A Critical Look at Teen Series 'Chewing Gum'

The Russian series "Chewing Gum" (2024), available on the Premier streaming platform, boldly claims to redefine the landscape of adolescent cinema. The leadership at the online theater has hailed this project as a pivotal moment for renewing youth-oriented shows. Yet, audience reactions and critical reviews point toward glaring shortcomings: from a mundane storyline to questionable approaches to thematic exploration. Let’s dive into what attracts and repels viewers.

Plot: Love, Stalking, and Tragedies

The narrative revolves around Galia Shalamova (played by Daria Balabanova), a girl from a Moscow region orphanage with dreams of enrolling in VGIK to become a screenwriter. Her life is fraught with drama: abusive dynamics with her boyfriend Kirill (Anton Artemiev), her mother’s imminent release from prison (portrayed by Yulia Volkova), and an overwhelming void of support and genuine connection.

An unexpected encounter with a stream from popular blogger Roma (Anton Rogachev), known online as Hans Shmuze, introduces Galia to a world of privilege and ease she’s never known. Infatuated with Roma, she begins weaving naive fantasies about a blissful future together.

What begins as a romantic date swiftly spirals into a one-sided dependence. Galia fabricates stories about her life to impress him, while Roma treats their interactions as mere flirtation. His shocking act of staging his own death for a prank becomes the catalyst for impending tragedy, pushing Galia, who genuinely believes in his demise, to seek revenge against his supposed “murderer.”

Key Themes: Surface-Level or Society-Relevant?

The series ambitiously tackles a range of themes that should resonate with today’s youth, yet their execution leaves much to be desired.

1. Love and Stalking

Galia rapidly transitions from a youthful dreamer to an obsessive stalker. Her behavior appears less like an expression of love and more like a troubling dependency. At the same time, Roma’s lies and manipulative conduct epitomize classic toxicity.

2. Bullying and Toxic Environment

Abuse permeates not only Galia’s relationship with Kirill but also her interactions with the world around her. Bullying in the orphanage, lack of support, and mockery from the “golden youth” foster a stifling atmosphere.

3. Parental Relationships

Despite their financial stability, Roma's family is emotionally distant and fractured. His mother is lost in her issues, his father is absorbed in work, and his sick sister remains hidden in the shadows. Galia, on the other hand, lacks any parental support: her mother has just been released from prison, and her father is entirely absent.

4. Social Media’s Impact

As a quintessential influencer, Roma showcases a fabricated life, masking his real struggles. His circle perpetuates the illusion, playing roles in the death hoax. While this aspect could have highlighted social media's influence on teens, the series addresses it superficially.

Characters: Attempt at Nuanced Portrayals

The creators have stated their goal was to craft complex, flawed characters, but the outcome is decidedly mixed.

• Galia elicits sympathy and compassion, yet her obsession and actions can be off-putting. She comes across more as a product of her circumstances than an independent individual.
• Roma is depicted as a stereotypical wealthy kid: indifferent and frivolous. His antics, particularly the prank involving “death,” render him utterly unsympathetic.
• Kirill feels like a caricature straight out of a 90s gangster movie, with his abusive nature being blatantly recognizable from the get-go.

Production: Clichés and Average Execution

Directed by Alexander Tsoi, who previously helmed projects like "Difficult Youth" and "Smychok," Chewing Gum fails to live up to the standards set by his prior works in youth drama.

1. Music and Visual Atmosphere

Like many domestic teen series, "Chewing Gum" is laden with neon parties, clip-style montages, and mediocre music. These elements serve more as a backdrop than enriching the narrative depth.

2. Dialogue and Script

With nine screenwriters on board, the effort should have yielded better results. Instead, the dialogue feels forced, and characters' behaviors frequently lack logical coherence.

Critique: What Left Viewers Disappointed?

A considerable number of viewers and critics expressed their dissatisfaction with "Chewing Gum."

• Clichés Over Originality: The plot brims with clichés—from neon parties to affluent teens unbothered by financial strains.
• Lack of Realism: Teen actors appear considerably older than their roles, raising questions about authenticity.
• Absence of a Clear Line: Attempting to juggle too many themes results in a loss of overall narrative cohesion.

Comparison with Other Projects

Audiences have frequently drawn parallels between "Chewing Gum" and other series such as "Euphoria" or "Sex Education." However, the levels of drama, character development, and relevance of issues faced in those shows noticeably surpass this series.

Ending: Is It Worth Watching?

In the end, "Chewing Gum" emerges as a typical example of an endeavor to create something related to youth culture, yet the result leaves much to be desired. Clichés, weak dialogue, and superficial thematic exploration hinder the project from standing out in its genre.

For those in search of a lighthearted teen show interspersed with elements of drama, "Chewing Gum" might hold a modicum of interest. However, for viewers accustomed to deeper narratives, exploring other projects would likely be more rewarding.