Exploring the Pitfalls of Teen Series "Chewing Gum"

Teen Series "Chewing Gum": A Reboot or Just Recycled Tropes?

The Russian series "Chewing Gum" (2024), which premiered on the Premier platform, boldly positions itself as a refreshing take on teenage cinema. The streaming service claimed that this project would serve as a catalyst for renewing the genre. However, audience feedback and critical reviews suggest glaring issues, ranging from a lackluster plot to questionable thematic exploration. Let’s delve into what attracts and repels viewers in this series.

Plot: Love, Stalking, and Tragedies

At the center of this narrative is Galya Shalamova (played by Daria Balabanova), a girl from a suburban orphanage who dreams of attending VGIK to become a screenwriter. Galya's life is a rollercoaster of drama: she finds herself in an abusive relationship with her boyfriend Kirill (Anton Artemyev), while facing the impending release of her mother (Yulia Volkova) from prison and lacking any real support or meaningful communication.

Galya’s fate takes an unexpected turn when she stumbles upon a live stream of the popular blogger Roma (Anton Rogachev), known online as Hans Shmuze. Hailing from a well-off family, Roma embodies everything Galya has never encountered: freedom, lightheartedness, and a carefree existence. Captivated by Roma, she begins to weave fanciful dreams of a blissful future together.

What begins as a romantic date quickly morphs into an unhealthy obsession. Galya fabricates stories about her life to impress Roma, while he views their relationship as nothing more than a casual flirtation. The series takes a dark turn when Roma stages his own death as a prank, setting off a tragic chain of events. Convinced her beloved has died, Galya resolves to locate and punish his ‘killer.’

Key Themes: Surface vs. Substance

The show touches on numerous themes that seemingly resonate with today’s youth. Yet, the execution raises more questions than it answers.

1. Love and Stalking

Galya’s transformation from an innocent dreamer to an obsessive stalker is troubling. Her desperate behavior is less an expression of love than a manifestation of an unhealthy fixation. Conversely, Roma’s deceitful and manipulative tactics highlight a classic toxic dynamic.

2. Bullying and Toxic Environments

Abuse isn’t confined to Galya’s relationship with Kirill; it pervades her life. The oppressive atmosphere of the orphanage, lack of support, and bullying from the elite youth serve to amplify her struggles.

3. Parent-Child Dynamics

Despite their financial security, Roma’s family is emotionally fragmented. His mother is engulfed in personal issues, his father is consumed by work, and his ill sister remains in the shadows. In stark contrast, Galya has no stable parental figures: her mother has just been released from prison, and her father is absent from the narrative.

4. Impact of Social Media

Roma, the archetypal online persona, showcases a fabricated life while concealing his true struggles. His social circle perpetuates the illusion, participating in his farcical death. This could have been a powerful commentary on the effects of social media on teens, but the series skims the surface.

Characters: Aiming for Complexity

The creators of the series set out to develop complex, flawed characters. Unfortunately, the realization falls short of expectations.

• Galya elicits pity and sympathy, yet her obsession can alienate viewers. She often feels more like a victim of circumstance than a fully realized individual.
• Roma emerges as a quintessential rich kid: callous, shallow, and frivolous. His actions, particularly the prank involving his death, render him quite unsympathetic.
• Kirill presents as a caricature of a 90s thug, his abusive nature evident from the onset.

Direction: Clichés and Mediocrity

Directed by Alexander Tsoy, who has previously worked on youth dramas like "Difficult Teens" and "The Link," "Chewing Gum" ultimately fails to match the caliber of his earlier projects.

1. Musical and Visual Style

Like many Russian teenage series, Chewing Gum brims with neon parties, rapid cuts, and mediocre music. These components contribute more as a backdrop than as meaningful additions to the story.

2. Dialogue and Screenwriting

Despite having nine screenwriters, the script yields lackluster results. Dialogue often feels forced, and character actions can appear illogical.

Critique: What Dissapoints Viewers?

Many viewers and critics found themselves dissatisfied with Chewing Gum.

• Tropes over Originality: The plot brims with clichés, from neon-lit parties to affluent teens unfazed by money.
• Lack of Realism: Actors portraying teenagers appear significantly older than their characters, raising questions about authenticity.
• Unfocused Narrative: The show attempts to cover too many themes, resulting in a fragmented storyline.

Comparison with Other Works

Audiences have frequently drawn parallels between Chewing Gum and other series like "Euphoria" and "Sex Education". However, those projects present deeper drama, character development, and greater relevance to contemporary issues.

Epilogue: Is It Worth Watching?

The series "Chewing Gum" stands as a typical example of an attempt to create something relevant and youthful, yet the results leave much to be desired. Clichés, weak dialogue, and superficial thematic exploration fail to set it apart in the genre.

For those who seek a light teen drama sprinkled with elements of tragedy, Chewing Gum may hit the spot. However, viewers accustomed to more profound narratives might find themselves seeking sustenance elsewhere.