"Young Love" expands Oscar-winning short film into new TV series

Why it matters: The show is an honest portrayal of a millennial family balancing career, finances, parenthood and personal ambition.

• "I remember my 20s. … It was very much one step forward, two steps back. … You finally get paid and your car breaks down, or you finally get paid and now something else happens," co-creator Cherry tells Axios. "We really wanted to be relatable."

Context: Cherry grew up in Mayfair on Chicago's Northwest Side and based a lot of the show, including the main characters' two-flat apartment building, on his family in West Garfield Park and North Lawndale.

• Cherry also snuck in references to Harold's mild sauce and the city's unpredictable weather.

What they're saying: Cherry's goal with "Young Love" was to counter many of the negative portrayals Chicago gets in the media.

• "We just want to just show that Chicagoans live, love, and they're trying to survive, and we hope this is a good representation of the city," Cherry tells Axios.

Plus, the show expands on Zuri, the daughter in "Hair Love," and lets her shine as a strong, confident and witty leader.

• "We just want her to really represent all the Black girls out here who just are so smart and incredible and changing the world," Cherry says.