The Circle | |
---|---|
Season 6 | |
Presented by | Michelle Buteau |
No. of contestants | 11 |
Winner | Brandon Baker |
Runner-up | Kyle Fuller |
No. of episodes | 13 |
Release | |
Original network | Netflix |
Original release | April 17 May 8, 2024 | –
Season chronology | |
The sixth season of the American reality competition streaming series The Circle premiered on Netflix on April 17, 2024. Michelle Buteau returned as host. Players compete without ever actually meeting in person; they communicate through a simulated social media interface, portraying themselves in any way they choose.
The 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.[1]
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. Then, the day after a blocking, a video message is shown to the remaining players to reveal if they were real or fake.[1]
During the finale, the contestants rate each other one final time, where the highest rated player wins the game and US$100,000.[2]
In October 2021, it was reported that after filming of the fifth season had been completed, the block of apartments used to film most seasons of the entire The Circle franchise were being dismantled and converted back into regular housing.[3] In September 2023, it was reported that a new apartment block had been setup for filming in Atlanta, Georgia, and filming of an unannounced sixth season was underway.[4] In November 2023, Netflix officially announced that The Circle had been renewed for a sixth and seventh season, both of which had already been filmed.[5] The sixth season premiered on April 17, 2024.[6]
Michelle Buteau, who hosted the first five seasons, returned for the sixth.
This seasons introduced a new twist, an AI player. The AI used was not brand-new but created from open-source AI trained on past episodes of The Circle. The AI then created its own profile choosing Max, a 26 year old veterinarian intern. When asked to explain the decisions behind the profile, Max explained he chose to be 26 as then he can "leverage life experience and maturity while still playing youthful and having position flexibility."[7] When choosing a profile picture, Max chose one with his dog, Pippa, as "studies show photos with dogs receive 38% more likes on social media."[7] He even came up with the name Pippa. Max struggled with confrontation and when asked to help determine if Paul was the AI, quickly left the chat. The AI system itself has a built in "moral code" that stops him from expressing negative or mean thoughts. Another struggle of Max's - flirting. What Max did grasp, and even the producers were surprised by, was his use of hashtags and understanding the nuances and references behind them.[8]
The contestants were announced on April 16, 2024.[9]
Name | Age | Playing as | Entered | Exited | Status | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steffi Hill | 35 | Herself | Episode 1 | Episode 5 | Blocked | [10] |
A.I. Bot | — | A 26-year-old veterinary intern, "Max" | Episode 1 | Episode 5 | Left | |
Cassie Saylor | 29 | Herself | Episode 1 | Episode 7 | Blocked | |
Caress Alon | 37 | Her younger brother, "Paul" | Episode 1 | Episode 9 | Blocked | [11] |
Autumn Ann Nielsen | 21 | Herself | Episode 6 | Episode 11 | Blocked | |
Myles Reed | 29 | Himself | Episode 1 | Episode 13 | Blocked | [12] |
Lauren LaChant | 26 | Herself | Episode 1 | Episode 13 | Fifth place | [13] |
Jordan Staff | 24 | Himself, but younger (22), and from before his weight loss | Episode 6 | Episode 13 | Fourth place | |
Quori-Tyler Bullock | 26 | Herself | Episode 1 | Episode 13 | Third place | |
Kyle Fuller | 31 | Himself, but as a single basketball trainer | Episode 1 | Episode 13 | Runner-up | |
Brandon Baker | 34 | His friend, "Olivia" | Episode 1 | Episode 13 | Winner |
Ride or Die Partners |
---|
Jordan & Quori-Tyler |
Kyle & "Paul" |
Lauren & Autumn |
Myles & "Olivia" |
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Day(s) | Original release date | Prod. code | Ref. | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Week 1 | ||||||||||||
65 | 1 | "New City Who Dis?" | Day 1 | April 17, 2024 | TBA | TBA | ||||||
The first seven players (Kyle, Lauren, "Olivia"/Brandon, Myles, Cassie, Steffi, & "Paul"/Caress) enter the apartment building and create their profiles.
The players had to rate each other, resulting in "Olivia"/Brandon and Lauren becoming influencers. As influencers, they each had the power to pick between two players to join the game. "Olivia"/Brandon picked Quori-Tyler and Lauren picked Max. | ||||||||||||
66 | 2 | "Bro Code" | Day 1-2 | April 17, 2024 | TBA | TBA | ||||||
Quori-Tyler and "Max" enter the game and create their profiles. Alliances are formed to improve each other's ratings. It is revealed that one player is an AI.
| ||||||||||||
67 | 3 | "I'm Only Human...Or Am I?" | Day 3 | April 17, 2024 | TBA | TBA | ||||||
The hunt for the AI player is on. Rankings this episode are based on "most human" to "least human" player.
Players struggle to determine the AI player's identity after the game. It is then revealed that the player ranked "most human" will singlehandedly choose who to block. | ||||||||||||
68 | 4 | "Spot the Bot" | Day 3-4 | April 17, 2024 | TBA | TBA | ||||||
Myles has a difficult decision to make as he is ranked the "most human" player.
The AI player is still making waves as players try to discover the AI player's identity while proving their innocence. | ||||||||||||
Week 2 | ||||||||||||
69 | 5 | "Portrait Pitfalls" | Day 4-5 | April 24, 2024 | TBA | TBA | ||||||
Myles blocks Steffi face-to-face. Max is revealed as the AI player and leaves the game.
Drama is stirred up from the game. Quori-Tyler sets up strategic alliances. | ||||||||||||
70 | 6 | "That DM Slide" | Day 6 | April 24, 2024 | TBA | TBA | ||||||
Autumn and Jordan join the circle. The other players compete to be the first to talk to the new players. Another round of ratings leaves two influencers with a tough decision. | ||||||||||||
71 | 7 | "Ride or Die" | Day 6-7 | April 24, 2024 | TBA | TBA | ||||||
Cassie is blocked and has lots to share in her video.
After the game, some players strengthen existing connections while others are left to ally with their enemies. Myles accidentally starts a fire while cooking and is banned from cooking. A dance party ends the night, but not before an alert that if a players ride-or-die is eliminated, they are as well. | ||||||||||||
72 | 8 | "Who Ordered The Sacrificial Lamb?" | Day 7-8 | April 24, 2024 | TBA | TBA | ||||||
Players must rethink their strategy now that they are paired in teams.
Autumn gets ganged up on during the game. "Olivia"/Brandon reaches out to apologize. Either Kyle or "Paul"/Caress is voted the least popular player. They are both offered the choice to block themselves to save their ride-or-die or they both go home. | ||||||||||||
Week 3 | ||||||||||||
73 | 9 | "Naughty or Nice" | Day 8-9 | May 1, 2024 | TBA | TBA | ||||||
"Paul"/Caress chooses to sacrifice herself while Kyle chooses to stay. "Paul"/Caress gets to meet Kyle face-to-face before leaving. Autumn is confused about how she is still here after the game last episode.
Before ratings, it is revealed that the highest-rated player and their ride-or-die will become influencers. | ||||||||||||
74 | 10 | "A Deadly Deadlock" | Day 9-10 | May 1, 2024 | TBA | TBA | ||||||
Ratings are submitted and the next day begins.
Quori-Tyler is voted as the most popular player and becomes an influencer, Jordan, as her ride-or-die, also becomes a secret influencer. The influencer chat gets heated as Quori-Tyler and Jordan have opposite views on who to block. | ||||||||||||
75 | 11 | "It's Giving Sus" | Day 10-11 | May 1, 2024 | TBA | TBA | ||||||
After several disagreements, Quori-Tyler leaves the influencer chat with Jordan and unilaterally decides who to block. She decides to block Autumn. Autumn decides to meet Jordan before leaving. Players are no longer tethered to their ride-or-die and The Circle becomes a singles game again. Autumn leaves a scathing message during her goodbye video. Jordan gets heated at Quori-Tyler in The Circle chat and a fight ensues. Myles and "Olivia"/Brandon decide to continue their alliance (and add in Quori-Tyler and Kyle) despite ride-or-die being discontinued.
| ||||||||||||
76 | 12 | "A Final Power Move" | Day 12 | May 1, 2024 | TBA | TBA | ||||||
Myles learns that Jordan has been conspiring against him. The players receive videos from loved ones at home cheering them on. Players submit their ratings and the top-rated player becomes the super influencer. "Olivia"/Brandon is the secret super influencer. The identity of the secret super influencer will never be revealed. | ||||||||||||
Week 4 | ||||||||||||
77 | 13 | "Finale" | Day 12-13 | May 8, 2024 | TBA | TBA | ||||||
Myles is blocked by the super secret influencer "Olivia"/Brandon. Myles meets Quori-Tyler and leaves a happy goodbye message. The players submit their final ratings and get to meet each other face-to-face. "Olivia"/Brandon wins The Circle. |
Episode 1 | Episode 4 | Episode 6 | Episode 8 | Episode 10 | Episode 12 | Episode 13 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brandon "Olivia" |
1st | Not published |
6th | Not published |
2nd | Not published |
Winner (Episode 13) | |
Kyle | 4th | Not published |
1st | Not published |
5th | Not published |
Runner-up (Episode 13) | |
Quori-Tyler | Not in The Circle |
Not published |
2nd | Not published |
1st | Not published |
Third place (Episode 13) | |
Jordan | Not in The Circle |
Exempt | Not published |
6th | Not published |
Fourth place (Episode 13) | ||
Lauren | 2nd | Not published |
3rd | Not published |
4th | Not published |
Fifth place (Episode 13) | |
Myles | =5th | 1st | 4th | Not published |
3rd | Not published |
Blocked (Episode 13) | |
Autumn | Not in The Circle |
Exempt | Not published |
7th | Blocked (Episode 11) | |||
Caress "Paul" |
7th | Not published |
5th | Not published |
Blocked (Episode 9) | |||
Cassie | =5th | Not published |
7th | Blocked (Episode 7) | ||||
A.I. Bot "Max" |
Not in The Circle |
Not published |
Left (Episode 5) | |||||
Steffi | 3rd | Not published |
Blocked (Episode 5) | |||||
Notes | 1 | 2 | none | 3,4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
Influencer(s) | Brandon, Lauren |
Myles | Kyle, Quori-Tyler |
none | Quori-Tyler, Jordan |
Brandon | none | |
Left | none | A.I. Bot "Max" |
none | |||||
Blocked | N/A | Steffi Myles' choice to block |
Cassie Influencers' choice to block |
Caress Caress' choice to sacrifice |
Autumn Influencers' choice to block |
Myles Superinfluencer's choice to block |
Lauren Lowest rated player |
Jordan Fourth highest rated player |
Quori-Tyler Third highest rated player |
Kyle Second highest rated player | |||||||
Brandon "Olivia" Highest rated player |