Exploring ‘Chewing Gum’: A Missed Opportunity in Teen Drama

The Teen Series "Chewing Gum": A Turn to Reboot the Genre or Just a Collection of Clichés?

The 2024 Russian series "Chewing Gum", launched on the Premier platform, positions itself as a groundbreaking venture into the realm of teen cinema. The streaming service's management heralded this project as the catalyst for rejuvenating its lineup of youth-oriented shows. Yet, audiences and critics alike point out evident shortcomings that range from a mundane plot to questionable thematic exploration. Let's delve into what aspects of this series both attract and repel its viewers.

Plot Analysis: Love, Stalking, and Tragedies

At the heart of "Chewing Gum" is Galia Shalamova (played by Darya Balabanova), a young woman hailing from a children's home in the Moscow region, who dreams of enrolling at VGIK and becoming a screenwriter. Her life is riddled with drama: she finds herself in an abusive relationship with her boyfriend Kirill (Anton Artemyev), grapples with the imminent release of her mother (Yulia Volkova) from prison, and endures a complete lack of support and genuine connection.

By sheer happenstance, Galia stumbles upon a livestream featuring a popular blogger named Roma (Anton Rogachev), known online as Hans Shmuze. Coming from a wealthy family, he embodies the freedom, ease, and carefreeness that Galia has never known. Captivated by Roma, she begins to construct naive fantasies about their potential future together.

What begins as a romantic rendezvous between Galia and Roma quickly escalates into a one-sided obsession. Galia fabricates stories about her life to impress him, while Roma treats the relationship as nothing more than a lighthearted flirtation. His decision to stage his own death as a prank ignites a tragic series of events, leading Galia, convinced of her beloved’s demise, to seek out and punish his “killer.”

Key Themes: Superficiality or Relevance?

The series addresses several themes that, on the surface, seem to resonate with modern youth; however, the execution leaves much to be desired.

1. Love and Stalking

Galia’s transformation from an innocent dreamer to a desperate stalker unfolds rapidly. Her behavior veers more towards obsessive dependence rather than genuine affection. Meanwhile, Roma's deceitful and manipulative actions showcase a standard portrayal of toxicity.

2. Bullying and Toxic Environment

Abuse is not confined to Galia's relationship with Kirill; it mirrors her interactions with the world around her. The bullying she endures in the orphanage and the derision from the privileged elite create an oppressive milieu.

3. Parent-Child Dynamics

Though Roma enjoys material affluence, his family environment is starkly disconnected. His mother is lost in her dilemmas, his father is consumed by work, and his sick sister lingers in the shadows. Conversely, Galia has no parental support; her mother has just been released from prison, and her father is entirely absent from the narrative.

4. The Influence of Social Media

Roma, as a quintessential influencer, showcases a fabricated existence while concealing his real troubles. His entourage perpetuates the illusion, even participating in the staged death prank. Although this aspect was meant to highlight social media's impact on youth, the series offers only a cursory exploration of this pressing topic.

Characters: Ambiguity or Cliché?

The creators intended to present complex, flawed characters, but the outcome is, unfortunately, mixed.

• Galia garners sympathy and empathy, but her obsession and decisions often push viewers away. She appears more as a victim of circumstance than an autonomous individual.
• Roma comes off as a stereotypical rich kid: privileged, insensitive, and carefree. His antics, especially the prank involving his mock death, render him completely unlikable.
• Kirill, in contrast, embodies a caricature of a 90s thug, with his abusive tendencies apparent from the first scenes.

Direction: Clichés and Mediocrity

Directed by Alexander Tsoi, known for previous works like "Difficult Teens" and "The Connection", "Chewing Gum" unfortunately fails to measure up to his prior achievements in youth drama.

1. Music and Visual Atmosphere

Like many domestic teen series, "Chewing Gum" is rich in neon-lit parties, montage-style cuts, and mediocre soundtracks. These elements serve more as background noise rather than enriching the narrative's depth.

2. Dialogue and Script

Despite having nine screenwriters on board, their collective efforts do not yield meaningful results. The dialogues come across as forced, and character behaviors frequently defy logic.

Critique: What Disappointed Viewers?

Many viewers and critics have voiced their dissatisfaction with "Chewing Gum."

• Clichés Instead of Originality: The plot is littered with tropes—from neon parties to reckless wealthy teens indifferent to finances.
• Lack of Realism: The actors portraying teenagers seem significantly older than their respective characters, raising doubts about authenticity.
• Ambiguous Storyline: The show attempts to tackle too many themes, resulting in a disjointed narrative.

Comparative Analysis

Viewers have often drawn comparisons between "Chewing Gum" and other series such as "Euphoria" or "Sex Education." However, the emotional depth, character development, and relevance of issues presented in those works vastly outshine this latest offering.

The End: Is It Worth Watching?

"Chewing Gum" remains a quintessential example of an attempt to create something contemporary and youth-centric, yet the outcome falls short. Clichés, weak dialogues, and superficial thematic exploration severely hinder its potential to stand out against the backdrop of similar works in the genre.

For those seeking light-hearted teen drama blended with elements of tragedy, "Chewing Gum" might captivate their interest. However, for viewers who prefer narratives packed with more profound storytelling, it would be advisable to explore other available options.