Exploring the Teenage Series 'Chewing Gum': A Critical Review

The Russian series "Chewing Gum" (2024), recently released on the Premier platform, aims to redefine the landscape of teen cinema. The online cinema's management has boldly proclaimed this project as a launchpad for refreshing the lineup of youth-oriented shows. However, viewer feedback and critical reviews paint a different picture, revealing various issues ranging from a lackluster plot to dubious thematic explorations. Let’s delve into the elements that both entice and repel audiences.

Plot: Love, Stalking, and Tragedy

At the heart of the narrative lies Galia Shalamova (played by Darya Balabanova), a girl from a suburban orphanage with aspirations of enrolling in VGIK to pursue a career in screenwriting. Her life is riddled with turmoil: abusive relationships with her boyfriend Kirill (Anton Artemyev), the impending release of her mother (Yulia Volkova) from prison, and a complete absence of any emotional support or genuine communication.

Galia inadvertently stumbles upon a livestream by popular blogger Roma (Anton Rogachev), who is known online as Hans Schmyuze. Coming from a wealthy background, Roma embodies everything Galia has never known—freedom, lightheartedness, and carefreeness. As she falls for Roma, she begins to weave naive fantasies of a blissful future.

What begins as a romantic rendezvous between Galia and Roma quickly spirals into one-sided dependency. Galia fabricates stories about her life to impress him while Roma treats their relationship as a trivial dalliance. His reckless stunt—faking his own death as a prank—becomes the spark that ignites tragedy. Convinced of her beloved's demise, Galia sets out with determination to find and punish his supposed murderer.

Key Themes: Surface-Level or Relevant?

The series tackles several themes that should resonate with today's youth. Yet, its execution raises numerous questions.

1. Love and Stalking

Galia rapidly morphs from a starry-eyed dreamer into an obsessive stalker. Her behavior appears less as a sign of love and more like a painful dependency. Concurrently, Roma’s manipulative and deceitful actions highlight a typical toxicity in relationships.

2. Bullying and Toxic Environments

Abuse manifests not only in Galia’s relationship with Kirill but also in her interactions with the outside world. The humiliation she endures at the orphanage, coupled with mockery from the privileged youth, creates a stifling atmosphere.

3. Parent-Child Dynamics

Despite Roma's family enjoying financial prosperity, their emotional connections are disjointed and frigid. His mother is lost in her own troubles, while his father is entirely consumed by work, and a sick sister remains in the shadows. In stark contrast, Galia's situation is dire: her mother has just emerged from prison, and her father is notably absent.

4. The Influence of Social Media

Roma, as the quintessential blogger, crafts an illusion of a perfect life, concealing his own struggles. His peers perpetuate this façade, participating in the staged death prank. While this aspect aims to highlight social media’s impact on teens, the series only scratches the surface of this vital theme.

Characters: Attempt to Showcase Complexity

The creators of the series professed a desire to portray complex, flawed characters. Unfortunately, the outcome is rather mixed.

• Galia evokes sympathy and compassion, yet her obsession and actions frequently alienate viewers. She seems more a victim of circumstance than a fully realized individual.
• Roma embodies the clichéd wealthy youth: detached, superficial, and reckless. His actions, particularly the death prank, render him utterly unlikable.
• Kirill appears as a caricature of a 90s thug, with an abusive nature that is evident from the very first scenes.

Direction: Clichés and Mediocrity

Directed by Alexander Tsoi, known for previous works like "Difficult Teens" and "The Connector," "Chewing Gum" fails to meet the expectations set by the director's earlier projects.

1. Music and Visual Atmosphere

Like many homegrown teen dramas, "Chewing Gum" brims with neon parties, rapid montage sequences, and mediocre music. These elements contribute more to the background noise than they do to enhancing the storytelling.

2. Dialogue and Script

Despite the involvement of nine screenwriters, the efforts yield limited results. The dialogue feels forced, and character behavior often lacks logical coherence.

Critique: What Disappointed the Viewers?

Many spectators and critics emerged disillusioned by "Chewing Gum."

• Clichés over Originality: The plot is rife with tropes—from neon parties to affluent teens throwing cash around.
• Lack of Realism: The actors portraying teenagers often look considerably older than their characters, raising doubts about the series' authenticity.
• Absence of a Clear Narrative Arc: The series attempts to tackle too many themes at once, ultimately losing a cohesive storyline.

Comparison with Other Projects

Viewers frequently draw parallels between "Chewing Gum" and other series like "Euphoria" or "Sex Education." However, the emotional depth, character development, and relevance of issues in these shows far surpass that of "Chewing Gum."

Final Thoughts: Is It Worth Watching?

"Chewing Gum" stands as a quintessential example of an effort to encapsulate something contemporary and resonant for the youth, yet the result leaves much to be desired. Clichés, lackluster dialogue, and a superficial examination of themes prevent this series from standing out among its peers.

For those seeking a light-hearted teen drama with hints of deeper themes, "Chewing Gum" might pique your interest. However, for viewers accustomed to more profound storytelling, it may be advisable to explore other options.