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The much-anticipated seventh season of The Circle starts with a new group of contestants ready to prove their skills at manipulating people while Michelle Buteau, the show's host, monitors them closely. The premiere episodes aired on Netflix on September 11.
This season of The Circle takes place in Atlanta, in the Deep South, promising exciting turns and bold moves. Contestants try to win the grand prize by becoming popular on the Circle's social media-like platform. They can either pretend to be real or be catfishes.
During the season opener, we met a diverse group of players. The first contestant, Deb, a 54-year-old from Pittsburgh, enters the game with a catfish persona, posing as 26-year-old Rachel.
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Other notable contestants include Kevin, a 23-year-old wine sales rep, and Darian, a 29-year-old teacher. The episode closes with the reveal of a high-stakes game, 'Risky Quizness' and a cliffhanger about two contestants deciding whether or not to become disruptors.
Contestants make their first moves in The Circle
Deb from Pittsburgh is the first person to arrive. She poses as Rachel, 26 years old, to fit in with the younger crowd. She aims to use her tech knowledge to find her way around the Circle. Next up is Kevin Fernandez from San Diego, who comes in as himself and hopes that his charm will help him.
The next contestant is Darian, a teacher, 29. He's followed by JoJo and Nicky, twin brothers from Staten Island. The twins made a profile together and pretended to be JoJo's girlfriend, Gianna.
Deb, as Rachel, is the first to talk when the chat starts. Kevin and the twins make the next move as Gianna. Soon, Darian chats and introduces himself. His friendly attitude gets everyone's attention.
As soon as the twins start pretending to be Gianna, they begin to check out Rachel. They do so by talking about personal things in private, which makes them think she might be real.
The first game and rising tensions in The Circle
The first game, 'Risky Quizness,' sets the tone for the tough mind games. Contestants are asked personal questions, and the public can see their answers, showing flaws in their public image. Nicky and JoJo, still catfishing to be Gianna, focus on Rachel and ask her about her mom's high school years to see if she's telling the truth.
As personal chats continue, new alliances form. Darian messages Jadheja, a cybersecurity engineer from Houston, and sparks start flying. Meanwhile, Deb connects with Savannah, a student from Texas, who shares a vulnerable story about surviving brain surgery, deepening their bond.
When the time comes for contestant ratings, Heather (playing as a catfish version of a metal band bassist Andy) and Savannah emerge as the top two influencers, a critical role that will give them the power to eliminate one player.
The episode ends on a cliffhanger, with the twins choosing to be 'disruptors.' Disruptors are the ones who will have a task to do, but it could be risky, and the reward might be big. That leaves the audience eager to see the consequences of this risky decision in the next episode.
The first four episodes of The Circle are currently streaming on Netflix.
