Exploring Season 3 of 'World! Friendship! Chewing Gum!'
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 firmly embedded itself in the hearts of audiences, uniquely balancing nostalgia for the tumultuous 90s with an engaging, multilayered narrative. With the premiere of its third season on the online platform Premier, we are once again transported to the provincial settings of mid-90s Russia, but this time through the lens of the characters' maturation.
Characters Maturing, Complications Increasing
The storyline preserves its focus on the endearing group of friends, who despite the passage of two years, remain entangled in unpredictable situations. Set in the summer of 1996—a time symbolically heralding a new chapter in the characters' lives—the new season illustrates how they confront growing complexities.
- Sanya (Egor Gubarev) has graduated from school and is striving to navigate the challenging waters of adulthood. His budding romance with a girl (Alexandra Khromova) adds a touch of sweetness, yet he still grapples with the mundane trials of life, such as working in a cassette kiosk.
- Vovka (Egor Abramov) and Malaya (Polina Gukhman) find themselves in the throes of early parenthood. Vovka, maintaining his typical overconfident demeanor, seeks to provide for his family but resorts to dubious methods to make ends meet.
- Ilya (Fedor Roschin), a character marked by a tumultuous inner world, becomes engrossed in physical self-improvement, which injects added drama into his narrative arc.
- Zhenya (Valentina Lyapina) returns to her hometown accompanied by her fiancé (Fedor Fedotov), a twist that surprises her circle of friends.
Sanya's family troubles take center stage as well. His mother (Kseniya Katalymova) lands in hot water due to financial misconduct, while his father (Stepan Devonin) hopes to lean on a former business associate—who might not be as trustworthy as he seems.
Criminal Tula: A Whirlwind of Events
The writers boldly eschew veiled references, explicitly naming Tula as the narrative backdrop. Following the first two seasons, the city grapples with significant changes: many pivotal figures in the criminal underworld have met their demise, necessitating the introduction of fresh characters and even the 'resurrection' of previous ones.
Viewers can anticipate the surprising reappearance of Alik (Yuri Borisov) and Vitka (Nikita Pavlenko), whose deaths in the preceding season seemed definitive. This time, the writers provide a more plausible rationale for their survival, enriching the plot with intrigue and excitement.
Soundtrack: The Voice of an Era
The musical score continues to be one of the series' standout features. Mujus's compositions artfully convey the feelings of a tense but hopeful era. The inclusion of 90s hits evokes a strong wave of nostalgia. Notably, special emphasis is placed on the album "Morskaya" by the band "Mumiy Troll," which, contrary to real-life chronology, is depicted as having been released a year earlier.
Slow Start or Calm Before the Storm?
Unlike its predecessors, the third season kicks off with a comparatively slow build-up of events. Still, the tension is palpable from the initial episodes. The question remains: will the creators maintain this pacing, or will they immerse the characters into a tumultuous maelstrom of thrilling and perilous adventures, as has been their trademark?
Instead of Epilogues
The third season of "World! Friendship! Chewing Gum!" presents a compelling continuation of a tale about maturation, the struggles of choice, and the spirit of the difficult 90s. Despite some contentious narrative choices, the project stands tall as one of the finest examples of contemporary Russian cinema. The intrigue, pace, and emotional depth render this series a must-watch for those who appreciate drama infused with historical context.