Exploring the Flaws of the Teen Series 'Chewing Gum'

The Teen Series "Chewing Gum": A Genre Revival or a Trope-Laden Mashup?

The Russian series "Chewing Gum" (2024), launched on the Premier platform, aims to redefine the landscape of teen cinema. The streaming service's management has heralded this project as a landmark step towards revitalizing youth-focused shows. However, viewer feedback and critical reviews highlight apparent flaws: ranging from a clichéd storyline to a questionable approach to theme exploration. Let’s delve into what draws audiences in and what ultimately repels them.

Plot: Love, Stalking, and Heartbreaks

At the heart of this tale is Galya Shalamova (played by Darya Balabanova), a girl from a Moscow-region orphanage with dreams of attending VGIK to become a screenwriter. Her life is a tapestry of tragic threads: an abusive relationship with her boyfriend Kirill (Anton Artemiev), her mother’s imminent release from prison (played by Yulia Volkova), and a profound lack of support or meaningful conversation.

By chance, Galya stumbles upon a livestream of a popular blogger named Roma (Anton Rogachyov), known online as Hans Shmyuza. Hailing from a privileged background, Roma personifies freedom, ease, and frivolity—qualities Galya has only dared to dream about. As she falls head over heels for Roma, she begins constructing naive fantasies about a happy future together.

What starts as a romantic date spirals into a lopsided obsession. Galya deceives Roma about her life to win his admiration, while he views their connection as merely playful flirtation. His harebrained stunt of faking his death as a prank becomes the spark that ignites a tragedy. Believing her beloved is dead, Galya vows to hunt down and punish his supposed "murderer."

Key Themes: Shallowness or Relevance?

The series touches upon several themes that should resonate with contemporary youth, yet it fails to explore them with the depth they warrant.

1. Love and Stalking

Galya's transition from a hopeful romantic to an obsessive stalker is depicted in a manner that suggests emotional dependency rather than true affection. Meanwhile, Roma's deceit and manipulation exemplify a toxic relationship dynamic that feels more alarming than endearing.

2. Bullying and Toxic Environments

Abuse permeates not just her relationship with Kirill, but also Galya's broader interactions with her environment. The bullying she faces in the orphanage, the relentless mockery from the privileged youth, and her overall isolation paints a picture of an oppressive reality.

3. Parent-Child Relationships

Though Roma's family enjoys financial stability, they are emotionally estranged and cold. His mother is consumed by her own issues, his father is perpetually absorbed in work, and his sick sister languishes in the shadows. In sharp contrast, Galya's situation is bleak: her mother, recently released from prison, offers no sanctuary, and her father is conspicuously absent.

4. The Impact of Social Media

As a quintessential influencer, Roma curates a façade of a perfect life while concealing his genuine struggles. His circle becomes complicit in the deception, even participating in his fake death stunt. What was intended to showcase the social media influence on youth is treated superficially.

Characters: An Attempt at Complexity

The creators of the series proclaimed their ambition to construct multifaceted, flawed characters. However, the outcome is muddled at best.

• Galya elicits sympathy and compassion, yet her obsessive behavior often drives viewers away. She appears more like a victim of circumstances than an autonomous individual.
• Roma embodies the stereotype of the affluent jerk: wealthy, indifferent, and whimsical. His pranks, especially the staged death, strip him of any redeeming qualities.
• Kirill emerges as a caricature of a 90s thug, displaying a blatant abusive nature from the outset.

Direction: Clichés and Mediocrity

Directed by Alexander Tsoi, known for his previous work on series like "Difficult Adolescents" and "Smichok", it seems that "Chewing Gum" falls short of his past successes.

1. Music and Visual Atmosphere

True to many local teen series, "Chewing Gum" is rife with neon parties, quick-cut montages, and average soundtracks. These elements serve as mere backdrop rather than enhancing the narrative depth.

2. Dialogue and Script

Boasting a team of nine screenwriters, the project surprisingly lacks impactful results. Dialogue often sounds forced, while character behaviors frequently defy logic.

Criticism: What Left Viewers Disappointed?

Many have voiced their dissatisfaction with "Chewing Gum."

• Clichés instead of Originality: The plot is saturated with tropes—from neon nightlife scenes to wealthy teens who treat money like play dough.
• Lack of Realism: The actors portraying teenagers appear notably older than their characters, raising doubts about the show's authenticity.
• Absence of a Clear Arc: The series grapples with multiple themes, leading to a disjointed narrative.

Comparisons with Other Projects

Viewers frequently draw parallels between "Chewing Gum" and other series like "Euphoria" and "Sex Education." However, the dramatic intensity, character depth, and relevancy of issues presented in those shows far exceed what "Chewing Gum" has to offer.

Epilogue: Should You Watch It?

"Chewing Gum" represents a quintessential attempt to forge something relevant and youthful, yet the end result feels lacking. With an array of clichés, poorly crafted dialogue, and a superficial treatment of themes, the series struggles to distinguish itself in the crowded genre landscape.

For those interested in light teen drama with dashes of engagement, "Chewing Gum" might offer some level of enjoyment. However, for viewers seeking more profound narratives, it's worth looking to other endeavors.