Exploring Season 3 of World! Friendship! Chewing Gum!
Review of Season Three of the Series "World! Friendship! Chewing Gum!": The Spirit of the 90s, Coming of Age, and the Inescapability of Change
Release Date: May 4, 2023
Director: Anton Fyodorov
Rating: 8 out of 10
The series "World! Friendship! Chewing Gum!" has long captured the hearts of audiences, thanks to its delicate balance between nostalgia for the tumultuous 1990s and an engaging, multi-layered plot. The third season, which premiered on the online platform Premier, immerses viewers once again into the ambiance of provincial Russia in the mid-90s, but this time, it thoughtfully explores the theme of the characters' maturation.
Characters Mature, Problems Complicate
At the heart of the narrative is the unyielding group of friends who, despite the passage of two years, find themselves caught up in the most unexpected scenarios. The new season unfolds during the summer of 1996, symbolically marking the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of the protagonists.
- Sanya (Egor Gubarev) has left school behind and is trying to navigate the complexities of adult life. His budding relationship with a girl (Alexandra Khoromova) adds a romantic hue to the story, yet it does little to shield him from the mundane difficulties of working in a cassette shop.
- Vovka (Egor Abramov) and Malaya (Polina Gukhman) are now young parents. Maintaining his trademark overconfidence, Vovka strives to support his family, often resorting to dubious methods.
- Ilya (Fedor Roshchin), a character marked by internal turmoil, is now engrossed in physical self-improvement, adding a layer of drama to his persona.
- Zhenya (Valentina Lyapina) returns to her hometown not alone, but with her fiancé (Fedor Fedotov), creating an unexpected twist for her friends.
Sanya's family struggles also take center stage. His mother (Ksenia Katalymova) finds herself arrested for financial misconduct, while his father (Stepan Devoinin) relies on help from a former partner, who may not be what he seems.
Criminal Tula: A Whirlwind of Events
The scripts have decided to forego subtlety, explicitly setting the action in Tula. Following the events of the first two seasons, the city undergoes significant changes: many key figures in the criminal underworld have perished, compelling the creators to introduce new characters and even "resurrect" some previous ones.
This season brings the surprising return of Alik (Yuri Borisov) and Vitka (Nikita Pavlenko), characters whose deaths in the earlier season seemed definitive. This time, the writers have crafted a more plausible rationale for their survival, injecting intrigue and dynamism into the plot's development.
Soundtrack: The Voice of an Era
Musical accompaniment remains one of the series' strongest assets. The compositions by Mujus expertly convey the mood of an era that is both anxious and filled with hope. The show features 90s hits that evoke a deep sense of nostalgia, with particular emphasis on the album "Morskaya" by the band Mumiy Troll, which, intriguingly, is released in the storyline a year ahead of its actual chronology.
A Slow Start or the Calm Before the Storm?
In contrast to previous seasons, the third begins with a relatively slower pace. However, tension is palpable from the very first episodes. The question remains whether the creators will maintain this rhythm or, as they have in the past, plunge the characters into a maelstrom of thrilling and perilous adventures.
Finale
The third season of "World! Friendship! Chewing Gum!" is a high-quality extension of the story about maturation, the struggles of decision-making, and the spirit of the challenging 90s. Despite some contentious plot choices, the series continues to stand as one of the finest examples of contemporary Russian cinema. The intrigue, dynamic storytelling, and emotional depth make this show a must-watch for anyone who appreciates drama with a historical context.