- "The Circle" is a reality show created in the United Kingdom. Netflix has adapted the concept with American, Brazilian and, soon, French versions.
- In this program, candidates live alone, in separate apartments, and can only communicate by interposed screens.
- Surprisingly the result is much more entertaining than you might think on paper. There is even something comforting during confinement.
"World of virtuality, we are reduced to exist, to speak to each other, to interact only through screens," wrote Leïla Slimani in the first column of her confinement journal published on Le Monde on Wednesday. If the text was dezinced by a crowd of internet users deeming it indecent, this sentence of the author of Sweet Song is no less relevant. French women are told to stay at home and limit face-to-face social interaction to the bare minimum. The population therefore logically refers to the phone, instant messaging and other Skype to communicate with the outside world.
A situation prophesied - we are not near a hyperbole - by The Circle , a British reality TV show launched in 2018 on Channel 4 and now available on Netflix. The platform put the episodes of the American version online in January and, pending the French version next month, it is gradually making those of the first Brazilian season available.
The concept ? Applicants find themselves in the same building but live alone in separate apartments without ever meeting each other. Their only means of communication is a kind of social network - screens are installed in all rooms to be able to connect permanently - called The Circle.
"Influencers" and "blocked"
Each participant has the choice to present themselves under their real identity or to invent a false profile. Their days are punctuated by challenges launched by the production or by discussions via chat, in more or less small groups. They are regularly asked to assess each other. The two most popular candidates are elected "influencers" and have the power to choose the one who will be eliminated from the adventure. The inhabitant who has been "blocked" must make his bags but, before slamming the door can, this time visit visually to the competitor of his choice. In the final, the most popular participant, chosen by his peers, wins a tidy sum of money.
Summarized in this way, the concept seems to be absolutely cold and should make you want to comment on the article by saying that "that's it, George Orwell was right, it's 1984 for real". This is understandable, but when you take a look at the episodes in question, the game turns out to be particularly fun and surprisingly captivating. In this period of confinement, it is impossible not to identify even more with the different protagonists, cloistered in apartments decorated with a more or less rowdy sense of aesthetics.
While the confinement reality shows had accustomed us to Lofters or inhabitants of Maison des secrets sealed by boredom after a week, The Circle offers a much more comforting vision. The twenty and thirty-year-old confined volunteers seem to show no difficulty in facing life alone. We see them reading, writing, drawing, playing mikados solo but also playing sports or cooking ... And when an alert message appears on their screen to tell them important information or the start of a game, some come to deplore not having a moment of respite. And that, for a Frenchman or a Frenchwoman who cannot leave her apartment and does not have to worry about anything else, it is awfully inspiring.
Emojis and hashtags
We almost go so far as to write (we even go there, since we write it) that with each episode, we have the impression of finding friends. The candidates are endearing and never "above ground", unlike some "Angels" from NRJ 12 or other "Ch'tis" and "Marseillais" from W9. If most of them correspond to stereotypes of reality TV - the handsome muscular kid, the big mouth a little beauf, the good girlfriend, the gay with the well hung tongue ... -, they do not remain trapped under these labels very long. They quickly reveal the different nuances of their personality. Besides, it's a safe bet that the participant of The American Circle that you think you will hate in the first episode will become your favorite. And then, some not appearing under their real identity - it is possible to embody a person of the gender, color and sexual orientation of their choice - the statement on misleading appearances takes yet another dimension.
This entertainment certainly represents a limited sociological experience but it makes it possible to observe, even to recognize oneself, in certain behaviors. Which photo to put on his profile? For what desired effect? How to be appreciated by the greatest number? What phrase should you use to achieve your goal in a chat? How not to be exposed when one impersonates a third party? We also note particularities depending on the country: the Americans flood their emoji messages when the Brazilians use hashtags with zeal. And common features: geographic origins are for many a sign of rallying and a driving force in forming an alliance.
At the end of the season, the four inhabitants still in the running end up meeting in the flesh around a table. Then the entire cast is found during a broadcast on the set for the announcement of the result. This return to "reality" offers us, the confined, a comforting perspective: the situation will not last forever and we will all end up meeting and celebrating together. Yes, even with those we have blocked and we will be happy.
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- Reality show
- Containment
- Television
- Netflix