Exploring Chewing Gum: A New Face of Teen Drama

The Teen Series "Chewing Gum": A Reboot of the Genre or Just Clichés?

The Russian series "Chewing Gum" (2024), which debuted on the Premier streaming platform, aspires to redefine the landscape of teen cinema. The online theater's management has touted this project as a catalyst for rejuvenating a lineup of youth shows. Yet, amidst this ambitious claim lie a myriad of challenges, ranging from a mundane plot to uncertain thematic exploration. In this article, we will dissect what draws or repels viewers from this polarizing series.

Plot: Love, Stalking, and Tragedies

At the heart of the narrative is Galia Shalamova (played by Darya Balabanova), a girl hailing from a children's home in the Moscow suburbs, who dreams of enrolling at the renowned VGIK film school to become a screenwriter. Her existence is drenched in drama—it’s laden with an abusive relationship with her boyfriend Kirill (Anton Artemyev), the impending release of her imprisoned mother (Julia Volkova), and a haunting absence of support alongside any genuine social connections.

Galia stumbles upon a live stream by a well-known blogger, Roma (Anton Rogachev), who operates under the alias Hans Shmyuze. Hailing from a wealthy family, Roma epitomizes what Galia has yet to experience: freedom, lightness, and utter bliss. Captivated by him, she begins to weave naive fantasies about their potential future together.

However, what starts as a romantic encounter between Galia and Roma soon morphs into an unbalanced obsession. Galia fabricates tales about her life to impress Roma, while he treats their connection merely as a frivolous flirtation. A fateful stunt—Roma orchestrating a mock death for the sake of a prank—serves as the ignition for tragedy. Convinced that her beloved is gone, Galia embarks on a quest to find and exact vengeance on his supposed "killer."

Key Themes: Superficiality or Relevance?

The series seeks to tackle themes that should resonate with the contemporary youth. Nonetheless, its handling of these elements leaves much to be desired.

1. Love and Stalking

Galia morphs swiftly from a youthful dreamer into an obsessive stalker. Her actions seem less a manifestation of affection and more a reflection of an unhealthy reliance. Concurrently, Roma’s deceitful antics showcase classic toxic traits.

2. Bullying and Toxic Environments

Abuse permeates not just Galia's tumultuous relationship with Kirill but also her interactions with the broader world. The mocking and bullying at the children’s home, coupled with the derision from the affluent youth, cultivate an oppressive atmosphere.

3. Parent-Child Dynamics

Whereas Roma’s family enjoys material riches, they are emotionally fragmented and distant. His mother is preoccupied with her own turmoil, his father drowned in work, and his ailing sister is left unnoticed. In stark contrast, Galia lacks any parental anchors: her mother has just been released from prison, and her father remains an enigma.

4. Impact of Social Media

Roma, as an archetypal influencer, showcases a fabricated life, concealing his actual tribulations. His circle actively supports this façade, participating in the death hoax. Ideally, this aspect should highlight the repercussions of social media on adolescents, yet the series barely grazes the surface of this significant topic.

Characters: A Bid for Complexity

The creators emphasized their intention to craft intricate, flawed characters. Yet, the execution raises questions.

• Galia elicits sympathy and compassion, yet her fixation and actions frequently alienate her. She appears more a victim of circumstances than an autonomous individual.
• Roma is cast as the stereotypical elite youth: affluent, heartless, and frivolous. His pranks, especially the 'death' ruse, render him entirely unsympathetic.
• Kirill, in his portrayal, resembles a caricature of a 90s thug, illustrating clear abusive tendencies from the onset.

Direction: Clichés and Mediocrity

Under the direction of Alexander Tsой, known for projects like "Difficult Teenagers" and "The Junction," the execution of "Chewing Gum" falls short of his previous ventures.

1. Music and Visual Atmosphere

Like many homegrown teen series, "Chewing Gum" is awash in neon parties, quick-cut sequences, and mediocre music. These elements serve more as backdrops than contributors to any narrative richness.

2. Dialogue and Scriptwriting

Despite the collective prowess of nine screenwriters, the results are lackluster. Dialogue often feels forced and character behavior frequently defies logic.

Critique: What Dissatisfied Audiences?

Numerous viewers and critics articulated their discontent with "Chewing Gum."

• Clichés Over Creativity: The narrative brims with tropes—from neon-lit parties to indifferent wealthy adolescents.
• Lack of Realism: The actors portraying teens appear markedly older than their characters, raising concerns about authenticity.
• Absence of Coherent Narrative: Attempting to tackle an excessive number of themes muddles the story's cohesiveness.

Comparison with Other Projects

Audience members have repeatedly drawn comparisons between "Chewing Gum" and other series like "Euphoria" or "Sex Education." However, the levels of drama, character development, and thematic relevance in these alternatives vastly outstrip those presented in this latest offering.

Culmination: Is It Worth Watching?

"Chewing Gum" stands as a testament to a well-intentioned venture to craft something current and youth-centric, yet the end result is far from satisfactory. With clichés, subpar dialogue, and superficial theme exploration, it fails to distinguish itself amid a sea of similar works around it.

For individuals seeking a lighthearted teen show with dramatic undertones, "Chewing Gum" might provide some amusement. Conversely, for viewers accustomed to stories with more substance, it might be prudent to explore other offerings.