Explore Season Three of World! Friendship! Chewing Gum!
Rating: 8 out of 10
Release Date: May 4, 2023
Director: Anton Fyodorov
Starring: Egor Gubarev, Valentina Lyapina, Yuri Borisov, Nikita Pavlenko, Evgeny Tkachuk, Viktor Sukhorukov, and others.
The highly anticipated third season of the series World! Friendship! Chewing Gum! breathes new life into the beloved tale of teenagers navigating the complexities of the 1990s. Set against the backdrop of summer 1996, the familiar characters have aged two years, finding themselves confronting fresh challenges and uncertainties that come with adolescence.
The Characters’ Growth: A New Chapter in Life
While the main cast remains recognizable, the passage of time has brought noticeable changes:
- Sanka (Egor Gubarev) has graduated from school and is now selling cassettes at a kiosk, stepping into a new phase of existence that includes a budding romantic relationship with a new girlfriend.
- Vovka (Egor Abramov) and Malaya (Polina Gukhman) have embraced parenthood, with Vovka embarking on dubious adventures in a bid to provide for his family.
- Ilya (Fyodor Roshchin), who always danced to the beat of his own drum, is now fixated on physical perfection, seeking to transform himself from the inside out.
- Zhenya (Valentina Lyapina) returns to town with a fiancé, catching her friends off guard and adding a layer of tension to the dynamics.
Meanwhile, Sanka's parents are dealing with their own hardships: his mother finds herself incarcerated for financial fraud, and his father clings to hope that Vitalik (Arthur Besschatny), ever the legal limbo-dancer, will rescue the family from their dire straits.
A Rich Criminal Underbelly
The writers take a bold approach in unveiling the criminal landscape of Tula, revealing its gritty undercurrents with fresh eyes. Despite the demise of many pivotal figures in the second season, new faces are introduced, along with a few familiar ones who were presumed dead but somehow manage to resurface.
The return of characters Alick (Yuri Borisov) and Vitka (Nikita Pavlenko) stirs a whirlwind of emotions; their return, while plausible, still carries a dramatic twist that keeps the audience guessing. The teenagers, as always, find themselves unwittingly caught up in this swirling storm of crime and chaos.
The Soundtrack – The Soul of the Series
Music is pivotal once again, infusing the narrative with a unique spirit. The soundtrack features an exciting mix of:
- Hits from the 90s, rekindling memories that transport the audience back in time.
- Mujus’s music, styled to encapsulate the era's tension and anxieties.
- The album "Sea" by the band Mumiy Troll, which, within the show's context, is set to release ahead of its real-life debut.
This musical accompaniment enriches the emotional fabric of the story, echoing the sentiments of change and instability so characteristic of the 90s.
Dynamics and Intrigue: What to Expect from Season Three
The initial episodes of the third season may seem languid compared to past episodes, but this is merely a facade. The tension intensifies incrementally with every scene, and soon the quintessential brisk tempo returns.
The writers expertly navigate the thin line between absurdity and realism, compelling the audience to care about the protagonists despite their flaws and missteps. Will the series maintain this gripping tension until the very end? Or will viewers be met with another round of dizzying events?
Finale: Why You Should Tune In
Season three of World! Friendship! Chewing Gum! continues to shine as a vivid representation of nostalgic cinema portraying the 90s. It offers:
- Colorful characters that audiences have come to love for their authenticity and charisma.
- An immersive atmosphere reflective of the era, captured through set designs, music, and costumes.
- A thrilling plot that keeps viewers on their toes despite its lighthearted delivery.
This latest season serves as another step toward understanding that in the lives of its characters, there may be "little lived, but much experienced." It’s highly recommended for anyone looking to dive back into the enchanting world of the 90s or simply enjoy a well-crafted Russian series.