Exploring the Third Season of 'Peace! Friendship! Chewing Gum!'

Release Date: May 4, 2023
Director: Anton Fyodorov
Rating: 8 out of 10

The series "Peace! Friendship! Chewing Gum!" has long captured the hearts of viewers, striking a delicate balance between nostalgia for the tumultuous '90s and an engaging, multi-layered narrative. The premiere of the third season on the online platform Premier immerses us once again in the ambiance of mid-'90s provincial Russia, but this time, it does so through the lens of the characters’ coming-of-age journeys.

Characters Mature, Complications Intensify

At the heart of the story remains an irrepressible group of friends, who despite the passage of two years, continue to find themselves entangled in the most unexpected scenarios. Set against the backdrop of summer 1996, this new season symbolically coincides with a pivotal chapter in the lives of the protagonists.

• Sanka (Egor Gubarev) has bid farewell to school and grapples with the complexities of adult life. His budding romance with a girl (Alexandra Khromova) adds a layer of sweetness to the narrative, yet everyday challenges—like working in a cassette shop—loom large.
• Vovka (Egor Abramov) and Malaya (Polina Gukhman) have embraced parenthood. Vovka, with his usual bravado, strives to support his family but resorts to rather dubious means to do so.
• Ilya (Fyodor Roshchin), a character marked by his inner turmoil, now throws himself into physical self-improvement, which adds a dramatic edge to his portrayal.
• Zhenya (Valentina Lyapina) returns to her hometown, not alone but accompanied by her fiancé (Fyodor Fedotov), an unexpected twist for her circle of friends.

Sanka’s family issues become a central thread in the storyline. His mother (Ksenia Katalymova) faces arrest due to financial misconduct, while his father (Stepan Devonin) clings to the hope of help from a former business partner—who may not be who he seems.

Criminal Tula: A Whirlwind of Events

The screenwriters, opting to ditch veiled references, place Tula front and center as the setting. Following the events of the first two seasons, the city undergoes transformations: several pivotal players in the criminal underworld have perished, prompting the inclusion of fresh characters and even 'reviving' old ones.

Viewers can expect the surprising return of Alik (Yuri Borisov) and Vitka (Nikita Pavlenko), whose deaths in the prior season seemed definitive. This time, the writers have crafted a more plausible backstory for their survival, injecting intrigue and energy into the plot's progression.

Soundtrack: The Voice of an Era

The musical score continues to be one of the series' strongest elements. The compositions by Mujus expertly encapsulate the mood of an era rife with anxiety yet brimming with hope. Additionally, hits from the '90s stir feelings of nostalgia. Notably, the album "Morskaya" by the band "Mumiy Troll" is highlighted, despite its release being misplaced chronologically, coming out a year earlier than it should have.

A Slow Start or Calm Before the Storm?

Unlike the previous seasons, the third begins with a relatively slow pace. Nevertheless, tension is palpable from the first episodes. The real question remains: will the creators maintain this rhythm, or will they plunge the characters back into a whirlwind of thrilling and perilous adventures as they have before?

Ending

The third season of "Peace! Friendship! Chewing Gum!" stands as a quality continuation of a tale involving maturation, the challenges of decision-making, and the essence of the tumultuous '90s. In spite of some controversial narrative choices, the project remains one of the finest examples of contemporary Russian cinema. Its intrigue, dynamism, and emotional depth make this series a must-watch for anyone who appreciates drama with a historical context.