SPOILER ALERT: The following story contains plot details from Season 8 of “The Chi,” now streaming on Paramount+
In the eighth and final season of Lena Waithe’s long-running drama, “The Chi,” legendary actress Lela Rochon steps onto the scene. The “Waiting to Exhale” alum first appears in Episode 6, “When Truth Thaws,” as Vivian, a luxury wedding planner who is hired to orchestrate Emmett (Jacob Latimore) and Keisha’s (Birgundi Baker) forthcoming nuptials. Though Vivian is eager to plan a lavish event, she quickly realizes that the couple’s ideas for their big day couldn’t be further apart. Moreover, Emmett’s ex-wife Tiffany’s (Hannaha Hall) emotional and financial involvement complicates matters.
An avid viewer of “The Chi” since it first debuted back in 2018, Rochon was thrilled to step into this bustling Chicago ecosystem and put her own touch on a character who will play a pivotal role as this fan-favorite story comes to an end. As the series comes to a close, Rochon talks to Variety about working on “The Chi,” some of her favorite movie memories, and why she’s continually pushing for underrepresented and unseen stories.
These days, it’s so rare for a series to continue for as long as “The Chi” has. What was it like to step on the set of the final season?
