Exploring the Depths of "World! Friendship! Chewing Gum!" Season 3
Review of Season Three of the Series "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 garnered acclaim, charming viewers with its delicate balance between nostalgia for the vibrant 90s and an intricate, layered narrative. The premiere of its third season on the online platform Premier successfully immerses us back into the milieu of provincial Russia during the mid-90s, albeit now reflecting the maturation of its central characters.
Characters Grow Up, Complications Intensify
The show continues to revolve around a lively group of friends who, two years later, find themselves entangled in unexpected situations yet again. Set during the summer of 1996, this season symbolically marks a new chapter in the lives of our beloved characters.
- Sanya (Egor Gubarev) has moved on from his school days and is wrestling with the complexities of adult life. His blossoming romance with a girl named Alexandra (Yekaterina Khromova) adds a sweet layer to the story, but does little to shield him from the mundane challenges of his new existence, such as working in a video rental store.
- Vovka (Egor Abramov) and Malaya (Polina Gukhman) have embraced parenthood, yet Vovka's typical bravado is put to the test as he seeks questionable means to provide for his growing family.
- Ilya (Fyodor Roshchin), a character characterized by his turbulent inner world, now finds solace in physical self-improvement, injecting a more dramatic dimension to his role.
- Zhenya (Valentina Lyapina) returns to her hometown accompanied by her fiancé Fedor (Fyodor Fedotov), an unexpected twist that catches her friends off guard.
Central to the narrative are Sanya's family troubles, as his mother Ksenia (Kseniya Katalymova) faces arrest for embezzlement while his father Stepan (Stepan Devonin) looks to a former partner for assistance, sparking complications that hint at deception.
Criminal Tula: A Whirlwind of Events
The scriptwriters take a more direct approach this season, leaving behind subtle hints to clearly establish Tula as the setting. In the wake of the previous seasons, the city itself has undergone changes; numerous key players in the criminal underworld have perished, compelling the creators to introduce new faces and even “resurrect” old ones.
Audiences can anticipate the surprising returns of Alik (Yuri Borisov) and Vitka (Nikita Pavlenko), whose deaths in the preceding season seemed final. This time, the writers have crafted a more plausible rationale for their survival, reviving intrigue and depth in the unfolding story arc.
Soundtrack: The Voice of an Era
One of the standout elements of the series remains its soundtrack. The compositions by Mujus adeptly convey the anxious yet hopeful vibe of the era, supplemented by nostalgic hits from the 90s. A notable highlight is the album "Marine" by Mumiy Troll, which, though out of chronological order, emerges a year prior to its actual release, amplifying the nostalgic essence of the series.
A Slow Start or Calm Before the Storm?
In contrast to the action-packed openings of previous seasons, this third installment begins with a relatively sedate pace. However, an underlying tension is palpable from the very first episodes. The critical question looms: will the creators maintain this tempo, or will they plunge the characters into a whirlwind of gripping adventures and perils, as seen in earlier seasons?
The Ends
The third season of "World! Friendship! Chewing Gum!" serves as a compelling continuation of the narrative about maturation, the difficulties of decision-making, and the spirit of the tumultuous 90s. Despite some controversial plot choices, this project stands tall as a prime example of modern Russian cinema. The combination of suspense, dynamic storytelling, and emotional profundity renders the series a must-watch for anyone who treasures drama with a historical context.