Exploring the Flaws of Chewing Gum: Teenage Tropes Examined

The Russian series "Chewing Gum" (2024), streaming on the Premier platform, aspires to redefine the landscape of teenage cinema. The management of this online cinema claims the show will act as a catalyst for refreshing youth-oriented series. However, audience reactions and critical reviews spotlight significant shortcomings: ranging from a mundane plot to questionable thematic exploration. Let’s delve into what draws viewers to the series and what pushes them away.

Plot: Love, Stalking, and Tragedy

At the heart of the narrative lies Galya Shalamova (played by Darya Balabanova), a girl raised in a foster home in the Moscow suburbs who dreams of enrolling in VGIK to become a screenwriter. Her life is marred by drama: an abusive relationship with her boyfriend Kirill (Anton Artemiev), the impending release of her mother (Yulia Volkova) from prison, and an utter lack of support or genuine connection with those around her.

Galya stumbles upon a stream featuring the popular blogger Roma (Anton Rogachyov), known online as Hans Shmyuze. He hails from a wealthy background and embodies everything Galya has ever desired: freedom, light-heartedness, and carefreeness. Enraptured by Roma, she begins constructing naive fantasies of a blissful future together.

What begins as a romantic evening between Galya and Roma quickly devolves into a one-sided dependency. To impress him, Galya fabricates stories about her life, while Roma treats their relationship as mere flirtation. A shocking prank—Roma staging his own death—serves as the catalyst for a tragic turn of events. Believing her beloved has died, Galya sets out on a quest to find and exact vengeance on his supposed "killer."

Key Themes: Superficiality or Relevance?

The series touches on various themes that, on the surface, should resonate with modern youth. Yet, the manner in which these concepts are explored raises numerous issues.

1. Love and Stalking

Galya swiftly morphs from a starry-eyed romantic into an obsessed stalker. Her behavior appears less like an expression of love and more indicative of a deep-seated dependency. Concurrently, Roma’s actions—entirely laced with deceit and manipulation—highlight typical toxic traits.

2. Bullying and Toxic Environments

Abuse permeates not only Galya's relationship with Kirill but also her interactions with the wider world. The bullying she endures at the foster home, coupled with a complete lack of support and the mockery from the "golden youth," creates an oppressive atmosphere.

3. Parents and Children

Despite their financial security, Roma's family is emotionally distant and fractured. His mother struggles with her own issues, his father is completely absorbed in work, and his sick sister exists in the shadows. In contrast, Galya has no parental support whatsoever: her mother has just been released from prison, and her father is entirely absent from the narrative.

4. The Influence of Social Media

Roma, as the archetypal influencer, showcases a carefully curated yet fictitious life, veiling his actual struggles. His circle participates in perpetuating this illusion, playing their roles in the death prank. Although this aspect intended to unveil social media's impact on adolescents, the series only grazes the surface of this issue.

Characters: A Tenuous Attempt at Complexity

The creators of the series professed their intention to craft multifaceted and flawed characters. However, the outcome is somewhat muddied.

• Galya elicits sympathy and compassion, yet her fixation and actions often alienate viewers. She comes across more as a victim of circumstances than a self-sufficient individual.
• Roma is depicted as a quintessential wealthy kid: affluent, insensitive, and frivolous. His actions, particularly the fake death prank, render him entirely unlikable.
• Kirill, at the same time, strikes a caricatured figure of a 90s thug, with his abusive tendencies glaringly evident from his first scenes.

Direction: Clichés and Mediocrity

Directed by Alexander Tsoy, known for projects like "Difficult Teenagers" and "Connection", "Chewing Gum" fails to reach the heights of previous endeavors by the director.

1. Music and Visual Atmosphere

In line with many domestic teenage series, "Chewing Gum" is laden with neon-lit parties, rapid montages, and average music. Instead of enriching the storytelling, these components merely serve as background noise.

2. Dialogue and Script

Despite being led by nine scriptwriters, their collaborative efforts do not translate into a cohesive narrative. Dialogues often feel forced, and the characters' behaviors frequently lack logical foundation.

Criticism: What Dissatisfied Viewers?

Numerous viewers and critics express disappointment with "Chewing Gum."

• Clichés Over Originality: The storyline is rife with common tropes—from neon parties to affluent teens without a care for money.
• Lack of Realism: The actors portraying teenagers seem to be significantly older than their characters, raising questions about authenticity.
• Absence of a Clear Theme: The series attempts to cover too many subjects, leaving the plot feeling disjointed and unfocused.

Comparisons with Other Projects

Audiences frequently draw parallels between "Chewing Gum" and series such as "Euphoria" or "Sex Education." Nonetheless, the level of drama, character development, and current issues tackled in these shows vastly outstrips that of "Chewing Gum."

Epilogue: Is it Worth Watching?

The series "Chewing Gum" serves as a typical instance of an endeavor to produce something contemporary and youth-driven, yet the results leave much to be desired. With its clichés, weak dialogue, and shallow thematic exploration, the project struggles to distinguish itself in the genre.

For those on the lookout for light-hearted teenage entertainment with a sprinkle of drama, "Chewing Gum" may offer some intrigue. However, viewers accustomed to deeper storytelling should consider exploring alternative series.