Exploring Season Three of "World! Friendship! Chewing Gum!"
Review of Season Three of the Show "World! Friendship! Chewing Gum!": The Spirit of the 90s, Coming of Age, and the Inevitability of Change
Release Date: May 4, 2023
Director: Anton Fyodorov
Rating: 8 out of 10
The series "World! Friendship! Chewing Gum!" has long captivated audiences by striking a delicate balance between nostalgia for the tumultuous 90s and a compelling, multilayered plot. The third season, which premiered on the online platform Premier, invites viewers once more into the ambiance of provincial Russia during the mid-90s, yet this time through the lens of our protagonists' maturation.
Characters Mature, Challenges Intensify
The narrative pivots around the relentless group of friends who, despite the passage of two years, find themselves ensnared in a plethora of unexpected situations. Set against the backdrop of summer 1996, this new season symbolically coincides with the dawn of a fresh chapter in the characters' lives.
- Sanya (Egog Gubarev) has left his school days behind and is attempting to navigate the complex landscape of adulthood. His burgeoning relationship with a girl (Alexandra Khromova) adds a romantic flair to the storyline while failing to shield him from mundane struggles, such as his job at a kiosk selling cassettes.
- Vovka (Egor Abramov) and Malaya (Polina Gukhman) have stepped into the challenging role of young parents. Vovka's typical cockiness remains intact as he endeavors to provide for his family, often resorting to dubious means.
- Ilya (Fedor Roshchin), a character embodying inner turmoil, is now engrossed in physical self-improvement, which injects an element of drama into his portrayal.
- Zhenya (Valentina Lyapina) returns to her hometown accompanied not just by nostalgia but also with her fiancé (Fedor Fedotov), introducing an unexpected twist for her friends.
Sanya's family troubles come to the forefront, particularly as his mother (Ksenia Katalymova) faces arrest for financial malfeasance. In contrast, his father (Stepan Devonin) looks to a former partner for assistance, only to discover that he may not be what he seems.
Criminal Tula: A Whirlwind of Events
In a bold move, the writers have decided to eliminate the veiled references and explicitly set the stage in Tula. Following the plot developments of the first two seasons, the city undergoes significant transformations: several key figures from the criminal underworld are no longer living, prompting the creators to introduce fresh faces and even "resurrect" some familiar ones.
Thus, fans can look forward to the surprising return of Alik (Yuri Borisov) and Vitka (Nikita Pavlenko), whose deaths in the previous season appeared final. This time, the writers craft a more believable rationale for their survival, creating layers of intrigue and enhancing the narrative's dynamism.
Soundtrack: The Voice of an Era
The musical accompaniment remains one of the series' strongest facets. The compositions by Mujus adeptly evoke the spirit of a tumultuous yet hopeful time. Hits from the 90s resonate with viewers, triggering waves of nostalgia. Special attention is given to "Morskaya" by the band "Mumiy Troll," a landmark album that, albeit out of historical order, is depicted as being released a year early.
A Slow Start or a Calm Before the Storm?
Unlike previous seasons, the third installment begins with a relatively slow unfolding of events. Nonetheless, tension is palpable from the early episodes. The pivotal question arises: Will the creators maintain this pace, or will they, as has become customary, plunge the characters into a whirlwind of thrilling and perilous adventures?
The third season of "World! Friendship! Chewing Gum!" stands as a high-quality continuation of a narrative steeped in the themes of coming of age, the struggles of decision-making, and the essence of the challenging 90s. Despite some contentious plot choices, it endures as one of the finest representations of contemporary Russian cinema. Excitement, momentum, and emotional depth render this series a must-watch for all who appreciate drama intertwined with historical undertones.