Showtime

has renewed
The Chi
for an eighth season after series-best ratings. Created by Lena Waithe,
The Chi
is an ensemble drama, which follows the residents of a tough and dangerous South Chicago neighborhood. With huge ratings and positive reviews, the series shows no signs of slowing down.

The renewal comes after the  premiere drew 2 million viewers in the first seven days, becoming the series’ most-streamed opening episode. Paramount Global co-CEO and president of Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios Chris McCarthy praised Waithe for raising the bar creatively and helping shatter viewership records.

“Lena’s storytelling defies convention and cuts through cliché, revealing the depth, power, and complexity of life on the South Side of Chicago with fearless honesty,” McCarthy added. With the season 8 renewal,
The Chi
will join
Dexter, Homeland,
and
Weeds
in a tie for the second longest-running scripted series in Showtime’s history.
Shameless
still leads the pack with its 11 seasons.

This season sees Alicia (Lynn Whitfield) helping the women of The Chi reclaim their power. That’s not to say loyalties aren’t tested and rivalries aren’t stoked. Only one person can take the crown and getting the top can come at a heavy cost. Season 7 has been touted as the most female centric season of the Showtime show yet.

The Chi
has been praised for highlighting the average day of people living in a tough and dangerous neighborhood from parents trying to make a living to children prepping for school and the elderly sitting on their front porch.

The show has gone strength to strength over the year, slowly becoming one of Showtime’s most watched series. Season 6 of
The Chi
had a strong showing, earning the series’ most watched premiere and was most-watched season of the show at the time. The press frequently praise the writing for tenderly exploring the realities of life for people on the South Side of Chicago.