A Deep Dive into the Chaotic World of Chewing Gum

My Impression of the Series "Chewing Gum": A Chaotic Tapestry of Plotlines and Teenage Cruelty

From the very first frames of "Chewing Gum," it becomes instantly clear: this is not your typical teen drama. Instead, it ambitiously attempts to pack a whirlwind of narratives into a brief timeframe. Despite its lofty aspirations, the outcome sparks a mixture of intrigue and discontent. While the themes it grapples with are undeniably significant, the execution leaves much to be desired.

A Tangle of Plotlines and the Crunch of Time

One of the standout features of "Chewing Gum" is its multitude of intertwining storylines, all running parallel to one another. This series generously offers just about everything:

• Teens battling their typical (and not-so-typical) dilemmas;
• The criminal tendencies of the tyrannical boy Kirill;
• The main character's mother, freshly released from prison;
• An affluent yet emotionally bankrupt family comprised of Roma, where a cancer-stricken sister and an aloof father create a backdrop of despair;
• Themes of infidelity, bullying, and even stalking.

This deluge of events could be viewed as an asset were there ample time allocated for their exploration. Unfortunately, the limited runtime leaves the narrative feeling rushed, characters appear underdeveloped, and the chaos often overshadows the story's richness.

The Main Characters: Sympathy is Hard to Come By

As several audiences have pointed out, the characters in the series are notably more annoying than relatable.

• Galy Shalamova — the protagonist, whose life is replete with difficulties, fails to evoke unequivocal sympathy. Her yearning for love and acceptance, though understandable, comes off as overly clingy.
• Roma (Hans Shmuze) — a wealthy blogger who makes Galy his target for mockery, fits the mold of the spoiled rich kid perfectly. Instead of evoking any empathy, he amplifies the sense of emptiness saturating his surroundings.
• Kirill — Galy's tyrannical boyfriend with a propensity for criminal behavior, adds to the tension and foreboding that permeates the atmosphere.

Even secondary characters, such as Roma's mentally ungrounded mother or his sister grappling with illness, offer little encouragement for viewers to root for them. It feels as though the creators deliberately sculpted each role to be as unappealing as possible.

Collective Cruelty: Games Gone Awry

A particularly striking yet uncomfortable theme of the series revolves around collective cruelty. Roma and his friends turning their interactions with Galy into a so-called "game," dubbed "Chewing Gum," starkly illustrates a blatant disregard for another person's feelings.

Scenes where the spoiled group ridicules Galy accentuate the pressing issues of bullying and moral irresponsibility. However, the series falters by failing to delve deeply into this subject, merely showcasing it at surface level without offering substantial commentary.

Is There Hope for Plot Development?

Despite its shortcomings, "Chewing Gum" harbors potential. Galy's journey, her efforts to navigate through challenging life circumstances, and her ambition to carve out her identity in a world rife with deceit and manipulation, could lay the groundwork for a more coherent narrative.

One glimmer of hope lies in the suggestion that Galy, after enduring a series of tribulations, may pen a script that transforms her existence. Such a narrative could evolve into an exploration of how art aids in healing trauma and establishing one’s place within society.

Final Thoughts: Is "Chewing Gum" Worth Watching?

"Chewing Gum" is a venture replete with questions and not always the clearest of answers. It might be more fitting to view it as an experiment in adolescent cinema, but labeling it a resounding success remains contentious.

For those intrigued by dramas revolving around complex relationships, the series may hold some appeal. Perhaps in future episodes, it will dive deeper into character development and refine its thematic exploration. For now, the impressions linger as a mixed bag: while the series is undoubtedly captivating, it simultaneously frustrates with its superficiality and narrative overload.

Let’s hope that the creators find the right path, demonstrating that even in the most complex of situations, exits can be discovered.