Chewing Gum Review: Teen Drama or Just Predictable Clichés?

The Russian series "Chewing Gum" (2024), which premiered on the Premier platform, has made a bold bid to redefine the landscape of adolescent cinema. The management of the online streaming service has proclaimed this project as a pivotal moment for revamping its lineup of youth-oriented shows. Nonetheless, audience feedback and critical response reveal glaring issues, ranging from a predictable plot to an uninspired handling of significant themes. Let's peel back the layers and examine what draws viewers in and what makes them turn away.

Plot: Love, Stalking, and Tragedies

At the heart of the narrative lies Galia Shalamova (played by Darya Balabanova), a girl from a Moscow region orphanage harboring dreams of enrolling in VGIK to become a screenwriter. Her existence is a tapestry woven with drama: toxic relationships with her boyfriend Kirill (Anton Artemyev), the impending release of her mother (Yulia Volkova) from prison, and a complete absence of support or genuine connection.

Galia stumbles upon a live stream by the popular blogger Roma (Anton Rogachev), who operates under the pseudonym Hans Shmyuze. Coming from a wealthy family, this young man embodies everything Galia yearns for—freedom, ease, and carefree living. As she falls for Roma, her mind becomes a playground for naive fantasies of a happy future.

What starts as a romantic encounter between Galia and Roma swiftly devolves into an unhealthy, one-sided dependency. Galia fabricates stories about her life to impress Roma, who treats their relationship as nothing more than a lighthearted flirtation. His shocking prank of faking his own death triggers a tragic chain of events, leading Galia to believe her beloved is truly gone and prompting her to seek revenge on his imaginary "killer."

Key Themes: Superficiality or Relevance?

The series touches on various themes that are ostensibly relevant to modern youth, yet its exploration raises numerous questions.

1. Love and Stalking

Galia quickly evolves from a youthful dreamer into an obsessed stalker. Her actions reflect more of a painful dependence than genuine affection. Conversely, Roma's dishonesty and manipulation highlight a typical toxic masculinity pattern.

2. Bullying and Toxic Environments

Abusive dynamics permeate not only Galia's relationship with Kirill but also her interactions with the world at large. The bullying she endures in the orphanage, coupled with derisive attitudes from the privileged elite, creates an oppressive atmosphere.

3. Parent-Child Relationships

Despite being materially affluent, Roma's family is fragmented and icy. His mother is consumed by her issues, his father is entirely absorbed in work, and his sick sister lingers in the shadows. In stark contrast, Galia is left without any parental support; her mother has just been released from prison, and her father is simply absent.

4. The Influence of Social Media

Roma, as a quintessential influencer, curates a false existence, masking his own dilemmas. His circle upholds the illusion, playing roles in the orchestrated death prank. Although this aspect was intended to highlight social media’s impact on teens, the series only skims the surface of a much deeper issue.

Characters: Attempting to Showcase Ambiguity

The creators aimed to craft complex, flawed characters. However, the outcome feels rather mixed.

• Galia elicits both pity and empathy, yet her obsession and decisions often alienate viewers. She appears less as an autonomous individual and more as a victim of circumstance.
• Roma comes off as the archetypal spoiled rich kid: affluent, callous, and frivolous. His actions, particularly the death prank, render him utterly unsympathetic.
• Kirill presents as a caricature of a 90s thug, his abusive nature overt from the very first scenes.

Production: Tropes and Mediocrity

The series is directed by Alexander Tsoi, known for projects like "Difficult Teens" and "Connection". Despite his experience in youth drama, "Chewing Gum" falls short of the mark set by Tsoi’s previous works.

1. Music and Visual Atmosphere

True to the vein of most Russian teen series, "Chewing Gum" is laden with neon parties, quick-cut montages, and mediocre music. These elements contribute more as superficial backdrops rather than enriching the narrative depth.

2. Dialogue and Screenplay

With the efforts of nine screenwriters, one would expect a more polished product. Unfortunately, the dialogue often feels forced, and character behaviors lack coherent logic.

Critique: What Disappointed the Audience?

Numerous viewers and critics have expressed discontent with "Chewing Gum."

• Clichés over Originality: The storyline is riddled with worn-out tropes, from neon-lit parties to affluent teens with loose morals.
• Lack of Realism: The actors portraying the teenage roles appear significantly older than the characters they represent, leading to questions about authenticity.
• Absence of Clear Narrative Threads: The series attempts to tackle too many themes, causing the plot to lose its focus.

Comparison with Other Projects

Audiences have frequently drawn comparisons between "Chewing Gum" and other series like "Euphoria" or "Sex Education." However, the level of drama, character development, and pertinent issues addressed in those series surpasses that of "Chewing Gum."

End: Is It Worth Watching?

In summary, "Chewing Gum" exemplifies a typical endeavor to create something contemporary and appealing to youth, but the outcome leaves much to be desired. Clichés, weak dialogue, and shallow thematic exploration hinder the project from standing out within its genre.

For those seeking a light teen show sprinkled with drama, "Chewing Gum" might be satisfactory. However, viewers accustomed to more profound narratives should consider exploring other offerings.