The Circle - who’s watching?

[Standrewsschool]

The first three are wannabes.

Hunter - trying to revive his career.

Oh come on, that was such an unnecessary place to leave it!

I've gone right off Syed tonight.

Tense episode tonight. Uncle Syed was being very protective over Manrika while talking to Felix. It was a very difficult conversation for Natalia.

Difficult blocking choice too for them both. Really don't know while they will have chosen.

I have a horrible feeling that one of the newbies will win due to tactical voting at the end. And that wouldn't be fair.

Surely it's got to be Dozza going?

Hashu/Syed won't get rid of Andy. Manrika probably doesn't give a shit about Felix and highly suspects a catfish but needs to keep them in to keep her own status intact.

So poor Dorothy/ Scott is the only other choice.

Andy is so toast.

I think it will be Dot but Syed is so blinded by Manrika I do wonder if she could sway him to block Andy.

I can't remember, how many make it to the final, is it 4?

I know it had to happen eventually, but it really sucks that they had to decide to get rid of one of the three they are closest to, while the newbie sits and gloats !

@pastabest

Surely it's got to be Dozza going?

Hashu/Syed won't get rid of Andy. Manrika probably doesn't give a shit about Felix and highly suspects a catfish but needs to keep them in to keep her own status intact.

So poor Dorothy/ Scott is the only other choice.

Thinking about it, you're probably right. They each let the other have one choice (Manrika would choose Felix, Syed opt for Andy) which leaves poor Nanna Dot as the scapegoat.

Surely it’s got to be Dozza, unfortunately.

I can’t believe Andy was so bloody gullible to fall for Manrika’s arse-liking and then rated her so highly. And I don’t understand why Tom didn’t put her last either, given they know her form.

I also agree that this late on the newbies shouldn’t be exempt. Seems very unfair.

Joey & Pippa are playing it as a game and although they can see that Manrika is clearly playing a game I think there is part of them which admires that, I certainly don’t think they’re offended by it, which is probably why they didn’t feel they had to vote her low. Thinking tactically it’s probably more sensible to rate to keep in a player whose game plan you’ve sussed out than to rate to keep in a player who’s keeping their tactics close to them; This close to the final everybody is likely to start putting their game into play more effectively so probably better the devil you know!

If it's Andy that goes, he signed it himself by putting Syed and Manrika up top when he has to know they both ranked him low the last two votes.
Grrrrrrrrr Dot, you should have blocked Manrika while you had the chance.

Totally agree that the newbies shouldn’t be immune. One of them is likely to win due to tactical voting and that would be the absolute shittest ending to the Circle possible!

I suspect it’s Dot who’s gone, which is a shame as Scott is brilliant

I think Dot.
Syed fancies Manrika.

Does Dot/Scott remind anyone else of a younger Micheal Ball?

Syed is definitely wrapped around Manrika's finger, I fully believe she will have talked him into blocking Andy. Can't believe they ended it there!

Thing is here is if they are tactical they should keep Andy. Both Dot and Felix have made it very clear that their top choice isn't either Manrika or Syed. Andy is more likely to vote for one of them.

Dot will always put Felix first and Felix always Dot.

If they want to win then breaking the alliance is much more strategically sound.

Is Syed thinks Andy is his closest ally and Manrika thinks Felix is hers its an easy choice. But im not convinced they will think it through like that.

Andy however is their biggest threat - but they can block with their own votes in the final...

I don’t think Manrika will have convinced Syed to get rid of Andy anymore than I think he will have convinced her to get rid of Felix. I think that they will get rid of Dot by process of elimination even though they do both value her presence because neither will budge on saving their #1.

Thing is Syed is so easily swayed. In fact throughout the series he's been good at homing in on several inconsistencies, but then proceeded to talk himself out of them, or he spoke to whomever was involved and believed their stories, thus talking himself out of his doubts.

So I wouldn't be surprised if he rolls over and agrees to Andy.

I agree that newbies should've either sat these ratings out or be included in the elimination, this just feels unfair.

Syed is really funny in casual chats and games but he is quite frustrating as a player and his obsession with Manrika is a bit pathetic at this point. I previously wanted Andy gone if only to shake up the power structure, but the way Manrika's poisoned the well for him made me cheer for him even if he is annoyingly gullible. I'd be happy with anyone of Dot, Felix or Andy winning. Sadly it looks like it's going to be Manrika.

I guess the producers probably thought that at least one of the players playing Tom would be an established player, in which case we may have cared about him more and it may have been more enjoyable to see Tom in the final. It’s a shame Vithun was blocked over Femi/ Pippa as I think if he’d lasted another blocking and then ended up in the pair that would have been really interesting to see his interactions and strategy. Equally if Dot and/ or Felix had ended up blocking the other adding one to the pair we’d probably feel more invested in Tom, it was just a bit of an anti-climax that he’s ended up being made up of two players we haven’t really had time to get to know. Had he been made up of 2 more established player having the others meet him in the final (assuming Alice is blocked over him) would have been really interesting and maybe we’d even have been rooting for him to win, but it’s a shame the way it’s fallen is the 2 players are both ones we don’t care much for.

It’s interesting that Dot and Felix are actually more at risk of not making the final now than they would have been if they’d blocked each other; if either of them had been blocked they could have gone back in as Tom and then been immune from this blocking meaning they’d only have had to be more popular than Alice to get to the final. As it is now there’s a high chance one of them (my guess is on Dot) now won’t make the final.

Ha yes, i can see that. Scott is quite funny and I think had he been in from the start he could have shone.

He also reminds me of a lovely young chap I've met professionally who has just transitioned and is very self conscious about being perceived as male instead of female. I would love to be able to contact him and say "Scott is so you!" but I can't as it wouldn't be professional. Hopefully I'll see him again soon and I'll have to wangle in Circle talk and just hope he knows who Scott is!

I definitely think Dot will go because Hashu and Manrika are set in their ways regarding their loyalties to Felix and Andy.

Interesting to see that Natalya is so into Dot though. Manrika only seems to feature when in conversation or games, otherwise she is Team Dot.

@GreenHairThingy

Ha yes, i can see that. Scott is quite funny and I think had he been in from the start he could have shone.

He also reminds me of a lovely young chap I've met professionally who has just transitioned and is very self conscious about being perceived as male instead of female. I would love to be able to contact him and say "Scott is so you!" but I can't as it wouldn't be professional. Hopefully I'll see him again soon and I'll have to wangle in Circle talk and just hope he knows who Scott is!

Quote fail! The beginning of the above post was in response to @Pennyroyal asking if Scott reminds anyone else of Michael Ball!

That new guy is a bit of a dick isn't he! REALLY unlikable.

Hoping Dot and Andy stay but i think it's going to be bye bye Dot :(

Just realised that "felix" doesn't even like manrika even as a friend Nataliya is ruthless! Can't wait to see the shit hit the fan on that one.
Yes "syed" is a bit obsessed with manrika but I think he is so genuine with what he was saying about felix.
Manrika is playing a game but I think you have to be a certain kind of person to be as manipulative and snakey as that. Others are playing a game but not coming across like that.
Do actually want syed or Andy to win.
"Alice" is awful and if my kid was in his class they'd be moving schools.