World! Friendship! Chewing Gum! Season Three Review
World! Friendship! Chewing Gum! - Season Three: How Little Has Been Lived, Yet How Much Has Been Experienced
Rating: 8 out of 10
Release Date: May 4, 2023
Director: Anton Fyodorov
Starring: Egor Gubarev, Valentina Lyapina, Yuri Borisov, Nikita Pavlenko, Evgeny Tkachuk, Viktor Sukhorukov, and others.
The third season of World! Friendship! Chewing Gum! marks a highly anticipated return to the much-loved narrative centered around the lives of 90s teenagers. This time around, the events unfold in the summer of 1996, with our beloved characters having aged two years, facing new challenges and tests along their intertwined journeys.
Coming of Age: A New Chapter
The familiar core group of characters retains their essence, yet two years have ushered considerable changes into their lives:
- Sanya (Egor Gubarev) has graduated from school and now sells cassette tapes from a stand. His life is beginning anew as he embarks on romantic endeavors with a new girlfriend.
- Vovka (Egor Abramov) and Malaya (Polina Gukhman) have embraced parenthood. Vovka, in an effort to support his family, finds himself drawn into questionable escapades.
- Ilya (Fyodor Roshchin), who has always been a bit of an oddball, is now laser-focused on achieving physical perfection.
- Zhenya (Valentina Lyapina) returns to town with her fiancé, surprising her friends with this unexpected twist in her life.
Meanwhile, Sanya's parents grapple with their own dramas; his mother finds herself imprisoned for financial misdeeds, while his father clings to hope that Vitalik (Arthur Beshtastny) will somehow save them all, skirting ever closer to the law.
A Rich Criminal Narrative
The series dives into the criminal underbelly of Tula, offering a fresh perspective. While many key players of the illicit schemes met their end in the previous season, writers introduce new characters and bring back some presumed dead from earlier narratives, adding layers to this ever-evolving tale.
The return of Alik (Yuri Borisov) and Vitka (Nikita Pavlenko) stirs a complex mix of emotions, as their “resurrection” this time seems more credible, albeit tinged with dramatic flair. As always, our teenage protagonists find themselves unwittingly swept into the tumultuous maelstrom of crime surrounding them.
Soundtrack: The Soul of the Series
Music plays an integral role, breathing life and atmosphere into the unfolding drama. The soundtrack features:
- 90s hits, whisking viewers back to that iconic era.
- Melodic pieces from Mujus, channeling the anxious spirit of the times.
- The album “Sea” by the band Mumiy Troll, which, within the narrative, is said to have been released prior to its actual debut.
The musical backdrop adds depth and evokes strong emotions amidst the storyline, capturing the essence of change and instability that characterized the 90s.
Dynamics and Intrigue: What to Expect from Season Three?
Initially, the first episodes of the third season may seem slower compared to its predecessors, but that’s merely an illusion. Tension escalates with each scene, and before long, the familiar rapid pace makes its much-anticipated comeback.
The writers skillfully tread the line between absurdity and realism, drawing viewers into the emotional turmoil of the characters, despite their flaws and missteps. Will the series maintain that heart-pounding suspense right up to the concluding moments? Or will we be treated to another dizzying twist of events?
The End: Why You Should Tune In
The third season of World! Friendship! Chewing Gum! remains a shining example of nostalgic cinema reflecting the 90s. It beautifully combines:
- Vibrant characters, beloved for their realism and charisma.
- A captivating atmosphere forged through set designs, music, and costumes rich with the sensations of the era.
- A plot that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats, masterfully balancing lightness with gravity.
This season is another step towards unraveling the idea that in the lives of our characters, "little has been lived, yet so much has been experienced." It comes highly recommended for those yearning to revisit the 90s or simply revel in an exceptional piece of Russian television.