Zay’s character in The Chi is undoubtedly an intriguing one.
From the moment he sets foot into the crime world, he makes a name for himself. Initially, his interactions with Douda make us doubt his intentions. However, soon it is revealed that he has hopes to climb up the ladder and get a higher rank in the gang.
Soon, he becomes even closer to Douda than his cousin, Nuck. However, things do not run as smoothly for him. His loyalty is often questioned. He also gets himself into difficult situations. Played by Aaron Guy, Zay is one of the most complex characters in The Chi.
Who is Zay from The Chi?
We first see Zay in the sixth season of The Chi. Initially, all he wanted was to get closer to Douda. His character has a unique rebellious streak. This often led him into difficult situations. However, he never backed down from a challenge. Rather, he was proactive in proving himself.

This helps him become Douda’s number two. However, he did not reach the rank with ease. He went through numerous tests and trials. His loyalty was first tested when he was approached by Alicia. Alicia’s goal was to make Zay work for her instead. However, Zay was adamant in working for Douda instead.
Zay’s relationship with Kenya also added a layer of intrigue to his character. There were a lot of complications with Kenya and her ex-boyfriend, Papa. Papa’s father disapproved of Kenya. However, after Papa’s father is murdered, Papa decides to end things with Kenya.
This eventually leads her to meet Zay. From the beginning of Zay’s arrival, we see that Zay is quite overconfident and rebellious. However, with Kenya, we see a distinct side of him. This resonates deeply with the viewers.
On the other hand, Zay and Nuck’s differences are increasing. Nuck gets into a difficult situation after his side deal with Rob is revealed. This puts him at odds with Douda. However, Zay uses Nuck’s situation in his favour and becomes Douda’s number 2 in Season 6 episode 15.
Douda tasks Zay to murder Alonzo after the latter threatens him. On Douda’s orders, Zay kills Alonzo by shooting him. As the story progresses, things get further complicated with Zay and Nuck. In the last episode of season 6, Nuck kills Douda because he demoted his rank and gave it to Zay. Douda’s death leaves Zay in a difficult situation.

Killing Douda makes Nuck the leader, which eventually compromises Zay’s position. Though Zay thinks that his cousin will understand his situation, he is quickly proven wrong.
Nuck does not think twice before replacing Zay with Bakari. Nuck then puts Zay in a dangerous situation by blaming him for Rob’s murder. Hence, Alicia takes immediate action and kills Zay by shooting him. Though Zay’s presence in The Chi is limited, his impact is far from it.
He has an intense character arc, which makes him a crucial character in the sixth season of The Chi. Whether he deserved the ending he received is up for debate. However, the way he created his position in the crime world makes him an intriguing character.
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