Shubham Goel came back for The Circle season 5, but this time, he was severely out of his element with his playing style. The Circle season 5, dubbed The Circle: Singles, remained largely unchanged in format despite the new subheading. Players connected and competed solely through screens, meaning deception is never far away.
The Circle season 5 also saw another twist, the return of season 1’s Shubham, or "Shooby," as he’s been known by viewers and players alike. Shubham has been a fan favorite since his appearance on the show’s debut. He was an interesting player because of how genuine he came off, and how he wasn’t very involved in social media at all. Shubham’s return, along with other season twists, were first revealed in The Circle season 5 trailer.
Shubham Had No Agency In The Circle Season 5
Unfortunately for Shubham, he was forced into anonymity this time around on The Circle season 5. Shubham didn’t even have a choice in whom he could play, nor did he even know that would be the case until his first day on the scene. For some players, that would be just fine, but for a guy like Shubham, it’s a major problem because of how genuine he really is. Subterfuge is simply not his forte. This was evident when Shubham was given the power to eliminate one of his team’s followers. The decision clearly bothered him from the inside out. When Shubham was put on blast for his decision, he really couldn’t handle the heat.
Shubham Got Blocked For Overcompensating On The Circle
Since The Circle season 1, Shubham was loved for his genuine nature, but after having to eliminate someone, it was clear he’d have to go big, and he may have overcompensated. When each player got the chance to ask an anonymous question, Chaz Lawery accused Sasha, Shubham’s persona, of being a catfish. Shubham fired back a little too hard, going so far on the defensive that Chaz seemed quite offended. Shortly thereafter, Shubham tried to create an alliance with every newcomer on The Circle season 5, plotting to take down those who arrived initially. Unfortunately, this plan came off as far too aggressive as well, and turned almost everyone against him.
All of these actions led to Shubham’s elimination. On his way out, he paid a visit to fellow The Circle season 5 competitors, Brett Robinson and Xanthi Perdikomatis. Brett reiterated Shubham's problem from the start; he is just too good of a guy to compete in a game like The Circle, especially as a catfish. But despite this unfortunate turn of events for "Shooby," he remains a fan favorite, and it was sad to see him go.