Exploring Season Three of 'Peace! Friendship! Chewing Gum!'
Review of Season Three of the Series "Peace! Friendship! Chewing Gum!": Spirit of the 90s, Maturation, and the Inevitability of Change
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 audiences, thanks to its delicate balance between nostalgia for the tumultuous 90s and an engaging, multilayered storyline. The premiere of the third season, airing on the online platform Premier, once again immerses us in the atmosphere of provincial Russia in the mid-90s, while depicting this world through the lens of the protagonists' journey into adulthood.
Characters Grow, Complications Arise
The story revolves around an irrepressible group of friends who, despite the passage of two years, find themselves entangled in the most unexpected circumstances. Set in the summer of 1996, the new season symbolically marks the onset of a new chapter in the lives of the characters.
- Sanka (Egor Gubarev) has closed the chapter on school and is attempting to navigate the complexities of adult life. His budding romance with a girl (Alexandra Khromova) adds a touch of romance to the narrative, although it doesn’t shield him from the everyday challenges, such as working in a cassette shop.
- Vovka (Egor Abramov) and Malaya (Polina Gukhman) are now young parents. Vovka, ever the self-assured character, strives to support his family, resorting to rather questionable means to do so.
- Ilya (Fedor Roshchin), a character with an unstable inner world, has now become passionate about physical self-improvement, adding layers of drama to his portrayal.
- Zhenya (Valentina Lyapina) returns to her hometown, not alone but accompanied by her fiancé (Fedor Fedotov), which proves to be an unexpected twist for her friends.
Sanka's family issues take center stage, with his mother (Ksenia Katalimova) detained for financial misconduct, while his father (Stepan Devonin) hopes to receive assistance from a former partner who may not be who he appears to be.
Criminal Tula: A Whirlwind of Events
The screenwriters, refusing to sugarcoat the narrative, explicitly position Tula as the setting for the tale. Following the events of the first two seasons, the city undergoes significant transformations: many key figures of the criminal underworld have met their demise, compelling creators to introduce new characters and even "revive" old ones.
Viewers can look forward to the surprising return of Alik (Yuri Borisov) and Vitka (Nikita Pavlenko), whose deaths in the previous season appeared final. This time, the writers have crafted a more plausible rationale for their survival, enhancing intrigue and dynamism within the plot’s evolution.
Soundtrack: The Voice of an Era
The musical score remains one of the series’ strongest assets. Mujus’s compositions deftly capture the mood of an anxious yet hopeful era. Additionally, iconic hits of the 90s rekindle feelings of nostalgia. Particular emphasis is placed on the album "Morskaya" from the band "Mumiy Troll," which, despite historical inaccuracies, is presented as if it had been released a year earlier.
A Slow Start or the Calm Before the Storm?
Unlike previous seasons, the third installment commences with a somewhat slower narrative pace. However, tension lingers from the very first episodes. The lingering question remains: will the creators maintain this rhythm, or will they plunge the characters into a vortex of thrilling and perilous escapades, as has often been the case?
Final Thoughts
The third season of "Peace! Friendship! Chewing Gum!" stands as a quality continuation of the tale surrounding maturation, difficult choices, and the spirit of the challenging 90s. Despite certain contentious plot decisions, the series retains its position as one of the finest examples of contemporary Russian cinema. Intrigue, dynamism, and emotional depth render this series a must-watch for anyone who appreciates drama intertwined with historical context.