Written by Avani Goswami
Netflix’s latest reality hit The Circle is something I clicked on when I was bored and, three weeks later, ended up fully invested in the series’ conclusion. The premise is based on the UK-based reality series of the same name, and focuses on a group of adults who are locked in solitary apartments with only their online profiles for company. The goal is to become the most popular player amongst the group, based on nothing but their profile photos, statuses, and digital interactions with others.
Nothing is face-to-face, which means there’s also a potential for catfishing, or the act of making themselves seem more appealing to the group by hiding behind another person’s image,. Most people, even those using their own pictures, pretend to be single, to open up the possibility of attraction raising their popularity ratings. Many try making their personalities a bit sweeter or flirtier, while a few catfish are one-hundred percent themselves—minus the face they are pretending to have.
The show kicks off when the group is put into separate rooms in the same apartment building. There are screens all over their rooms that they talk to to input information or message others. As the show continues, the players get to add photos and statuses to their profiles. The dreaded “alert” alarm blares whenever there are new updates, such as the nerve wracking popularity rankings decided by the contestants. The top two players become the “circle influencers,” and have the power to block someone out of the group, sending them packing.
The players also compete in surprisingly revealing mini-games on the screens surrounding their apartment in order to get to know each other better. The games, in addition to private chats people set up, lead everyone to get closer, or even discover if someone is not who they say they are. Once someone gets sent home, they are allowed to visit another player and leave a video message for the group, which usually always stirs the pot or leaves something unanswered.
The most surprising thing I noticed from watching this show is how close a group of strangers can become in such a short amount of time. By the end of the first four episodes, players were revealing personal information and sticking out their necks for their newfound friends. Some of them promised loyalty for life, and even said that they’d die for one of the other players—and seemed to mean it. The other glaringly obvious fact is that it is much easier to play the game when the player goes in as themselves. Usually the person who gets eliminated is someone others think are catfishing, even when they are not, so it’s much better to play it real.
I thought the show would mostly be a way to kill time, but I have been hanging onto the edge of my seat. It’s hard not to think about the strange dystopia The Circle represents, where we all live in isolation and talk at our screens to form a connection that may or may not be genuine.
However, it’s even more difficult not to like such an interesting and kind cast of people, and not root for their friendships and victories all the way until the end.
