Exploring the Third Season of "Peace! Friendship! Chewing Gum!"
Review of the Third Season of "Peace! Friendship! Chewing Gum!": The Spirit of the '90s, Coming of Age, and Inevitable Changes
Release Date: May 4, 2023
Director: Anton Fyodorov
Rating: 8 out of 10
The series "Peace! Friendship! Chewing Gum!" has long captured the hearts of viewers with its delicate balance of nostalgia for the tumultuous '90s and an engaging, multi-layered narrative. The third season, which premiered on the online platform Premier, plunges us once again into the atmosphere of provincial Russia during the mid-'90s, but this time through the lens of the main characters' maturation.
The Characters Mature, and Problems Escalate
At the heart of the story remains a restless group of friends who, despite the passing of two years, find themselves caught up in the most unforeseen situations. The action of the new season unfolds in the summer of 1996, a significant moment symbolizing a fresh chapter in the protagonists' lives.
- Sanya (Egor Gubarev) has left his school days behind and is grappling with the complexities of adult life. His new relationship with a girl (Alexandra Khromova) adds a romantic twist to the narrative, yet does little to shield him from everyday challenges, like working at a tape rental shop.
- Vovka (Egor Abramov) and Malaya (Polina Gukhman) have stepped into the role of young parents. Vovka, maintaining his typical brash demeanor, is determined to take care of his family but opts for questionable methods to do so.
- Ilya (Fedor Roshchin), a character plagued by an unstable inner world, is now fixated on physical self-improvement, injecting a sense of drama into his character arc.
- Zhenya (Valentina Lyapina) returns to her hometown not alone, but with her fiancΓ© (Fyodor Fedotov), which creates an unexpected twist for her friends.
Sanya's family troubles also take center stage, with his mother (Ksenia Katalymova) arrested for financial fraud while his father (Stepan Devonin) seeks help from a former partner who may not be what he appears.
Criminal Tula: A Whirlwind of Events
The writers have made a bold choice by clearly establishing Tula as the series' backdrop. In the aftermath of the first two seasons, the city undergoes significant transformations: many key players in the criminal underworld have perished, prompting the creators to introduce new characters and even resurrect some from the past.
Audiences can look forward to surprising returns from Alik (Yuri Borisov) and Vityok (Nikita Pavlenko), whose deaths in the previous season seemed irrevocable. This time, the writers have made a concerted effort to justify their survival more convincingly, thereby enriching the plot with intrigue and pace.
Soundtrack: The Voice of an Era
The musical score continues to be one of the series' strongest aspects. The compositions by Mujus expertly convey the spirit of a troubled yet hopeful time. Nostalgic hits from the '90s add to the immersive experience, with particular attention given to the album "Sea" by the band "Mumiy Troll," which, despite historical inaccuracies, is set to release a year earlier than it actually did.
A Slow Beginning or the Calm Before the Storm?
In contrast to the previous seasons, the third installment opens with a relatively slow progression of events. Nevertheless, tension permeates the early episodes. The key question remains: will the writers maintain this pace, or will they, as they often have, thrust the characters into a whirlwind of thrilling and perilous adventures?
The third season of "Peace! Friendship! Chewing Gum!" serves as a high-quality continuation of the story about growing up, the struggles of choice, and the spirit of a complex '90s era. Despite some contentious plot decisions, the show remains one of the finest examples of contemporary Russian cinema. Filled with intrigue, dynamic plots, and emotional depth, this series is a must-watch for anyone who appreciates drama with a historical backdrop.