Chewing Gum: A Disappointing Take on Teen Drama

The Russian series "Chewing Gum" (2024), premiered on the streaming platform Premier, claims to be a groundbreaking addition to the realm of teenage cinema. The management of this online cinema asserts that the project will serve as a launchpad for rejuvenating the roster of youth shows. However, audience feedback and critical reviews spotlight several glaring issues: from a cliched plot to questionable thematic explorations. In this article, we dissect what draws viewers in and what drives them away.

Plot: Love, Stalking, and Tragedies

At the heart of the narrative is Galia Shalamova, portrayed by Dar’ya Balabanova, a girl from a children's home in suburban Moscow with aspirations to enroll in VGIK and become a screenwriter. Her life is a minefield of dramas: abusive dynamics with her boyfriend Kirill (Anton Artemyev), the looming release of her mother (Yuliya Volkova) from prison, and an utter lack of support and genuine interaction.

By a twist of fate, Galia stumbles upon a stream by a popular blogger, Roma (Anton Rogachev), known online as Hans Shmyuze. Hailing from a wealthy family, this young man embodies everything Galia has never known: freedom, light-heartedness, and carefreeness. Infatuated with Roma, she begins weaving naive fantasies about a blissful future together.

Their interaction, which kicks off with a romantic date, swiftly devolves into a one-sided dependency. Galia fabricates tales about her life to impress him, while Roma views their relationship as mere flirtation. A reckless prank involving a staged death on Roma's part serves as the catalyst for ensuing calamity, as Galia, convinced of her beloved's demise, resolves to hunt down and punish his supposed "killer."

Key Themes: Shallow or Relevant?

The series tackles various themes that ostensibly resonate with today’s youth. However, the execution leaves much to be desired.

1. Love and Stalking

Galia’s transformation from a youthful dreamer to an obsessed stalker is alarming. Her behavior reflects not romantic affection, but rather a distressing compulsion. Meanwhile, Roma's deceitful and manipulative actions reveal the toxic undercurrents that color their interactions.

2. Bullying and Toxic Environments

Abuse is a recurrent theme, not just in Galia's relationship with Kirill but also in her encounters with the wider world. The cruel taunts within the children’s home and mockery from the "golden youth" create an oppressive ambience that is hard to ignore.

3. Parents and Children

Despite their affluence, Roma's family is emotionally disconnected and cold. His mother is preoccupied with her own issues, while his father is consumed by work, leaving a sick sister unnoticed. Galia, by contrast, has no parental support: her mother has just been released from prison, and her father is a ghost in her life.

4. The Influence of Social Media

Roma epitomizes the stereotypical influencer, showcasing a fabricated life hiding his genuine troubles. His peers maintain this facade, playing roles in the death hoax. While this aspect could have highlighted the corrosive effects of social media on adolescents, it ultimately feels superficially addressed.

Characters: A Flawed Exploration of Complexity

The creators touted their ambition to craft multi-dimensional, flawed characters. Yet the outcomes are ambiguous at best.

• Galia elicits both sympathy and distaste; her fixation and behaviors often repel rather than endear her to the audience. She appears more as a puppet of her circumstances than a figure of agency.
• Roma, on the other hand, is depicted as a clichéd rich kid: apathetic, careless, and superficial. His actions, particularly the prank involving his "death," make him utterly unsympathetic.
• Kirill comes off as a caricature of a 90s thug; his abusive tendencies are evident from their first interactions, lacking any depth.

Production: Standard Tropes and Mediocrity

Directed by Alexander Tsoy, known for works like "Difficult Teens" and "Smychok," "Chewing Gum" fails to match the quality of Tsoy's previous projects.

1. Music and Visual Atmosphere

Like many Russian teen dramas, "Chewing Gum" is filled with neon-lit parties, fast-paced montages, and subpar music. These elements serve more as backdrops than contributors to the narrative’s richness.

2. Dialogue and Script

Despite a team of nine writers, the collective effort brings no substantial improvement. The dialogue feels forced, with character behaviors frequently lacking coherence.

Critique: What Disappointed Viewers?

Numerous viewers and critics expressed dissatisfaction with "Chewing Gum."

• Clichés Over Originality: The storyline is riddled with tropes—spanning neon parties to affluent teens oblivious to their wealth.
• Lack of Realism: The actors portraying teenagers appear significantly older than their roles, raising eyebrows regarding authenticity.
• Absence of a Clear Trajectory: The series aims to cover too many themes, resulting in a narrative that feels disjointed.

Comparison with Other Works

Audiences frequently juxtaposed "Chewing Gum" with other series like "Euphoria" or "Sex Education." However, the depth of drama, character development, and relevance of issues in those shows soar above what this series offers.

Culmination: Is It Worth Watching?

The series "Chewing Gum" serves as a telling attempt at creating something contemporary and youth-oriented, yet the end result is lacking. The clichés, weak dialogues, and superficial exploration of vital themes hinder the project from standing out against its genre counterparts.

For those seeking light-hearted teenage entertainment with dramatic flairs, "Chewing Gum" may offer some amusement. However, viewers accustomed to richer narratives should steer their focus toward more compelling projects.