The Circle
Season 3
Promotional poster
Presented byMichelle Buteau
No. of days15
No. of contestants13
WinnerJames Andre Jefferson Jr.
Runner-upMatthew Pappadia
Fan FavoriteKeisha "Kai" Ghost
Country of originUnited States
No. of episodes13
Release
Original networkNetflix
Original releaseSeptember 8 (2021-09-08) –
September 29, 2021 (2021-09-29)
Season chronology

The third season of the American reality competition streaming series The Circle began on Netflix on September 8, 2021, and concluded on September 29, 2021.[1] The season was announced in March 2020 when Netflix renewed The Circle for a second and third season. Michelle Buteau returned as host.

Like the previous seasons, players compete against each other to become the most popular, but do not actually meet their competitors. Instead, they communicate through a specially designed app and are able to portray themselves in any way they choose.[2] In August 2021 ahead of the season premiere, the series was renewed for a fourth and fifth season.[3]

On September 29, 2021, the season was won by James Andre Jefferson Jr., who had played the game as himself, and won the US$100,000 prize that came along with it. Matthew Pappadia as "Ashley" was the runner-up. Keisha "Kai" Ghost won the Fan Favorite award and US$10,000.

Format

The contestants, or "players", move into the same apartment building. However, the contestants do not meet face-to-face during the course of the competition, as they each live in their own individual apartment. They communicate solely using their profiles on a specially-designed social media app that gives them the ability to portray themselves in any way they choose. Players can thus opt to present themselves as a completely different personality to the other players, a tactic otherwise known as catfishing.[4]

Throughout the series, the contestants "rate" one another from first to last place. At the end of the ratings, their average ratings are revealed to one another from lowest to highest. Normally, the two highest-rated players become "Influencers", while the remaining players will be at risk of being "blocked" by the Influencers. However, occasionally there may be a twist to the blocking process – varying from the lowest rating players being instantly blocked, the identity of the Influencers being a secret, or multiple players being blocked at one time. Blocked players are eliminated from the game, but are given the opportunity to meet one player still in the game in-person. A video message is shown to the remaining players to reveal if they were real or fake the day after.

During the finale, the contestants rate each other one final time, where the highest rated player wins the game and US$100,000. Also, fans of The Circle are able to vote for their favorite player. The player that receives the most votes is known as the Fan Favorite and receives US$10,000.

Players

Name[5] Age Hometown Playing as Entered Exited Status
Michelle Rider 52 Pacolet, South Carolina Herself Episode 1 Episode 3 Blocked
Ava Marie Capra 25 The Bronx, New York Ava, but not revealing the presence
of her sister Chanel in the game		 A clone
of "Michelle"		 Episode 1 Episode 5 Blocked
Chanel Marie Capra 42
Calvin Kiing Crooks 30 Miami, Florida Himself Episode 1 Episode 7 Blocked
Rachel Ward 24 Los Angeles, California "Jackson", her best friend's boyfriend Episode 3 Episode 9 Blocked
Ruksana Carroll 35 Union, New Jersey Herself Episode 1 Episode 9 Blocked
Daniel Cusimano 20 Palm Harbor, Florida Himself Episode 1 Episode 11 Blocked
Jacki Jing 33 Los Angeles, California Herself Episode 9 Episode 12 Blocked
Nick Uhlenhuth 27 Louisville, Kentucky Himself, but as a drummer Episode 1 Episode 13 Fifth place
"Vince", a ghost hunter[lower-alpha 1]
Keisha "Kai" Ghost 30 Nashville, Tennessee Herself Episode 1 Episode 13 Fourth place
Sophia Layne 22 Fort Walton Beach, Florida "Isabella", her older sister Episode 3 Episode 13 Third place
Matthew Pappadia 29 Long Island, New York "Ashley", his best friend, but bisexual Episode 1 Episode 13 Runner-up
James Andre Jefferson Jr. 30 Los Angeles, California Himself, but single Episode 6 Episode 13 Winner
  1. ↑ After being blocked in episode 7, Calvin picked another player to receive an advantage. He chose to give it to Nick, who received a "burner" account named Vince which is controlled by Nick, but appears to be a different account to other players. Vince was deactivated in episode 9.

Episodes

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDay(s)Original release date [1]Prod.
code [6]		Ref.
Week 1
261"Circle, Did You Miss Me?"Day 1September 8, 2021 (2021-09-08)TC-301[7]

The first eight players (Matt, Calvin, Nick, Kai, Ruksana, Michelle, Daniel & Ava & Chanel) enter the apartment building and create their profiles.

  • Game ("Ice Breaker"): Players answer multiple choice questions regarding serious and non-serious questions. Their choices are then revealed to the others.

The players rate each other based on first impressions from first to seventh. Calvin & Kai place in the top two spots, however The Circle reveals that Kai would be the sole influencer. She ultimately decides to block Ava & Chanel from The Circle.

272"A New Twist"Days 1-2September 8, 2021 (2021-09-08)TC-302[7]

Ava & Chanel are given the opportunity to clone another player to continue playing the game, they ultimately choose Michelle and re-enter The Circle as "Blue Michelle" leaving the original Michelle as "Orange Michelle". The Players have 1 day to decide which Michelle to keep in The Circle.

  • Game ("This Is Me"): Each Michelle has to give a background story to a photo from the real Michelle's past.
283"Identity Theft"Days 2-3September 8, 2021 (2021-09-08)TC-303[7]

Orange Michelle is blocked with a unanimous vote. Before leaving, she is able to visit another player and chooses to visit Blue Michelle. Later, two new players ("Isabella" & "Jackson") enter The Circle and are able to talk to each other before meeting everyone else.

  • Game ("Flashback Photos"): The players viewed pictures from each other. While also introducing Isabella & Jackson to the other players.

Isabella & Jackson settle into The Circle, Jackson starts a private chat with Kai and flirts with her.

  • Game ("Flashback Quiz"): "Isabella" & "Jackson" answer trivia questions, with each correct response they gain invites to the "Circle Flashback Party". This leads to a limited amount of invites, with Daniel, Calvin & Ruksana not being invited to the party.
294"A Flirtatious Alliance"Days 3-4September 8, 2021 (2021-09-08)TC-304[7]

The players rated each other from first to sixth. New players "Isabella" & "Jackson" rate the others but cannot be rated.

  • Game ("Honest Reviews"): Each player chooses another player and anonymously reviews them.

After the game, the players' ratings are revealed: Kai places second while Ruksana places first. Both influencers chat at the hangout and decide who to block.

Week 2
305"The Real Michelle"Days 4-5September 15, 2021 (2021-09-15)TC-305[8]

Kai visits Michelle after deciding alongside Ruksana to block her, learning that she is not the real Michelle and is instead Ava & Chanel. Later, the players learn that Orange Michelle was the real Michelle, and that Blue Michelle was the clone, after both give their goodbye messages.

  • Game ("Head To Head"): Hosted by rapper Lil Yachty, the players write a rap diss track directed at each other.
316"A New Member of the Wolfpack"Days 5-7September 15, 2021 (2021-09-15)TC-306[8]
New player James enters The Circle. He is tasked with inviting the other players to a chat one by one: his first pick is Kai, while his last pick is Nick. Later, the players are tasked to rate each other, James can rate but cannot be rated. Isabella and Ashley become influencers.
327"Shock Blocking"Days 7-8September 15, 2021 (2021-09-15)TC-307[8]
Ashley and Isabella reveal to the other players that they have decided to block Calvin. Before leaving, Calvin visits Kai, and then picks Nick as the receiver of a secret advantage: a second profile. "Vince" joins The Circle with Nick now playing two different profiles. The players participate in "The Circle Camping Trip".
338"Full Out War"Days 8-9September 15, 2021 (2021-09-15)TC-308[8]

  • Game ("Bake For Your Bestie"): Players are tasked with baking a cake for their "Circle Bestie".

The players rate each other from first to seventh (as a new player, Vince rates the others, but cannot be rated): Nick places first, while Daniel places second. They both get to choose one player to block.

Week 3
349"Ghostbusting & Catfishing"Days 9-10September 22, 2021 (2021-09-22)TC-309[9]

The influencers' choices to block are revealed: Daniel decides to block Jackson, while Nick decides to block Ruksana. "Jackson" visits Nick, revealing herself to actually be Rachel. Nick confides with Rachel that "Vince" is his burner profile, received as a parting gift from Calvin. Meanwhile, Ruksana visits Daniel. In the morning, "Vince" is removed from the game right before the Circle reveals to all remaining players it was a burner profile handled by an existing player. New player Jacki joins the game.

  • Game ("Circle of Fortune"): A virtual roulette wheel determines the topics of four questions, which Jacki (having been given the role of game host) chooses a player to answer. During the game, James states that he suspects Isabella of being a catfish.
3510"A Circle Divided"Days 10-11September 22, 2021 (2021-09-22)TC-310[9]

James brings Jacki up to speed on what has happened in The Circle in the time he has been there. The two main alliances left in The Circle (James, Kai and Daniel on one side; Nick, Ashley and Isabella on the other) each try to bring Jacki to their side before the other alliance does, resulting in her receiving simultaneous group chat invites from the two trios and choosing James's group over Nick's. Jacki later explains the situation to Nick to clear the air with him.

After being the top two players in the latest ratings, James and Nick become influencers, having to choose one player to block.
3611"Choosing Sides"Days 11-12September 22, 2021 (2021-09-22)TC-311[9]

James and Nick decide to block Daniel. When Daniel is allowed to visit a player, he chooses Isabella (Sophia) who shares her story with him. After the circle votes for the yearbook, there was a circle prom. At the circle prom the players all told their plans for the money if they were to win.

  • Game ("Circle Yearbook"): The players vote for various yearbook categories. Class Hottie, Class Clown, Circle MVP.
3712"The Final Stretch"Days 13-14September 22, 2021 (2021-09-22)TC-312[9]
The circle members all received messages from home. Nick, Kai, and James discussed a final three agreement in a group check. Players were allowed to ask one savage question of another player anonymously. The final rating/blocking is decided by secret influencers, James and Nick. They choose to block Jacki and James delivers the information in person.
Week 4
3813"Finale"Day 15September 29, 2021 (2021-09-29)TC-313[10]
The players are treated to spa baskets as they chat in their circle chat and get ready for the final ranking. Players now must decide whether to vote strategically or with their hearts. After voting, they are invited to their final circle chat - in person. Nick is stunned when he meets Isabella (Sophia). The entire group admits they were fooled by Ashley (Matthew). Everyone goes to the penthouse to reunite with the previously blocked cast members and the winner is crowned.

Results and elimination

  This player was blocked

  This player was an influencer

  This player was immune from being blocked

  This player was blocked, but returned under a different profile

  The player was at risk of being blocked following a twist

Episode 1 Episode 3 Episode 4 Episode 6 Episode 8 Episode 10 Episode 12 Episode 13
James Not in
The Circle		 Exempt 4th 1st Not
published		 Winner
(Episode 13)
Matthew
"Ashley"		 =4th Michelle
to block		 =5th 1st 3rd 4th Not
published		 Runner-up
(Episode 13)
Sophia
"Isabella"		 Not in
The Circle		 Exempt 2nd 7th 6th Not
published		 Third Place
(Episode 13)
Kai 1st Michelle
to block		 2nd 3rd 8th 3rd Not
published		 Fourth Place
(Episode 13)
Nick =4th Michelle
to block		 3rd 4th 1st 2nd Not
published		 Fifth Place
(Episode 13)
Jacki Not in
The Circle		 Exempt Not
published		 Blocked
(Episode 12)
Daniel 3rd Michelle
to block		 4th 7th 2nd 5th Blocked
(Episode 11)
Ruksana 7th Michelle
to block		 1st 6th 6th Blocked
(Episode 9)
Rachel
"Jackson"		 Not in
The Circle		 Exempt 8th 5th Blocked
(Episode 9)
Calvin 2nd Michelle
to block		 =5th 5th Blocked
(Episode 7)
Ava & Chanel
"Ava"		 "Michelle" 6th Not
eligible		 7th Blocked
(Episode 4)
Michelle 8th Not
eligible		 Blocked
(Episode 3)
Notes 1, 2 2, 3 none 4, 5 none 6 7
Influencer(s) Kai none Kai,
Ruksana		 Matthew,
Sophia		 Daniel,
Nick		 James,
Nick		 James,
Nick		 none
Blocked Ava & Chanel
"Ava"
Sole Influencer's
choice to block		 Michelle
6 of 6 votes
to block		 Ava & Chanel
"Michelle"
Influencers'
choice to block		 Calvin
Influencers'
choice to block		 Rachel
"Jackson"
Daniel's
choice to block		 Daniel
Influencers'
choice to block		 Jacki
Secret Influencers'
choice to block		 Nick
Lowest
rated player		 Kai
Fourth highest
rated player
Ruksana
Nick's
choice to block		 Sophia
"Isabella"
Third highest
rated player		 Matthew
"Ashley"
Second highest
rated player
James
Highest
rated player

Notes

  • ^Note 1 : After the ratings were revealed, the players were alerted that Kai would be the sole influencer and must block someone by herself. She ended up choosing Ava.
  • ^Note 2 : After Ava was blocked, Ava and Chanel were given a second chance to play but had to clone another player, and ended up choosing to clone Michelle.
  • ^Note 3 : Both Michelle's were at risk of being blocked. The other players were tasked with voting one to be blocked, and the Michelle with the most votes was blocked from The Circle.
  • ^Note 4 : After being blocked in Episode 7, Calvin had to choose one player to give a secret advantage to. Calvin chose Nick, giving him the power of a second profile known as "Vince", although he still kept his original profile.
  • ^Note 5 : In Episode 9, "Vince" was revealed to be the second profile of an existing player and removed from the game.
  • ^Note 6 : The players' ratings were not revealed, instead the top two players would become secret influencers. James & Nick both placed the highest.
  • ^Note 7 : The players made their final ratings.

References

  1. 1 2 Pedersen, Erik (August 19, 2021). "'The Circle' Season 3 Premiere Date Set At Netflix". Deadline Hollywood.
  2. ↑ Thorne, Will (March 24, 2020). "Netflix Orders More 'Love Is Blind,' 'The Circle,' 'Rhythm + Flow' and Marie Kondo". variety.com. Variety. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  3. ↑ White, Peter (August 9, 2021). "'The Circle', 'Indian Matchmaking' & 'The American Barbecue Showdown' Renewed At Netflix". Deadline Hollywood.
  4. ↑ Kuchera, Ben (January 10, 2020). "Netflix's The Circle is the sweetest reality show about catfishing". Polygon. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Meet The Circle's Season 3 Cast". Entertainment Weekly. August 27, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  6. ↑ "The Circle Episode Listings". The Futon Critic. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Reid, Kristen (September 8, 2021). "'The Circle' Season 3 - Week 1 Episodes 1-4 Recap". Vulture.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Reid, Kristen (September 15, 2021). "'The Circle' Recap: Rankings Are Dropping Like It's Hot". Vulture.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Reid, Kristen (September 22, 2021). "'The Circle' Recap: The Winding Road To Finale Night". Vulture.
  10. ↑ Reid, Kristen (September 29, 2021). "'The Circle' Finale Recap: Still Gay As Sin". Vulture.
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