The Circle - who’s watching?

[Standrewsschool]

The first three are wannabes.

Hunter - trying to revive his career.

That reaction video

Yes I wondered about that. Wouldn't that mean that he realised he hadn't been picked as he had to choose a team himself. Letting that be known is shitty.

Saying that he slayed it knowing Ankara as the capital, their loss.

@LaganinaBubble

Does anyone else think it was odd and mean that when the voice over was saying who was on each team for the party game he said "..... and no-one picked Vithun, so he's on Pippa's team" - Why call that out? Just felt really mean to me.

Yes! Basically pointed out that he’s a bit friendless and forgotten about. He doesn’t get much screen time at all compared with Gemma / Manrika etc

I think that's Vithun's gameplan. He tweeted about it a bit, although they seem to have been deleted

Essentially, be non-threatening and fade into the background, but have enough close bonds with popular people that they would feel bad blocking you, and make it as far as you can before you "come out of your shell"

I presumed the voiceover woman was acknowledging that, although on reflection, it does sound a bit harsh!

@bonfireheart

I think manrika doesn't like Gemma because she's naturally pretty.

Since you're allowed to play as a catfish, I don't get the obsession with hunting them in this series, especially Andy.
There is no way he genuinely 100% thinks Dot is real. And yet he saved her. He needs to realise that tbh the catfish (Gemmq, Felix and Syed) are actually the more interesting people haha!

Manrika is pretty though. In my view the most attractive one in there but is a pretty horrible person

How are non-Midlanders finding Manrika’s accent? I’m Black Country and even I can tell her accent is very strong. Tally commented on it straight away. It doesn’t match her image that’s for sure

Maybe it's because Manrika reminds me of me at that age that I don't find much fault with her,

Saying that I'm not from the midlands or Asian descent (!)

I think her feistiness covers up a lot of past pain, sometimes you don't deal with things like that properly until you're older.

I am 30 and remember the gladiators (my mum always thought Hunter looked a bit seedy, haha!), however, I don't think anyone younger than Andy in the game will!

Gemma-James should come up with a plan though, she's left herself wide open. And I suspect a few people might like to weaken or knock out Andy.

To my london ear m’s accent is immediately identifiable as ‘Birmingham’ (generic and ill informed on my part - not sure I can actually distinguish between eg w’hamoton b’ham etc).
Stronger than Tom’s accent.

Donning my un qualified psych hat here I’ve thought manrika’s character must be informed by struggles and need not to be seen as victim - she seems psychologically young. Agree with pp that she will probably mature and reflect but right now is rather brittle and over compensating ??

Takes off un qualified psych hat.

@LaganinaBubble - on the US one, when someone was left over they got to choose which team they joined. I don't think the v/o made such a big deal out of it.

@HaroldandGeorge - I like Manrika's accent and have no trouble understanding her. It is quite strong but she speaks clearly and I like a midlands accent anyway!

Ah thanks @MrsToothyBitch. I've never watched it before so didn't know that. Makes sense I guess, I thought it was an odd way to say it - but obviously had no background as to why it was phrased that way.

The US version showed Joey (the left over player) choosing and being semi annoyed but laughing it off and having some fighting talk. I wonder if Vithun was actually quite genuinely upset so they chose not to show it? "Vithun didn't get picked" sounds quite brutal though!

I've also just worked out that Gemma's best shot is for Pippa & Femi to make her an influencer and knock out Andy or Manrika.
However, Gemma doesn't realise Andy is out to get her so she won't counter-campaign hard enough unless he drops proper hints either in circle chat or in convos that get back to her. And Femi likes Manrika. If the newbies get to choose one each and they picked the girls, do you think Manrika-ka and Gemma would unite and tactically knock out Andy?

If the newbies get to choose one each and they picked the girls, do you think Manrika-ka and Gemma would unite and tactically knock out Andy

No, Andy is safe at the moment. They all love him. If that scenario happened I think it would be Dot to go as the rest are too tight with both M and G.

I reckon the only way Gemma/James would vote Andy out because he knows his secret and is the obvious most popular person in there.

I think that G/James needs to get Felix and Syed on side and influence them against Andy. However I don't think G/James is that tactical - he thinks he is but I'm not seeing it.

The best tactical players are Andy and Vithun.

I had heard of Hunter but wouldn't have known James was Hunter by the pic. I suspect Hunter is doing it more for the publicity than the money. He is being given a lot of screen time by the producers so they think he has future TV potential. I'm not sure winning is that important long term if you are a media person

I just can't get past what a vile person James was, selling stories to the tabloids about his relationship with Ulrika. For that alone i hope he gets booted soon (holding a grudge over a Z list celebs treatment of a C list celeb, 20+ years later. I think I'm a tad over invested 😂)

I didn't know about that. Remember very little about Gladiators other than that it was on and there were contestants called Ulrika and Hunter. Not sure I ever watched it.

Ulrika was the host.

" Hunter you will go on my first whistle" which Ulrika didn't actually say

Oooh I like Tally now she’s gone, can she come back? Haha! Why did she take it all so seriously in there but once blocked she seemed to lighten up a lot.

I enjoyed watching her reactions too. I've missed the post blocking debrief show.

@Tianatiers - I think without the stress of The Circle and the pressure of the money hanging over her, Tally relaxed a bit!

I remember Hunter kiss & telling in the tabloids. I definitely remember my mum disliking him based on how he treated Ulrika-kaka!

@Tianatiers you've made me think how I'd behave in there and tbh I've surprised myself at how somedays in lockdown when I've not seen anyone and only communicated via WhatsApp I'm climbing the walls!! Imagine on top of that talking out loud every thought lol

I do find it weird though how Andy especially and sometimes James keep looking off at the side of the Circle screen as though someone is standing there and they're checking their reaction, maybe it's nothing but now I've noticed it it's really bugging.

[quote bonfireheart]Tally's reactions
twitter.com/C4TheCircle/status/1376821435738562561?s=20[/quote]
I love that! Before I go searching have they done that for other contestants?

I think we should all take a moment to admire the thatch (nay, curtains!) that James/Hunter/Gemma used to have....