Exploring 'Chewing Gum': A Tangle of Teenage Drama
My Impressions of the Series "Chewing Gum": A Chaotic Tangle of Storylines and Teenage Brutality
From the moment you hit play on "Chewing Gum", it's evident that this isn't just your run-of-the-mill teenage drama. Instead, it’s an ambitious endeavor to pack a hefty narrative into a short runtime. However, the outcome elicits a mixed bag of feelings. While the issues at hand seem crucial, their execution leaves much to be desired.
A Maze of Storylines and a Shortage of Time
One striking characteristic of "Chewing Gum" is its multitude of intertwined plot lines that run concurrently. This series encompasses nearly every conceivable teenage challenge:
- Young adults grappling with both standard and unusual dilemmas;
- The oppressive tendencies of a tyrannical character named Kirill;
- The protagonist's mother, who has recently emerged from the clutches of prison;
- A wealthy, yet emotionally barren family surrounding Roma, where a sister suffers from cancer and a cold father only intensifies the pervasive atmosphere of hopelessness;
- Infidelity, bullying, and even stalking.
This veritable smorgasbord of story arcs could have been a significant asset had the show possessed sufficient time to explore them. Unfortunately, the constrained length leaves the narrative feeling rushed and the characters strikingly shallow.
Main Characters: Finding It Hard to Care
As many viewers have pointed out, the characters in this series generally evoke more irritation than empathy.
- Gala Shalamova, the main character, navigates a life brimming with hardships, yet she fails to elicit strong feelings of sympathy from the audience. Her desperate pursuit of love and acceptance, while understandable, appears excessively aggressive.
- Roma (Hans Shmyuze), the affluent blogger who turns Gala into his subject of ridicule, embodies the archetypal spoiled rich kid. Instead of provoking even the slightest hint of compassion, he only deepens the feeling of vacuity surrounding him.
- Kirill, Gala’s despotic boyfriend with a penchant for delinquency, contributes to the overall sense of tension and looming danger.
Even the secondary characters, like Roma’s mother—who has lost touch with reality—or his sister battling illness, fail to inspire any desires for empathy. It feels as though the creators have purposefully crafted all the characters to be downright off-putting.
Collective Brutality: Games Spiraling Out of Control
One of the most glaring, and at the same time disturbing, themes in the series is collective cruelty. The so-called "game" played by Roma and his friends with Gala, dubbed "Chewing Gum", showcases an utter disregard for another person’s feelings.
Scenes depicting a group of wealthy youths mocking Gala poignantly mirror the issues of bullying and moral irresponsibility. The hitch, however, is that the series does not delve deeply into this theme; it merely skims the surface, lacking in substantial analysis.
Is There Hope for Plot Development?
Yet, amid all its shortcomings, "Chewing Gum" possesses a glimmer of potential. Gala's journey as she seeks to extricate herself from her troubled circumstances and her desire to find her identity in a world brimming with deception and manipulation could lay the groundwork for a more meaningful narrative.
One possible beacon of hope is the suggestion that Gala, after navigating through a series of trials, may create a screenplay that transforms her life. This could evolve into a tale of how art assists individuals in overcoming trauma and discovering their place in the world.
"Chewing Gum" presents a project that raises a multitude of queries, often without supplying adequate answers. It could be viewed as an experiment within the realm of teen cinema, yet labeling it a resounding success may be premature.
For viewers who have a penchant for dramas that delve into intricate relationships, this series might pique their interest. Perhaps, in future episodes, it will unveil a deeper exploration of its themes and characters. For now, the impressions it leaves are mixed: the series intrigues while simultaneously frustrating with its superficiality and convoluted plots.
Let’s hope the creators find the right path forward and discover how even the most complex predicaments can lead to a resolution.