Exploring Growth and Challenges in Season 3 of Peace! Friendship! Chewing Gum!
Review of the Third Season of the Series "Peace! Friendship! Chewing Gum!": The Spirit of the 90s, Coming of Age, and the Inevitability of Change
Release Date: May 4, 2023
Director: Anton Fyodorov
Rating: 8 out of 10
The beloved series "Peace! Friendship! Chewing Gum!" has long captured the hearts of audiences, skillfully blending a nostalgia-laden journey through the turbulent 90s with a captivating, multi-layered narrative. The third season, premiering on the online platform Premier, plunges viewers back into the milieu of provincial Russia in the mid-90s, but this time through the lens of our protagonists' maturation.
Growing Up: Complicated Issues and Complex Characters
At the heart of the story is a spirited group of friends who, despite the passage of two years, find themselves entangled in the most unexpected adventures. The narrative unfolds in the summer of 1996, symbolizing the dawn of a new chapter in their lives.
- Sanya (played by Yegor Gubarev) is moving beyond the confines of school and trying to navigate the tumultuous waters of adulthood. His blossoming romantic relationship with a girl named (Alexandra Khromova) adds a sweet note of romance but does little to shield him from the mundane struggles of life, like working in a tape kiosk.
- Vovka (Egor Abramov) and Malaya (Polina Gukhman) dive into the world of young parenthood. Vovka, still exuding his characteristic air of confidence, attempts to provide for his family but often resorts to highly dubious methods, introducing a comedic yet unsettling element to their story.
- Ilya (Fedor Roshchin), a character marked by inner turmoil, is now consumed with physical self-improvement, which amplifies the drama surrounding his persona.
- Zhenya (Valentina Lyapina) makes a surprising return to her hometown, not alone but accompanied by her fiancé (Fedor Fedotov), a twist that takes her friends aback.
Family troubles come to the forefront with Sanya, whose mother (Ksenia Katalymova) finds herself arrested for financial crimes. Meanwhile, his father (Stepan Devonin) hopes for help from a former associate that may not be what he seems.
Crime-Infused Tula: A Whirlwind of Events
The writers have boldly chosen to drop subtle hints and lay out the action in Tula directly. After the events of the first two seasons, the city has undergone significant changes: many key figures in the criminal underworld have met grim fates, which leads the showrunners to introduce new characters and, intriguingly, to resurrect old ones.
Viewers can anticipate the thrilling return of Alik (Yuri Borisov) and Vitka (Nikita Pavlenko), whose deaths in the previous season seemed to seal their fates. This time, the writers have crafted a more plausible narrative to justify their survival and revival, adding layers of intrigue and dynamic pacing to the unfolding plot.
Soundtrack: The Voice of an Epoch
The musical score remains one of the series' standout features. Compositions by Mujus artfully capture the anxious yet hopeful spirit of the era, peppered with nostalgic hits from the 90s that take audiences on a trip down memory lane. A highlight is the album "Morskaya" by the band "Mumiy Troll," which, curiously, releases a year earlier in the series timeline than in real life.
A Slow Start or the Calm Before the Storm?
In contrast to its predecessors, the third season begins with a relatively slow build-up of events. However, the tension is palpable from the first episodes. The looming question remains: will the creators sustain this pace, or will they, as in previous seasons, thrust the characters into a whirlwind of thrilling and perilous escapades?
The third season of "Peace! Friendship! Chewing Gum!" offers a rich continuation of the tale centered on coming-of-age, difficult choices, and the spirit of the uneasy 90s. Despite a few contentious narrative choices, the project stands as a prime example of contemporary Russian cinema. With suspense, dynamic storytelling, and emotional depth, this series is a must-watch for anyone who appreciates drama infused with historical context.