Exploring the Nostalgia and Growth in World! Friendship! Chewing Gum! Season 3
Release Date: May 4, 2023
Director: Anton Fyodorov
Rating: 8 out of 10
The series "World! Friendship! Chewing Gum!" has captivated viewers for quite some time, elegantly weaving a tapestry of nostalgia for the tumultuous '90s alongside an intricately layered storyline. The recent launch of its third season on the online platform Premier marks a return to the provincial heart of 1990s Russia, albeit through the lens of the protagonists' maturation process.
Characters Mature, Complications Multiply
The narrative once again centers on a restless band of friends, who, despite the passage of two years, find themselves embroiled in the most unexpected dilemmas. The new season unfolds in the summer of 1996, symbolically ushering in a new phase in the characters' lives.
- Sanya (Egor Gubarev) has bid farewell to school and is grappling with the complexities of adult life. His fresh relationship with a girl (Alexandra Khromova) gives the plot a romantic flair, though it does little to alleviate the everyday struggles that accompany his job at a cassette kiosk.
- Vovka (Egor Abramov) and Malaya (Polina Gukhman) have embraced the role of young parents. Vovka, with his characteristic overconfidence, strives to sustain his family through questionable means, which adds a layer of complexity to their family dynamic.
- Ilya (Fyodor Roshchin), the character with an unsettled inner world, devotes himself to physical self-improvement, infusing his persona with a sense of drama and unease.
- Zhenya (Valentina Lyapina) returns to her hometown, bringing along a fiancé (Fyodor Fedotov), which introduces an unexpected twist that takes her friends by surprise.
Sanya's familial issues emerge as a central narrative thread, featuring his mother (Ksenia Katalymova), who has been arrested for financial misdeeds, while his father (Stepan Devonin) looks to an ex-partner for assistance, whose true intentions remain shrouded in mystery.
Criminal Tula: A Whirlwind of Events
The scriptwriters, opting for a more transparent approach, prominently feature Tula as the backdrop of events. Following the dramatic occurrences of the initial two seasons, the city has undergone significant transformations. The demise of many central figures in the criminal underworld has necessitated the introduction of new characters and even the "resurrection" of old ones.
Viewers can anticipate the surprising return of Alik (Yuri Borisov) and Vitka (Nikita Pavlenko), whose deaths in the previous season seemed definitive. This time, the writers have crafted a more plausible narrative for their survival, injecting intrigue and momentum into the unfolding story.
Soundtrack: The Voice of a Generation
The musical landscape of the series remains one of its most compelling features. Compositions by Mujus expertly encapsulate the ambiance of an era that is fraught yet teeming with hope. The selection includes chart-topping hits from the '90s that evoke a deep-seated nostalgia. Noteworthy is the inclusion of the album "Sea" by the band "Mumiy Troll," mysteriously released a year ahead of its actual timeline.
A Slow Start or the Calm Before the Storm?
In contrast to its predecessors, the third season kicks off with a relatively languid pace. Nevertheless, the underlying tension is palpable from the get-go. The burning question remains whether the creators will maintain this tempo or, as has become customary, plunge the characters into a maelstrom of gripping and perilous escapades.
Concluding Thoughts
Season three of "World! Friendship! Chewing Gum!" serves as a high-quality continuation of the narrative on growing up, the challenges of choice, and the spirit of the complex '90s. Despite some contentious plot decisions, the project stands as one of the finest examples of contemporary Russian cinema. The intrigue, dynamic storytelling, and emotional depth render this series a must-watch for anyone who appreciates drama with a historical backdrop.