The Circle - who’s watching?

[Standrewsschool]

The first three are wannabes.

Hunter - trying to revive his career.

I watched the second half of James’ Instagram video too, he said that the producers choose who you are allowed to talk to and that there are some players who they didn’t let him talk to for ages and other players who they pushed him to chat to. He also said the chats we see on screen are heavily edited.

From what he said the show is a lot more engineered than it is made to look and it definitely sounded like there is a lot of bad feeling there. I’m presuming he’s going against his contract to have disclosed so much about the show’s inner workings as on Manrika’s Instagram she stated things aren’t as they seem but she can’t go into detail as she’s contracted not to. James described way the show is produced as manipulative and then said he isn’t watching it because it’s coming across as a false narrative, he said it’s like a ‘sliding doors version of what might have happened in the circle if you cut out 15 hours of each day.’

Really interesting. I’m still enjoying the show but definitely going to reserve some of my judgement about the players now.

That’s very interesting from SomethingPunny

A nice insight that was.

It's not great that it's being engineered but at the same time, they never said it was a warts-and-all documentary. It's a popularity contest, this year it's set with twists and turns and all the dramaz. Personally I want to keep watching so I will accept what I see as it is presented and enjoy the ride (whilst also being aware that stuff will not always be as it seems).

I think that James is showing himself for what he is, going against contract and whinging about the show. He clearly thought he'd go in and be the big "I am", not expecting that the majority either didn't know him or were only very slightly impressed (at most) by his big reveal. Had he not said "I'm an ex Gladiator" nobody would have known who he was.

So it could be a case of sour grapes with him.

I'm pleased Vithun went. He's so boring, he added very little (if anything) to the show and I found him a bit sneery at times.

I definitely fall more in love with Hashu every time I watch, I adore him.

I think Natalya gives very little to the dynamic, she is a prop for the Manrika show.

Andy's reaction to his rating surprised me, i thought he'd be relieved not to be influenced the way he reacted when he was influencer (oh no, this is awful etc etc) So his act has been unveiled!

Pippa and Femi - still meh (although I think that's the editing side of things).

Dot/Scott - I do actually like him, he's growing on me. He'll be unlikely to win but he's very funny.

Predictions for the final: Manrika, Syed and.... Dot!

I think Andy is now at risk of being blocked as the rest start playing tactically.

From James point of view though he came out of the conflict with Gemma poorly and obviously hadn't prepared for it as he wanted to see Dot but was forced to see Manrika when he thought it was his decision. It was after 3 and he was tired and emotional. The interview showed up his weaknesses and undid a lot of the work he'd been doing to try and make himself telly friendly. If the producers had let him visit Dot and it had ended positively he maybe would have kept schtum. I don't think revealing how it is made is that awful. They are trying to recruit and people should know what they are entering

I did wonder about James going to see Manrika, his first reaction was to go and see Dot. Then he did a clearly directed run through of who he might go and see.

But also that level of manipulation, if Billy and Vithun were not allowed to have chats with others, they were never in the running to win. And so were not contestants but props (am totally thinking back to Dean from big brother 2's book, saying they should have been paid as actors, as they were there as producer tools and didn't have a chance at winning due to edit/manipulation).

I always think the truth is probably in the middle somewhere, on these things.

It’s interesting that he’s posted more after the posts about being told to play a nurse were deleted...

But Alex (who won the first series) changed his tune a bit about it once it was over. I think watching it back must be odd, and make you feel that you need to defend decisions... but I remember Alex saying that chats were limited, as a producer has to type them up.

I also think the producers have gone WAY overboard in trying to make up for the lack of it being “live” by introducing all the twists and weirdness. It means it all feels too manufactured, rather than it feeling like it was happening now. It was only the Live show on a Friday that was actually Live and I didn’t love that, but it stopped the producers from knowing what would happen too far ahead, so you got a much more balanced show.

Whilst agree with its not a documentary, it is nice to see relationships unfold naturally.

Also the timing of James revelations is interesting -- perhaps he realised just how badly he came across in the meeting with man risk (petulant, bullying and completely lacking is self awareness) and is trying the "I was badly edited card"

He seemed more in control in the reaction room and I think is trying to repair the damage for future tv work

@lokijet

Also the timing of James revelations is interesting -- perhaps he realised just how badly he came across in the meeting with man risk (petulant, bullying and completely lacking is self awareness) and is trying the "I was badly edited card"

He seemed more in control in the reaction room and I think is trying to repair the damage for future tv work

Yes I agree with that

He is now aware of how awful he looked. And now trying damage limitation.

Just caught up with last night's show. Just why is Manrika always so high up the list?

I think she has a good chance of winning but so hope she doesn't. She is the last person I want to win

@lynsey91 because she's playing the game so we'll. Don't think she cares if felix is real or not, he's her "boyfriend" so she knows he will rate her high. Calls Andy her "brother" for same reason, Syed is her "uncle", Dot is her "nana", Pippa is her "bestie".

Manrika is popular for the reason Vithun was unpopular - she makes a continuous effort to build and maintain Circle relationships, he didn't.

I'm surprised Manrika didn't try to take out a stronger competitor. I would expect Vithun to visit Andy.....if the producers will allow it!

But maybe the producers control who can start chats and didn't give Vithun the chance to start circle chats. I always presumed everyone got the same number of chats they could start every day but maybe it's more unfair than that.

Yeah cos Syed and Dot have both said they've not spoken to Vithun much and I was like well start a conversation with him! But obvs the producers are controlling who can chat with whom.

I think Manrika missed a trick not getting rid of Andy. Might have been the best chance she had.

I think Manrika realised it would likely be damaging to get rid of Andy because nobody else would then trust her and she would be putting herself at risk. In past series’ we have had anonymous/ secret influencers which then gives that player the opportunity to get rid of a rival without damaging their own reputation so hopefully that might happen over the next couple of episodes.

Vithun, what's with the shiny work shoes with the bear suit?

Ooer.

That was actually quite a sweet exchange

‘If only you didn’t give the power to block him somehow’ that made me absolutely lol n

Manrika “we did it for the group”
Pah ha bollocks.
Try to justify that in your own mind love.

Wow Manrika is a nightmare there. No ability to just stop
And think. She is a fast fighter ! She’s more
Clever than that underneath. Needs to mature !!

@BillyIsMyBunny

I watched the second half of James’ Instagram video too, he said that the producers choose who you are allowed to talk to and that there are some players who they didn’t let him talk to for ages and other players who they pushed him to chat to. He also said the chats we see on screen are heavily edited.

From what he said the show is a lot more engineered than it is made to look and it definitely sounded like there is a lot of bad feeling there. I’m presuming he’s going against his contract to have disclosed so much about the show’s inner workings as on Manrika’s Instagram she stated things aren’t as they seem but she can’t go into detail as she’s contracted not to. James described way the show is produced as manipulative and then said he isn’t watching it because it’s coming across as a false narrative, he said it’s like a ‘sliding doors version of what might have happened in the circle if you cut out 15 hours of each day.’

Really interesting. I’m still enjoying the show but definitely going to reserve some of my judgement about the players now.

TBF this has been said said from the start of the show. James isn't saying something that hasn't been said in previous years by contests.

On the basis of the show being heavily engineered, you would expect there to be a Andy v Manrika storyline for as long as possible.

The storylines are currently Manrika and Felix's relationship. If that starts to cool cos Natalya starts to find some of her much talked about integrity, she goes. If they can have a big Andy v Manrika show down soon enough, they will have it. One will go well before the final. The other will probably get done in the backlash.

At the moment Syed seems to be staying out of the drama whilst remaining popular. That has to make him a good call for the final. Also Dot. My gut is that Felix possibly has a chance for the final too.

I can't see the others making the final as it stands. It depends on how they build relationships. Pippa is a suck up and non descript. She will be used by Manrika then dropped like a brick and Femi is in Syed's and Dot's sights already. We shall see...