Is Chewing Gum a Refreshing Take on Teen Drama?

The Russian series "Chewing Gum" (2024) premiered on the Premier platform with aspirations of redefining teenage cinema. The streaming service’s leadership has pitched this project as a pivotal leap forward in the lineup of youth-centric shows. Yet, audience feedback and critical reviews have pointed out glaring issues: from a lackluster plot to questionable thematic exploration. In this piece, we will delve into the factors that draw viewers in while simultaneously causing them to recoil.

Plot: Love, Stalking, and Tragedies

At its heart lies Galya Shalamova (portrayed by Daria Balabanova), a girl raised in a Moscow orphanage, who aspires to enroll in VGIK and become a screenwriter. Her existence is fraught with drama: an abusive relationship with her boyfriend Kirill (Anton Artemyev), the impending release of her mother (Yulia Volkova) from prison, and a severe lack of support and heartfelt communication.

Galya stumbles upon a stream by a famous blogger, Roma (Anton Rogachev), known online as Hans Shmuze. Hailing from a wealthy family, Roma embodies everything Galya has never known: freedom, light-heartedness, and carefree living. Upon falling for Roma, she begins to construct naive fantasies of a blissful future with him.

What starts as a romantic rendezvous between Galya and Roma swiftly spirals into a one-sided obsession. Galya fabricates tales about her life to win Roma's admiration, while he treats the relationship as a mere flirtation. His reckless prank—faking his own death—serves as a catalyst for impending tragedy. Believing her beloved is dead, Galya sets off to track down and confront his imagined "murderer."

Key Themes: Shallowness or Relevance?

The series attempts to tackle several themes seemingly relevant to today’s youth. However, the manner in which these themes are developed raises many questions.

1. Love and Stalking

Galya swiftly transitions from a hopeful dreamer to a consumed stalker. Her actions appear less as a reflection of love and more as a painful dependency. Conversely, Roma’s behavior—marked by deceit and manipulation—epitomizes toxic relationships.

2. Bullying and Toxic Environments

Abuse is prevalent not just in Galya's relationship with Kirill but also in her broader interactions with the world. The cruelty of her orphanage, a complete lack of support, as well as taunting from the "golden youth" create a stifling atmosphere.

3. Parent-Child Dynamics

Despite their material wealth, Roma’s family is emotionally cold and fragmented. His mother is lost in her own issues, his father is consumed by work, and a sick sister lurks in the shadows of neglect. On the contrary, Galya finds herself utterly unsupported; her mother has just exited prison while her father remains an absent entity.

4. The Influence of Social Media

As a typical blogger, Roma showcases a fabricated life, hiding his true struggles. Those around him perpetuate this facade, participating in the charade of his death. This element was intended to emphasize the impact of social networks on teens but is handled in a rather superficial manner in the series.

Characters: Attempting to Illustrate Complexity

The creators have asserted that their ambition was to develop flawed, intricate characters. Yet, the end result is rather ambiguous.

• Galya elicits sympathy but her obsession and actions are often off-putting. She appears more as a victim of circumstances rather than as an independent individual.
• Roma comes off as the archetypal privileged youth: affluent, unfeeling, and frivolous. His actions, especially the prank involving his "death," render him entirely unlikable.
• Kirill embodies a caricature of a 90s thug, with his abusive demeanor being conspicuous from his first appearance.

Direction: Clichés and Mediocrity

Directed by Alexander Tsoy, known for works like "Difficult Teens" and "Smychok", "Chewing Gum" unfortunately does not reach the heights of his prior projects despite his experience in youth drama.

1. Music and Visual Atmosphere

In line with many Russian teenage dramas, "Chewing Gum" is rife with neon parties, stylized cuts, and average tunes. These components predominantly serve as backdrop noise rather than contributing any depth to the narrative.

2. Dialogue and Screenplay

With nine scriptwriters credited for the project, their collective effort falls flat. The dialogues at times sound strained, and characters frequently behave illogically.

Criticism: Why Has the Series Disappointed Audiences?

Many viewers and critics express their discontent with "Chewing Gum."

• Clichés Dominating Originality: The storyline is laden with tropes—from neon parties to wealthy, indifferent teenagers.
• Lack of Realism: The actors portraying teenagers significantly outshine them in age, casting doubt on the series' authenticity.
• Ambiguous Narrative Arc: The show tries to tackle too many themes, which results in loss of coherence.

Comparison with Other Projects

Viewers have repeatedly drawn parallels between "Chewing Gum" and other series like "Euphoria" or "Sex Education." However, the level of dramatic intensity, character development, and relevance present in those projects is substantially higher.

Finale: Is It Worth Watching?

The series "Chewing Gum" serves as a quintessential example of an attempt to create something contemporary and youthful, yet the outcome fails to impress. Saturated with clichés, tepid dialogue, and shallow thematic exploration, it struggles to stand out among its genre.

For those seeking a light-hearted teenage show with hints of drama, "Chewing Gum" might seem appealing. However, for viewers accustomed to deeper narratives, it’s best to seek out other productions.