Netflix is making strides once again, this time with The Circle season 5 and its moves to raise awareness for those hard of hearing. For the most part, The Circle is the same as it’s always been; contestants compete behind screens, and through their social media savviness, they may win big. Season 5 has changed up the format slightly with its singles twist, and the dating emphasis has been a big win for one contestant in particular.
Competitor Raven Sutton has been making winning plays throughout the first batch of season 5 episodes. The contestant is third-generation Deaf in her family, and ASL is her first language. Raven’s been competing on the show with her interpreter Paris McTizic and has developed a blossoming romance with fellow season 5 competitor Marvin Achi.
Raven Stutton And Paris McTizic Are Educating The Circle Fans
On top of Raven’s phenomenal performance, her appearance on the show has done a lot of good among viewers. Reddit user u/HellhoundsAteMyBaby explained that Raven’s interactions with Paris spurred a lot of curiosity about what it’s like to be deaf. As the Redditor put it, “watching Paris and Raven actually did have me looking up some questions…So I think some good actually does come out of this show for viewers to educate themselves.” And commenters were quick to agree, expressing their joy at The Circle’s accessibility and others taking the education even further with their own experiences of deafness.
The Circle Season 5’s Strides And Netflix’s Diversity Wins
This isn’t the first time the series has made progressive strides. For example, The Circle season 4 made LGBTQ+ history with its winner, Frank Grimsley. One of the greatest aspects of the show is its accessibility. The competition’s format allows for nearly anyone to be able to play and win big. The show has always allowed for highly diverse casts, which often sets it apart from other reality TV shows, making it seem more real in that sense. Viewers can see someone that they relate to on The Circle with a wider pool of contestants, as opposed to some shows which strictly feature nondiverse, attractive contestants.
There’s a lot to be excited about with the newest entry in this reality saga. It’s invigorating that The Circle season 5 has new twists, but more importantly, it’s amazing that the show is going out of its way to gather a diverse cast of contestants—contestants who inspire those who tune in. Contestants like Raven illustrate that the greatest limitations in life come from one’s own self. From the fans' reactions, it's evident Raven's appearance is making a difference. Perhaps reality TV can serve a higher purpose than just entertainment and, like The Circle, can help viewers feel included.
Source: u/HellhoundsAteMyBaby/Reddit