The Circle - who’s watching?

[Standrewsschool]

The first three are wannabes.

Hunter - trying to revive his career.

I’m enjoying this series and I like the twists.

I’m glad Tally went. She wasn’t the sharpest tool in the box. Syed to win!

I think I'm with you Egghead. Syed ftw!

I also don't understand why Andy kept picking Felix given they've never spoken!!!!

Yep to Syed winning.
Went off Andy yesterday.
Def not Manrika. Or Felix.

Syed and Vithun are my favourites now. Really gone off Manrika. She should have been loyal to Tally. I understand what Andy did. I don't think he is game playing, just choosing to keep people in that he enjoys talking to. Was gutted when Andy and Manrika got rid of Billy though.

I think Andy picked Felix to either shit stir or because he figured Felix would just do what it took to please Manrika with no thought process involved- laying. I've rather gone off Andy as a result.

I actually think the production should have picked at random.

*laying himself open to grudges.

I don't get the Vithun love. I get that he's shy and has been bullied and he seems very sweet. I'm impressed at how intuitive he is, too. I find his very cold and calculating side quite unnerving and distasteful though. And so far he hasn't stirred up much/it's been easily cancelled out.

Vithun is lovely - but I don't see him making an enormous amount of effort at anything.

Syed, by contrast, is quite wondrously entertaining. I do suspect he's being fed lines by the producers but his spontaneous outbursts of joy or confusion are vaguely delightful.

I loved the group voting - could have watched that all night!

I now feel like the only result I’ll be happy with is a win for Syed/Hashu. With every show like this (BB, Love Island) I always want the ones who completely embrace the experience to win. The ones who just shit stir or look for confrontation are no no’s for me. Last year’s Circle was full of such fun, with jokes, dancing, bigging each other up. The dirty tricks Manrika is playing just don’t sit well with me. I hope she’s out next!

I hope Manrika is next out, too. I'd love to watch it all fall down around her.

I think you've nailed it, @PursuingProxemicExactitude - Vithun doesn't put much effort into things. I'm sure it's just as a result of shyness but coupled with his competitive streak, he seems colder than he actually is. It sounds like he's had lots of chats with people and they seem to like him, he is sweet.

I was very surprised with Andy's choice, but in a good way as I find "Dot" more entertaining to watch than Tally. I am convinced Andy was being tactical voting out Tally and Billy.

Not sure what the point of Vithun is, he was barely in that last episode. Nice bloke but no entertainment value. He stirs things up when he's in anonymous mode but that's about all I can say for him.

I'm team Syed. I think he's slipping as a catfish but I don't think that's going to matter as people like him no matter what and he's entertaining.

Do we think Hashu might confess before the end of the show / his time on the show?

Are catfish allowed to change their minds?

I've been wondering the same @PursuingProxemicExactitude

In the past people who have been slightly catfishing have come clean during the show (i.e. Paddy) but there's never been an out and out catfish come clean. I wonder if he'd tell someone he was close to if they just came out and asked him directly.

Yes, I agree, as it stands, I’d be happy for Syed / Hashu (despite the odd annoying loud shriek!)
He is funny, warm and entertaining.

I hope Hashu wins too. He’s funny and amusing. I don’t mind Andy, I suppose... Felix’ rant about integrity annoyed me too much for me to warm to him/her, and Manrika has shown a really fake side. Tally would have stayed if it wasn’t for Manrika putting her sixth, and then telling Andy she had doubts about her. I’m not overly fussed on her staying, but it goes against everything Manrika has said about having her back, both making the final, not letting Felix come between them, etc.

Sadly I think they just haven’t recruited right for this, the people aren’t interesting enough, and so there’s a lot of twists to make anything actually happen...

But I’m watching it the next day while I work.

Hashu seems to be giving up a bit with the accent when posting his messages. It's like he can't be bothered to pretend anymore as he knows everyone's guessed him. Nobody is asking him if he's catfish though, despite their suspicions, I think because they all really like him and want him in there. The knives will probably come out for him when it gets down to the final few.

@bonfireheart

I also don't understand why Andy kept picking Felix given they've never spoken!!!!

His way of telling everyone he wanted Dot to stay.

I think Andy is much more tactical than he initially appeared. He hid that well. It's a tactical game but some invoke it more than others!

I think Hashu is wedded to Syed, even if he's slipping.

No more #GeezerGirls

Being popular and therefore the influencer all the time early on is not actually a good way of winning because when it comes to the final ratings people will tactically rate you low to give themselves the best chance. Therefore Andy knows he needs to make the best of a bad situation and get rid of the popular players to give him the best chance at the end. I still think it's unlikely he'll win though.

@Tianatiers

Being popular and therefore the influencer all the time early on is not actually a good way of winning because when it comes to the final ratings people will tactically rate you low to give themselves the best chance. Therefore Andy knows he needs to make the best of a bad situation and get rid of the popular players to give him the best chance at the end. I still think it's unlikely he'll win though.

Yes, I think that's a bit of a fundamental flaw with the format of the show. The winner is often really underwhelming and frustrating because it doesn't reflect how well they did during the show or how nice they actually are. The only people that rate honestly are the genuinely nice people, and all the others will just put whoever they think is least likely to do well top to try and boost their own chances. The end result is the winner ends up being nobody's favourite, just a middling player nobody thought was a threat, like Paddy last year.

I think it would be better if the final was more balanced towards public vote, maybe 50/50, so players had to fool the other players to get to the final, but then actually be the most entertaining player when they get there.

I think it would make more sense if the winner was the player whose ratings over the entirety of the show had the highest average. That way players couldn’t just get tactical for the last ratings by voting the most popular players lowest, players would probably still try to vote tactically but it would be much harder to do so if the scores over the whole game counted. I also agree making the player and viewers votes 50/50 would be an improvement and would mean there would potentially be more pay-off for being nice and genuine.

Surprised so many posters liked Tally. I am glad she has gone, good riddance. Hopefully Manrika will be next.

I would like to see Syed or Andy win.

I loved Tally! I want Dot out! And Gemma.

One of the contestants looks concerningly underweight. Syed to win. Andy is eliminating popular players. Manrika is too but at least Andy isn't pretending to be anyone's best friend. Manrika is seeming nasty. She told Andy she wanted Tally out then pretended to be upset