The second season of Netflix's reality competition series The Circle is much more drama and conflict-ridden than season one. While the players in the first season surprised viewers by getting along, sharing intimate details of their personal lives, and forming the unlikeliest bonds, the cast of season two is more focused on winning at any cost.
This means there's plenty of conflicts, passive-aggressive messages, gossip, and talking behind one another's backs. The fan-favorite characters of season two are, for the most part, those who try to stay out of the drama and spotlight, quietly being their effervescent selves while trying to win $100,000.
Lisa (Lance Bass)
Fans wanted to see a celebrity in season two and they got a celebrity…sort of. It was a slight miss having Lisa, personal assistant to Lance Bass, come on the show pretending to be Bass himself. With most of the players being in their 20s, many grew up long after the height of N'SYNC's fame. Thus, while they probably know Justin Timberlake, they don't know much about the boy band that he used to be in.
So, while Lisa arrived armed with enough knowledge about Bass to be able to convince others she was the real deal, only a handful of players would even be able to call her out on inaccuracies anyway. Considering the show's viewership skews much younger than Bass' primary 40+ fanbase, it means Lisa isn't among the most popular in the cast. That said, as a new addition to an already established group of eight, she also hasn't had time to shine either.
Terilisha
First impressions are usually pretty important, but on a show like The Circle, they can be totally misleading. Such was the case with Terilisha, who started off as a favorite playing, not only among other players in the game but also with fans. But her penchant for conflict and attempts to throw Savannah under the bus began to show true colors that didn't sit well with fans.
Both women were at fault for continuing a public rift. But fans don't like that Terilisha played too hard, too fast. She became so laser-focused on gameplay that her attempts to form bonds with others, like Courtney, were totally transparent and disingenuous.
Jack (Emily)
Jack's a tough one to peg. Viewers both love his confidence and insistence that he can fool anyone but are also annoyed by his arrogance. Unbeknownst to Jack, some of the women in the cast already suspect that he might not actually be who he purports to be.
Jack is one of the best strategic players, always trying to be a fly on the wall while also staying one step removed from any drama or conflict. With that said, others notice his inability to take sides and have called him out (albeit privately) for his lack of backbone in the game.
Bryant
Sadly, Bryant wasn't popular among the cast, though considering he has the second-highest Instagram following, he came into the game already popular among fans. Ironically, it was his likeability that put a target on his back right out of the gate.
Players wanted him gone before his too-nice nature made him a shoo-in for influencer. He would easily have formed tight friendships with everyone had he been given the chance to stay.
Lee (River)
Playing as a young, gay man who just went through a bad breakup, Lee was an instant fan favorite. As the first player to be much older than the others – a necessary inclusion to spice up the show - Lee tried his best to learn Internet lingo from his 20-year-old niece before coming on the show so he could pass himself off as a 24-year-old.
Lee wears his heart on his sleeve, crying any time someone is blocked, whether aligned with them or not. His skill as a talented writer also comes in handy to compose messages that make him instantly relatable and likable to others, including fans.
Deleesa (Trevor)
Deleesa, who is playing as her husband and pretending to be a single father, has taken on the persona of a guy pretty well. She had to bite her tongue so as not to get in the middle of a girl fight. Every message she sends is calculated as she stops to make sure that she is saying what Trevor would say and not what Deleesa would say.
Deleesa seems down-to-earth and focused on her family and winning the money for them. All of this makes her not only a top contender but also a fan favorite, both as herself and the guy she's pretending to be.
Savannah
Savannah was already pretty Instagram-famous before she came on the show with close to a quarter-million followers. So, she came in with a level of popularity already. However, despite initially being a favorite, her rift with Terilisha completely ruined her game and she fell to the bottom of the pack.
That said, despite the fact that Savannah was the second person out, she still remains a fan favorite.
Courtney
Courtney's outgoing and energetic personality makes him instantly likable. It's no surprise given that he's a podcast and entertainment show host in real life.
But his game started out flawed, as Savannah pointed out to him during her exit meet – that shocking meeting where each player gets to pick one person to meet in person before leaving the game for good. Nonetheless, his dialogue, infectious smile, and hilarious commentary, all likely stemming from his experience on television, make him totally entertaining to watch.
Chloe
Love her or hate her, Chloe brings a lot of fun and laughs to The Circle thanks to her bubbly personality. While she does like to instigate drama and is a serial flirt, there's something endearing about her. It's no surprise she was named an Influencer pretty early on.
Aside from the fact that she has already proven herself to be entertaining via her time on another reality show, Too Hot to Handle, Chloe is playing a good game and doing her best to form bonds with everyone on different levels. And because of her fame from the other show, she came into The Circle as the most popular player already.