If there are two things that have taken the world by storm the past couple of decades, they are reality television shows and social media. British series The Circle has combined the two. In The Circle, players each have their own apartments in the same building, and they do not meet face to face. Instead, they compete to see who is the most popular by way of the show's social media platform, Circle.
The show has had two seasons in the UK, and this year, Netflix brought a version to the United States! Audiences fell in love with the players and the uniquely styled series. We are already itching for a season 2! Nothing has been announced just yet, but we've got a few ideas that we'd like to see if The Circle comes back around for another season. Here are 10 new ideas we'd like to see for season 2.
A Celebrity
We enjoyed getting to know all of the players last season as they went from strangers to our faves, but how cool would it be to watch someone that we already know and love? Bringing in a celebrity to be a player on The Circle would really shake things up, and it would definitely draw in more viewers. They could play as themselves and see if people believe it's real. Or they could catfish as just another person, which would be a great reveal to everyone else when they get found out. We would be on the edges of our seats either way!
Older Players
Last season had a lot of young people in their 20s and 30s, as do most reality game shows like Big Brother or The Bachelor. However, we would like to see things mixed up a bit and to have some older players thrown into the game.
We got to see a little bit of Ed's mom Tammy last season as they played together, but it would be a fun change to have some moms and dads in the game on their own. It would be even funnier if they don't use social media in real life! How great would it be to watch them learn about chat rooms and status updates right in front of our eyes?
A Player from Season 1
While we're very happy for last season's winner Joey, there were some other amazing players that we would have also liked to see win. The adorable spunky Sammie or the underdog turned top dog Shooby both were well-loved in The Circle, and they each came pretty close to taking home the prize. They should get another chance to come back and play again! Those players who were catfish could get the chance to finally be themselves, or those who kept it real could come back in disguise. Either way, a familiar face would be nice to see in a group of newbies.
A Dynamic Duo
We didn't get to see nearly enough of Ed and Tammy last season, which is a shame because two people behind one profile is a great concept! It was hilarious to watch the mother and son team debate over what to type in their instant messages and which angle to take in the games the group played. We need another pair for season 2! Sisters, best friends, or a romantic couple, the possibilities are endless! They could even work together to be one catfish personality instead of the way it was done with Ed and Tammy where she helped him be a version of himself.
Nothing But Catfish
One of the most entertaining aspects of The Circle is the catfish. While honesty is usually the best policy in life, online can be a completely different ball game. People can fake their way to the top with other people's pictures and alternate personalities, and it was hilarious to watch these tricksters try to keep up with their own lies.
Not to mention, the reveals were suspenseful and had us biting our nails! Imagine a game where every single person playing was a catfish. How long before the players would all realize? Could a lone catfish succeed without breaking and revealing their true identity? We'd certainly be pulling up a seat for that season!
One Person Playing Twins
When entering The Circle, players have a very important decision to make: who are they going to be? They can show other players who they really are, be a different version of themselves, or portray a new person entirely. What if they could be two new people? If one person could play two different profiles, they would have double the chance to win, but we think that trying to keep each character straight might even the playing field a bit. Having them be twins would be even more confusing and funnier to watch. Are two heads really better than one? We'd sure like to find out.
People Being Themselves
Plus-sized girls all over the country cheered when Sean decided to come clean and show her true self instead of hiding behind pictures of her skinnier friend. It was an empowering moment that was met with support from the other players, and it showed Sean that she didn't have to be afraid of being who she really is. We would love to see more of that strength and confidence shine through in new players. Unique individuals embracing themselves and their differences despite what others may think is a brave act that would be a great addition to season 2. It's like Shubham said: "The biggest risk that anyone can take is to be yourself."
Two People Who Know Each Other
Have you ever seen one of those reality shows where the players meet for the first time, and - surprise! - two of them happen to know each other? Producers plan this kind of thing for the shocking reveal and the entertainment value, and we think it would be a fun addition to The Circle.
Bring in best friends to boost each other to the top. Cast enemies to tear each other down. Show us a competitive boyfriend and girlfriend who just want to beat the other! When playing a game so far from home and their loved ones, players could use a friendly face in the crowd to help them along.
More Opportunities to Meet in Person
When the dreaded block button comes around, one player gets removed from The Circle Chat, and it can be tough to see them go. However, getting blocked comes with one perk: they get the chance to meet one other player face to face. Audiences loved this reveal, especially when it came to catfishes getting caught! There needs to be a chance for people to meet before they leave the game. They can choose whether to keep it a secret, form tighter alliances, or call out catfish for who they really are. It would make for some interesting gameplay, and we would gladly eat it up.
Twists and Turns
It wouldn't be a reality show without moments that audiences and players don't see coming. This was especially true for The Circle since the gameplay took place without contestants seeing who was on the other end of players' conversations. From two blocks in one night to catfish unmaskings, there were some great unexpected occurrences this past season. We want more! What else could the show throw at the players? What kinds of tricks could the players have up their sleeves for each other? Hopefully, we will get to find out!