There are few shows that have staying power on Netflix like gimmicky reality shows. However, none have captured its moment quite like The Circle.

Endearing itself to people during the height of Covid-19, it has remained a top show for the streaming service ever since. But what makes it so compelling?

A Sign of the Times

     Netflix

Although US audiences may have fallen in love with the US version, it was initially a UK-based show. In fact, regardless of any city establishing shots, the entire show (yes, the US version) is filmed in the UK.

When the US version came out on Netflix in 2020, we were right in the middle of the pandemic. People were at the height of binge-streaming and were still fixated on baking shows, Tiger King, and their own quarantine lives. The Circle was the perfect show to implement during this time. The premise is deceptively simple. Take 14 contestants, place them in isolated apartments, and film them 24/7. They have access to “The Circle,” a closed-loop social media platform where they can chat, post photos, and receive alerts telling them to complete certain tasks. Supplies are dropped off at the door by unseen personnel. They can also catfish other players by pretending to be someone else. The goal is to be the last one standing by making it through a voting process.

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Much like in the world of quarantine, everyone was judged and ranked based on their social media profiles and how they behaved in chats. The fact that the show was released when it was may have been the biggest factor.

They’re Just Like Us

The contestants were also not of the vindictive sort often found on these types of shows. As the crowd was whittled down, it was obvious that the people being voted to stay were the ones that were genuinely nice, rooted for each other, and made actually connections. Even those who were catfishing seemed to be doing it not just out of some kind of misguided sense of self, but to try something new as a different person to see just how far they could go.

These were likable individuals from a variety of backgrounds who, in some cases, were reminiscent of The Breakfast Club mentality. The jocks were friends with the nerds, the cute girls palled around with the normally unpopular people, and everyone seemed quite happy in their little bubble.

The Circle showed us that genuine connections could still be made even when we couldn’t be in the same room as each other. It proved that human connection comes in many different forms but that, in the end, true popularity comes from being yourself even when there is money on the line. In the first season, the show was very much a clean and well-run version of what people needed from their streaming services. Netflix obviously saw a hit, and they ran with it.

Hosting Is Key

One of the mainstays throughout the series has been the host Michelle Buteau. She is an accomplished stand-up comedian and actress, having appeared in the Netflix romantic comedy Always Be My Maybe. Michelle appears on camera a few times during the series and in the finale. However, Buteau’s contribution to the show is her opinion as the voice of the audience. Throughout each episode, she narrates the action, tells us what is going on, and then throws comments in about the contestants and their behavior. She is the epitome of sass and often says things that the rest of us are definitely thinking.

If you have the chance to watch Buteau’s standup special Buteaupia, you will no doubt recognize her sense of humor on The Circle. This does not feel like a show that has given her a script, but rather genuine comments based on what she sees. It is a nice change from the stilted hosting found on other shows. Also, the fact that she has no interaction with contestants adds another layer to the Covid-ness (Covidity?) of the game.

Life After Covid

One of the most interesting parts about The Circle is its staying power. For a show that initially succeeded due to its impeccable timing, it has been at the top of the Netflix algorithm for five seasons.

Much like its Survivor forebears, it has morphed a bit. Although players are still quarantined in their apartments, there are new rules and a new style of play. Some will say that the series has lost its original simplicity, but the entire series hinges on one thing: cast likability. Each season has its share of wannabe influencers out to gain followers, but they are often found out and thrown out early on in the competition. Those that do stay are often a razor’s edge from being found out. But isn’t that the fun of it all?

The only issue the show may have is its insistence on over-promoting catfishing. It’s fun to watch but in the end, we may fall prey to producers who want a season completely full of catfishes bluffing each other until the biggest liar wins. However, season five sees the return of season one favorite and all-around good guy, Shubham Goel. In a world of shows where the wrong people get brought back, this might be the best move made by producers. Shubham nearly won his season and to bring him back into a more strategic world could be an (ahem) game changer.

Regardless of changes, the show endures. Views have remained consistently high and its main reality competition on the streamer has primarily been dating shows. The most recent is Love is Blind. But the show endures because it reminds us not only of where we were but how we dealt with it. It’s a strange version of nostalgia mixed with what Americans love: Money in exchange for popularity.