The Circle - who’s watching?

[Standrewsschool]

The first three are wannabes.

Hunter - trying to revive his career.

I bet Manrika's cohort from school are not at all surprised by what they are seeing. #meangirl

I'd love Felix to be an anonymous influencer and to block Manrika. Of course she can't get blocked as then there would be no show, as we don't know anything real about the rest of the contestants, other than Andy had his bowel removed and has two kids.
Like we know nothing beyond the intros of anyone else.

Series 1 I don't recall anyone as unpleasant and manipulative as Manrika. The most entertaining and charming player won even though he was a catfish. Series 2 there was a bloke playing a woman who got to the final few who was unpleasant and it was sad that Tim and Woody who were the most charming and pleasant characters got evicted. This series they seem to be building it around Manrika who just isn't that nice and they are showing her nastiness in a way that will harm her. She could do with the producers talking her down when she says Andy doing whatever nothing much thing he did to upset her is the worst affront ever so she doesn't come across as so thin skinned and vengeful. I'm glad Natalya is in the army so will be used to taking crap and letting it wash over her because if one small bit of game playing from Vithun upset her Natalya's games will drive her nuts. Vithun should have kept quiet.

Can someone explain how the producers have engineered this? As I don’t understand some of the above comments...

Haven't read the latest posts as want to add my thoughts without being influenced to see if they're similar to others on here #takingthistooseriousnow

The bingo game was unnecessary and I preferred the lighter vibe to last year's show, rather than this year where the producers are determined to make things kick off.

Andy - he's gone unless the next influencer (alongside Manrika, because she's a given) is Syed... and even then I think Syed is too lovestruck to go against her)

Manrika - is a VERY good game player but largely an unpleasant person to watch, I don't find her entertaining really.

Pippa - lapping up the compliments. Bit sad really that that's all it takes and that she isn't questioning for one minute whether Manrika is being genuine.

Femi - was reading way too much into Andy's messages. Can only assume there was more to that Congo that we didn't see?

Dot and Felix didn't really feature properly.

Syed - still totally in love with him. I actually really liked the moment between him and Manrika. That felt genuine on Manrika's part, nice to see her drop her guard for a minute.

Overall - is it due to end soon? I loved last year because by and large it was full of funny, interesting people and the drama was low key. This year the personalities either aren't there or aren't being allowed to shine (with the exception of Hashu) and it's, dare I say it, a bit boring. It started off with such potential too.

Manrika will win, there's no way she won't at this stage.

Fgs Congo = convo!

@Wilker
For example, Femi seemed to get irrationally wound up over Andy saying he was being strategic in the bingo game. To me, there seemed to be logic behind his reasoning. So based on what we now know from James / Hunter re producers conversing to contestants via loudspeakers. I can imagine they (producers) could have fabricated this so-called outrage to feed into the anti-Andy narrative they are creating.
See also The Manrika Show (giving her way more airtime than anyone else), and we know she set her sights on him as he was her main rival.
Plus tonight she used that bullshit excuse of him making her look bad in the chat. Which was also utter bollocks.

*** aggghhh NO LOGIC

* or if not fabricated it, stoked it to wind Femi up.

Basically to me, it just seemed to come out of no-where. Yet he was fixated.
Why?

So glad I've stopped watching, couldn't take much more of the Manrika show, but from the looks of this thread it was an infuriating show!

I really want Syed to win. I love the made up character and the little boy has so much heart! He always makes me smile and seems a lovely positive energy in there. So many have said they don’t even care if he is cat fishing because of how nice he is.

I want anyone but Manrika to win.
Ideally Andy or Syed.
But I’d happily take anyone but Manrika.

I would have loved loved loved to hear more about Natalya and what being in the military is like for her, where she's travelled etc even if she did it whilst being Felix. An inspirational young woman. Instead she's been suckered into the manrika show.

Syed for the win please.

Been following this chat from the start, I miss the updates on the news feed (like a Facebook status), and the chats on the news snippets they used to have (currently watching the us version and was reminded).
I can’t stand Manrika, I think she initially didn’t like Gemma because she was an influencer first, pretty sure this is what happened in series 1 with Alex (Kate) and another contestant.
It’s very interesting to see who follows who on Instagram (although haven’t found all their accounts yet)

Manrika is horrible. They've definitely messed with it too much this year. Feeling fed up with it. So many nothing characters.

I think next Friday is the final!

Interesting that the general consensus is there's too much going on behind the scenes.

Last year I straddled the Circle chat here and on Reddit. I've not been on the Reddit Circle sub this year but I'm going to head over and see what they're saying.

@GreenHairThingy feedback what they’re saying!

I'd love Hashu to win ❤️ I sort of want to adopt him, which is ridiculous as he's an adult and on another level Manrika for her clever game and to see some of the above posters' heads explode 🤯. But you won't know because in your righteous indignation you'll have all stopped watching by then, am I right?

I still don't get the hate. Can someone enlighten me in simple English? (Seriously).

No one deserves death threats and hateful messages - suicides related to reality tv don't just happen in a vacuum. I know everyone is pissed off with post COVID life but there must be healthier ways to release your ire.

For me, Manrika is essentially catfishing. The pictures may be her but the personality she is showing in her interactions is drastically different to the one outside of them. It makes her very disingenuous. I think people are responding badly to her because everyone knew someone like her in school. She was that girl who treated others so badly but believed she was an amazingly good person at the same time - such a false view of who she is and that grates on others. I can appreciate that she has a genuine reason for wanting to win but there has to be a limit to what you are prepared to do in order to make that happen. For me, it's hit a point where I don't even feel bad for her about Felix not being real.

Whilst Hashu is also catfishing, the interactions feel honest and coming from a positive place inside of him. Of those left, he's the one I'd want to win.

@Iamnotthe1 spot on.

I am still torn with Manrika though as she does bring out my maternal side when I see the kinder side of her (in the chat with Syed for eg). I hope that as she matures she is able to see that being a bitch and trampling on others to get what you want isn't going to win you respect in the long run. That there are other ways to be successful in life.

I just tried to link to the subreddit but I can't! I think Mumsnet must have put a ban on that from a few years ago when there was trouble with an offshoot heading over there to discuss trolling.

Anyway if you Google "Reddit Circle" it takes you to the subreddit in reading.

I've c&p Tim's comments below but omitted a spoiler from the original thread - so be warned if you do go to the sub and don't want a spoiler, don't read the original Tim thread. It appears he has seen the full series and knows who's in the final.

Tim from Season 2's Twitter thoughts on Season 3 so far

"Andy understands the show very well. He is determined to project friendship and honesty. I think he is a bit over-concerned about catfishing which is a different issue. There is a deeper honesty and deeper trust that sees through catfishers, believe me."

"Andy, sadly, is obsessed with catfishing. It is not the way to win. People can be lovely even when they are lying- think of James last year with whom I had a great relationship and still do. Or the divine Joyce, hopeless catfish but utterly charming."

"I wish the show had taken the time to nurture friendship and to showcase that as it did in series 1 and 2. Instead, it seems obsessed with twists. Believe me, there will be enough twists from determined participants."

"many thanks. Lol: I am watching from the sidelines. Frankly, I would love to give this whole show a serious re-think. It was sold to me as a show about friendship and that is sometimes hard to find/ see in series 3."

"I think Manrika is doing a valiant job in the face of so many twists"

"I have absolutely no idea what a geezer girl is."

"Nothing wrong with being a catfish. That is called acting!"

"Hashu is giving a stunning performance and demonstrating again and again that catfishing is not the problem- the problem is thoughtlessness and a lack of genuine friendship. We should never risk so much to win such a small reward. I thought the circle was about friendship."

[In reply to "Vithen is the heart of the show"]"Entirely agree. So far, this show has been about the nastiness of production & how production can goad people into being thoughtless. Not surprising if it is filmed at 3am. We need more joy & more reality in shows like this, & frankly we need vithun to counterbalance the frenzy"

"I am sorry you have been blocked. I genuinely looked forward to the Vithun or Natalya moments when there was some serenity in the show. Entertainment cannot just be twists and gimmicks and gurning at the word "alert". We need some heart as well. You did well, Vithun."

@bonfireheart

So glad I've stopped watching, couldn't take much more of the Manrika show, but from the looks of this thread it was an infuriating show!

Ive been generally enjoying it until last night.

Last night it totally jumped the shark for me and tipped into being all out obviously manipulated.

Its was predictable and boring and basically the whole episode wreaked of 'and now its time to screw over Andy in a contrived fashion'.

It was frustrating watching.

DH came home just after 11pm and asked if it was still on. He last 15mins on catch up before turning it off in annoyance.

Fascinating GreenHairThingy, thanks for that.

I'd be too scared to go over there, really don't want to be spoilered and knowing me I'd accidentally stumble on one.

I think Tim has kind of nailed it there for me.

There has to be a balance of nice to this all out vicious win at any costs mentality.

Ultimately a lot of viewers want to believe that you don't have to shit all over people to win in life. That might in itself be a fairytale but thats what many want to see well represented in the balance of a manufactured plot. Especially this year when mentally many are looking for positivity more, perhaps more than usual. We want to be emotionally invested in 'the nice guy' or 'the simple guy' (or gal).

The way its produced definitely does allow it to be balanced up.

Big Brother started to lose popularity after it started to get nasty. They thought the nastiness was what viewers wanted after record viewing figures. But actually i think it just lead to the opposite and it narrowed its appeal.

The circle isn't anywhere near as popular to begin with and i struggle to see its self life being very long if it continues as this series has. And thats sad because the format is good and if you let the personalities rather than 'the game' dominate i think its a lot more watchable. The 'cringe factor' isn't pleasant viewing. Its uncomfortable and you only want so much of it.

I think I have to stop watching as I dislike Manrika so much and now think it's almost certain she will win.

Of course she doesn't deserve death threats etc and no matter how much I dislike her I would never ever send her messages telling her that.

She may be "playing the game" extremely well but she is a nasty, mean bitch. She has a very attractive face but it just becomes ugly with all her nastiness. If she was a member of my family I would be embarrassed