Exploring Season Three of Chewing Gum: A Nostalgic Journey
World! Friendship! Chewing Gum! — Season Three: A Journey Through Life's Struggles
Rating: 8 out of 10
Release Date: May 4, 2023
Director: Anton Fyodorov
Main Cast: Egor Gubarev, Valentina Lyapina, Yuri Borisov, Nikita Pavlenko, Evgeny Tkachenko, Viktor Sukhorukov, and more.
The third season of "World! Friendship! Chewing Gum!" emerges as a highly anticipated continuation of the beloved narrative surrounding the lives of teenagers during the 1990s. This time, the storyline unfurls during the summer of 1996, where characters, two years older, confront a fresh array of challenges and trials.
Coming of Age: The Characters' New Chapter
While the main characters remain familiar, each has undergone significant changes over the last two years:
- Sanka (Egor Gubarev) has graduated from school and now finds himself selling cassettes at a local stall. This new chapter introduces him to the world of romantic entanglements with a new girlfriend.
- Vovka (Egor Abramov) and Malaya (Polina Gukhman) have stepped into parenthood together. In his pursuit to support his family, Vovka finds himself entangled in dubious adventures that test his values.
- Ilya (Fyodor Roshchin), who has always danced to the beat of his own drum, is now on a quest toward physical perfection, showcasing a desire to redefine himself.
- Zhenya (Valentina Lyapina) returns to town with her fiancé, setting the stage for unexpected dynamics and revelations amongst her friends.
Meanwhile, Sanka's parents grapple with their own dramatic arcs: his mother finds herself incarcerated due to financial fraud, while his father clings to hope, believing their salvation lies in the hands of Vitalik (Arthur Beshchastny), a character teetering on the edge of legality.
An Engaging Criminal Narrative
The creators of the series delve deeper into the criminal underbelly of the city of Tula, showcasing it from an intriguing perspective. Following the loss of key players in the criminal world during the previous season, fresh faces make their appearance, while some presumed dead characters resurface, adding to the impactful twists of the plot.
The return of Alik (Yuri Borisov) and Vitka (Nikita Pavlenko) elicits a mix of nostalgia and surprise; their reintroduction, more believable yet still tinged with drama, hooks viewers back into the narrative.
As always, teenage protagonists find themselves at the heart of escalating events, unwittingly getting pulled into the vortex of crime swirling around them.
Soundtrack — The Heart and Soul of the Show
The music continues to serve as a pivotal force, imbuing the series with a distinctive spirit. The soundtrack features:
- Iconic hits from the 90s, which transport viewers back to the era with a powerful sense of nostalgia.
- The evocative sounds of Mujus, channeling an anxious but captivating aesthetic of the time.
- The album "Morskaya" by the band Mumiy Troll, incorporated into the storyline ahead of its actual release in reality.
This musical accompaniment enriches the plot and amplifies emotional resonance, mirroring the essence of transformation and instability that defined the 90s.
Pacing and Intrigue: What to Expect from Season Three
Though the initial episodes of this season may present a slower tempo compared to prior installments, this perception proves deceiving. Tension gradually heightens with every scene, where the show's familiar frenetic pace makes a triumphant return.
The writers skillfully tread the line between absurdity and realism, compelling viewers to root for the characters, despite their flaws and misjudgments. Will the series maintain its gripping allure right to the conclusion? Or might we embark on another whirlwind of stunning events?
Epilogue: Why You Should Tune In
The third season of "World! Friendship! Chewing Gum!" solidifies its status as a shining beacon of nostalgic cinema reflecting the 90s. It amalgamates:
- Vivid characters that viewers adore for their authenticity and charisma.
- An atmosphere capturing the essence of the period through its sets, music, and costumes.
- A plot that continuously keeps audiences on edge, all while presenting a lighthearted delivery.
This season marks yet another step towards unraveling the truth of the characters' journeys, where "little has been lived, yet so much has been experienced." It comes highly recommended for anyone wishing to revisit the 90s or simply seeking to enjoy a quality Russian series.