Exploring Season Three of "World! Friendship! Chewing Gum!"
Release Date: May 4, 2023
Director: Anton Fyodorov
Rating: 8 out of 10
The series "World! Friendship! Chewing Gum!" has long captivated audiences with its seamless blend of nostalgia for the turbulent 90s and an engaging, multi-layered storyline. The third season, which premiered on the online platform Premier, once again immerses viewers into the atmosphere of mid-90s provincial Russia but approaches it through the lens of the protagonists' coming of age.
Characters Maturing, Complications Arising
At the heart of the narrative is the ever-energetic group of friends who, despite the passing of two years, continue to find themselves embroiled in unexpected predicaments. The new season unfolds during the summer of 1996, a time that symbolically marks the beginning of a new chapter in the characters' lives.
- Sanya (Yegor Gubarev) has left school behind and is navigating the complexities of adult life. His budding romance with a girl (Alexandra Kromova) adds a tender note to his story, yet it does not shield him from the everyday struggles, including working at a kiosk selling tapes.
- Vovka (Yegor Abramov) and Malaya (Polina Gukhman) have stepped into the role of young parents. Vovka, maintaining his typical overconfident demeanor, strives to support his family, yet his methods are often questionable.
- Ilya (Fyodor Roshchin), a character with an unstable internal landscape, is now engrossed in physical self-improvement, adding an extra layer of drama to his persona.
- Zhenya (Valentina Lyapina) returns to her hometown not alone, but with a fiancé (Fyodor Fedotov), which presents an unexpected twist for her circle of friends.
Sanya's family issues also take center stage. His mother (Ksenia Katalimova) faces arrest for financial misconduct, while his father (Stepan Devonin) hopes for assistance from a former partner, who might not be the trustworthy ally he appears to be.
Criminal Tula: A Whirlwind of Events
The screenplay shuns subtle hints and explicitly identifies Tula as the backdrop for the action. Following the events of the earlier seasons, the city undergoes transformations, with many key figures from the criminal underworld having perished, prompting the creators to introduce new characters and even "resurrect" previous ones.
Viewers can anticipate the surprising return of Alik (Yuri Borisov) and Vitka (Nikita Pavlenko), whose deaths in the last season were perceived as definitive. This time, the writers have crafted a more plausible explanation for their survival, adding intrigue and dynamism to the plot’s progression.
Soundtrack: The Voice of a Generation
The musical score continues to stand out as one of the series' strongest assets. Compositions by Mujus deftly capture the mood of an era marked by anxiety yet brimming with hope. The soundtrack also features hits from the 90s that awaken a sense of nostalgia. Special attention is given to the album "Sea" by the band Mumiy Troll, which, despite its actual timeline, is released a year earlier in the show.
A Slow Start or a Calm Before the Storm?
In contrast to previous seasons, this third installment commences with a relatively slow unfolding of events. Nevertheless, tension is palpable from the initial episodes. The critical question remains whether the creators will maintain this tempo or, as with prior seasons, plunge the characters into a whirlwind of thrilling and dangerous escapades.
Final Thoughts
The third season of "World! Friendship! Chewing Gum!" serves as a high-quality continuation of a tale about maturity, the challenges of choice, and the unmistakable spirit of the complicated 90s. Despite some contentious narrative decisions, the project remains one of the finest examples of contemporary Russian cinema. Intrigue, pace, and emotional depth render the series a must-watch for anyone who appreciates drama enriched with historical undercurrents.