessly.

Unfortunately, though, the next day Rafi does a drive-by on Bakari, just as he is moving his things into a truck. Leaving us with the impression that The Chi had to leave someone dead, as Reg seems to be adjusting to prison life without worries.

1 Year Later: Bakari, Lynae, Papa, Jake, Desiree, Angie, Zuri, Shawnita, Smitty, Charles, Isis, Patience, Shaad, Mondo, Tevin, Tiff, Devante, Tevin

Alas, Bakari lives. The shooting was just to get you shook up a little bit. But, it seems the shooting, and moving to Atlanta, may have been great for book sales, for now when he does an author event, there is a line. One which, at the end of it, you can see a pregnant Lynae!

As for other updates? Papa’s Pulpit is back, Jake does end up moving in with Desiree, Smokeys ends up being franchised, and the sisters, Angie, Zuri, and Shawnita are all partnered up. To Smitty, Charles, and Isis, respectively. Patience and Shaad live in Darnell’s old house, with Mondo, and with Tiff realizing she can’t or shouldn’t lean on the family Emmett built to feel like her own, she focuses on her sons and mom to make Alicia’s former house feel like home.

And so the series ends with Devante, Mondo, and Tevin riding their bikes, reminiscent of Kevin, Papa, and Jake, but as a new generation, with better infrastructure to give them the sense of community they’ll need.

Review and Commentary

Highlights

Getting Closure Regarding Some Characters [82/100]

While nothing could replace them having better storylines and endings which could pack a punch, you have to appreciate what you’re given. Be it Papa and Kenya committing to each other for the long term, with him speaking of proposing to her, or even him bringing back Papa Pulpit. Then you have Shawnita and Isis together, Hannibal being seen one last time, and a slew of other storylines which ended without much fanfare.

It may remind you of what should have been done, what could have been done, but at least for characters you’ve grown attached to, many were given some sort of ellipsis to allow you to know life will go on.

Low Points

The Bakari Shooting [67/100]

With how The Mob’s presence diminished, paired with no word on what happened with Reg’s crew once he got locked up, Rafi being the representative of the gangster side of Chicago felt lukewarm. Then him shooting Bakari, over an ass-whipping that happened weeks ago in the show, in a private space (!), I wish I could feel torn about it – but I don’t.

It felt like a cheap injection of drama having Bakari shot just when he was about to move, and then doing a fake-out; while I’m sure that relieved a lot of people, it just left a bad taste in my mouth. Maybe because death this season didn’t feel notable, and to throw in the possibility of Bakari dying and then going like “SIKE” really made it clear why this show needed to end now rather than limp through another season.

On The Fence

Tiff Being Forgiven Rather Quickly [72/100]

I get Nuck killed Rob, so Tiff was justified in her killing him. But Kiesha forgiving Tiff enough for her to be her bridesmaid? Within 24 hours of finding out what she did, I feel like that’s a stretch. Letting her be in the audience, come to the reception, okay, that’s mature; she is processing. But letting her remain a bridesmaid? It really just pushes Kiesha’s character to be someone who is mainly in service to others in the most frustrating way.

For, once again, it presents the idea that every other character’s storyline and feelings matter far beyond what Kiesha feels, and she should just absorb what comes to her.

Emmett and Keisha Being The Main Focus Of The Finale [70/100]

It has long been understood that Emmett, as the senior-most character on the show, would likely receive most of the focus in the finale, alongside his storyline. Thing is, his wedding dominated the finale, and honestly, with a lack of investment in him and Kiesha’s relationship, while I liked seeing Keisha’s parents and Kevin, everything else regarding them I found myself unaffected by.

For one, Emmett just isn’t a great lead character. He’s bland, often reactive, and because I’ve been watching since the beginning, I find myself comparing him to Brandon, Kiesha to Jerrika, and they still don’t hold a candle to those two – even with being grown now. Emmett just feels like a replacement who, as I found myself reflecting on the show as a whole, not just this season or episode, I realize, has been pretty stagnant since Douda died.

Then with Kiesha, I felt myself mourning all the things the show could have built up to, yet it ended things with Kiesha marrying Emmett. Even in the time jump, we don’t see her program expanding with more kids beyond Devante. She isn’t trying to get grants and build a life for herself. Her life remains in service to Emmett.

Overall

Our Overall Rating [72/100]

Honestly, there is this desire to speak about the ending of The Chi as if it was just another job for all those involved, because the ending didn’t feel emotional or noteworthy. But I think it has to be recognized that most shows don’t get a wrap-up season. On top of that, knowing something is the final season means a consistent paycheck is no longer going to come in, so there needs to be some level of grace for all those involved. After all, you have to not only think about how to end the show you’re on, but the next job and when and where that may come.

But I think it is right to question why the season and finale turned out this way. As one of the last shows in the most recent Black TV renaissance to end, The Chi could have been a reminder that what ended up a wave was truly a historic moment. Yet, instead, what gets delivered is something forgettable, certainly doesn’t live up to hopes or expectations, and leaves you more disappointed by how The Chi ended than saddened that it ended at all.

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