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Post by orokiah on Oct 1, 2011 16:42:23 GMT
The Secret Circle Episode 1.1, 'Pilot'
**spoilers ahead**
One episode in, The Secret Circle compares with Hex in the following ways:
- There's a blonde teenage witch called Cassie
And...er...that's it. So far. Yes, Charles Meade is fond of lurking in shadows, performing dastardly deeds. There are anvils being dropped about Cassie's father. And Cassie finding a dusty book of shadows in the fireplace in her bedroom was faintly reminiscent of Ella's hiding place for the Stone of Belial...but I'm stretching. Despite some superficial similarities, on the evidence of the pilot, The Secret Circle is nothing like Hex. It's more like Mean Girls, by way of The Craft.
On first impressions, the adult characters are far more interesting than the teens, with the exception of the rebellious Faye (the queen bee with the Antipodean twang, courtesy of Phoebe Tonkin's wandering accent). The mystery behind the deaths of the parents, and the secrets of the survivors, is easily the most compelling part of the show. Cassie (Britt Robertson) makes for a fairly bland lead, and the horribly clunky dialogue she's given doesn't help.
But the waterdrop scene was breathtakingly beautiful--a stunning constrast to the storm Faye summons up at the harbour--and there's a natural chemistry between Britt Robertson and Thomas Dekker (Adam) that sells their characters' supposed destiny as soulmates. There's also a promising, brittle kind of hysteria about Shelley Hennig's performance as Diana, struggling to lead the circle while watching her boyfriend and the newcomer falling in love with each other ('doing magic', as Faye put it; in more ways than one).
It's not Hex (what is?). But the pilot was a solid, engaging start that was good enough to keep me watching--and not just for the crossover potential, fun though it is to spot it.
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Post by fenris on Oct 13, 2011 13:33:36 GMT
The SFX website reports that the first series of The Secret Circle, which was originally commissioned as 13 episodes, has been extended to a full season (ie: 22 episodes). Which means it will immediately overtake Hex in terms of number of episodes made; The CW has announced that three of its new shows have been extended to full season runs, including witchy teen soap The Secret Circle; the others are the Sarah Michelle Gellar-starring Ringer and Hart Of Dixie. “With compelling storylines, engaging characters and tremendous buzz, we firmly believe that Hart of Dixie, Ringer and The Secret Circle can become signature series for The CW, the kind of top-notch shows that are synonymous with our brand,” says CW boss Mark Pedowitz. SourceDespite some superficial similarities, on the evidence of the pilot, The Secret Circle is nothing like Hex. It's more like Mean Girls, by way of The Craft. Thanks for posting your thoughts, orokiah. Hope you continue commenting on the show as the first season progresses. As I've previously mentioned, I won't be able to watch The Secret Circle until it comes to Freeview, but based on the pre-publicity material and promo footage, I was never expecting it to be much more than ' The OC with witches' anyway.
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Post by orokiah on Oct 13, 2011 18:05:52 GMT
As I've previously mentioned, I won't be able to watch The Secret Circle until it comes to Freeview, but based on the pre-publicity material and promo footage, I was never expecting it to be much more than ' The OC with witches' anyway. Yep, comparing it to anything more is just setting it up for a fall, really. I think it's still worth a watch, and there are signs that something more promising might be developing. Glad it's got a full season in which to do it. The Secret Circle 1.2 'Bound' / 1.3 'Loner' **spoilers below**The adult characters were the most interesting part of the show in the pilot episode, and that doesn't change in either 'Bound' or 'Loser'. Dawn and Charles are the highlights, whatever they're doing: manipulating the binding of the circle, battling over custody of the crystal that holds their dwindling supply of power, and even pretending they're dating--much to Dawn's displeasure--so as not to arouse Diana's suspicions. Dawn doing away with her father-in-law, after he threatened to report them to 'the elders', was clearly the Evil Deed of the week, but in the next episode she's expressing seemingly sincere regret at disposing of her daughter's grandfather, and telling Charles they can't go around killing everyone who gets in their way. There are surprising shades of grey here: Natasha Henstridge's performance is not only nuanced, but deliciously self-aware. Faye and Diana continue to be the best developed of the teens, with Diana's rigid veneer starting to crack as Cassie and Adam grow closer (surely the seeds of a turn to the dark side being planted), and Faye, the bad girl with the big heart, facing the consequences of her reckless use of power. Even Melissa and Nick, who seemed to be there in the pilot just to make up the numbers, get a well-drawn 'friends with benefits' subplot. Cassie and Adam have sparkage, but it's not enough at this stage in the proceedings to prevent them being the weakest links in the circle. The teen angst and high school setting sometimes make the show feel a little lightweight, but the past catching up with both generations is making for a compelling story arc, and the details being woven here and there--Amelia's high school yearbook, the newspaper article listing the names of the parents who died in the boat fire--are a satisfying reward for regular viewing. Even more intriguingly, there are spoilers floating around suggesting that one of the regulars (highlight to view: Nick, if they're to be believed) is set for an early exit. Things are shaping up nicely. This fortnight's crossover appeal: Cassie sets something on fire in the classroom.
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Post by orokiah on Oct 26, 2011 16:21:00 GMT
The Secret Circle Episode 1.4: 'Heather'
**major spoilers ahead**
By far the best episode yet: engrossing, suspenseful and genuinely scary in parts, with a relentless forward momentum leading up to a killer cliffhanger. And all in an episode that focuses entirely on the teens, with recurring baddies Dawn and Charles nowhere to be seen.
After last week's discovery that Amelia Blake may have done something 'worse than death' to her best friend Heather Barnes, Cassie tracks down Heather and discovers she's spent the last sixteen years in a catatonic state, magically induced by Amelia. With Faye's help, Cassie reverses the spell, only to discover her mother had good reason to cast it: Heather is possessed by a demon, one Amelia managed to suppress, and Cassie has unwittingly released. Naturally, possessed!Heather then turns up on Cassie's doorstep, and proceeds to chase Cassie and Faye around the darkened house in a sequence that comes right out of a horror movie.
Highlights: that chase sequence; the sweetly acted, ongoing Nick/Melissa story; the discovery that Diana's book of shadows is full of demons and black magic, while Cassie's is all hearts and flowers; Faye, generally. Phoebe Tonkin steals the show throughout, as she's done from the start. From her snarky response to Adam's phone call to Cassie, to her nonchalant reference to The Craft ("the first half...before the snakes"), Faye is consistently the most interesting character, and also the best acted--occasional accent wobbles aside. Much of the terror in the chase sequence comes from Faye's reaction to it: the hitch in her breath, the fear on her face. Tonkin sells it completely, and elevates it as a result.
A few quibbles: it's necessary for the plot for Cassie to doubt her mother's motivations and undo the spell, but boy is it stupid. As is Diana, constantly pushing Cassie and Adam together, even though she warned Cassie away from him in a previous episode. And despite the continual hammering home of the notion that the Circle is stronger together (i.e. they can only do magic when two or more of them are present), Cassie and Faye are too busy screaming when Heather is stalking them to even consider trying to send her flying.
Next time: Melissa is possessed by Heather's demon. One of the Circle does a Cassie (Cassie from Hex, that is). Needless to say, I'm thoroughly spoiled for it--and I almost wish I wasn't.
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Post by orokiah on Oct 28, 2011 11:17:29 GMT
The Secret Circle Episode 1.5: 'Slither'
**major spoilers ahead**
"Witchcraft has never been about fun and games...it's dangerous. It attracts darkness."
So Grandma Blake tells Cassie at the end of the episode, by which time Nick has met his maker at the hands of Charles Meade, leaving the Circle (seemingly) broken, and his friends and erstwhile girlfriend torn apart by the loss. It's a line of dialogue that aptly sums up the dark turn The Secret Circle has taken in the last two episodes. As the concurrent jump in quality proves, it's a turn for the better.
It would probably be wiser to go into this episode unspoiled, and unaware of the stories swirling about Nick's premature demise. The producers insist it was planned from the start to raise the stakes; the rumour mill says Louis Hunter was fired, having been deemed not up to scratch, and his character hastily written out. It's hard to mourn that much about it, only five episodes in, but it's still a sad development. Nick and Melissa's story was the emotional heart of the show, for all the focus on the Diana/Adam/Cassie triangle. And there was surely more mileage to be gained from Nick being the only member of the Circle unlucky enough to have lost both of his parents.
Nick is dispatched in harrowing fashion, drowned by Charles at Dawn's insistence to kill the demon inside him: Abaddon, who possessed Heather Barnes in the last episode, Melissa for much of this one, and is revealed to have been summoned by Dawn. Coupled with the episode's other revelations--that Grandma Blake is a powerful witch and an Elder, and demons can only be killed by being burned or drowned--it raises further questions about the events of sixteen years ago. Could the parents who died have also been possessed? And if so, were their other halves forced to kill them--or did they summon the demons in the first place?
Highlights: Jessica Parker Kennedy, letting rip as the possessed Melissa (adding more fuel to the femslash with her purring over Faye); Grandma Blake, calmly taking charge when Cassie seeks help; the ever-intriguing Dawn and Charles, who react very differently to Nick's death: while Charles is left devastated, Dawn remains ruthlessly focused on the endgame. Looking forward to seeing how this will affect their alliance, in the weeks ahead.
Next time: not so much Hex as Charmed--as Nick's sibling turns up to replace him.
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Post by orokiah on Nov 5, 2011 13:37:12 GMT
The Secret Circle Episode 1.6: 'Wake'
**spoilers follow**
With Nick no more, the focus turns to his replacement: Jake, his older brother, who's back in town with a cabal of witch hunters in tow. Yep, Jake is not only Nick's brother, he's also (deep breath) a witch turned witch hunter, Faye's ex-boyfriend, Ethan's ex-employee, and upsettingly for Adam, someone Cassie feels an instant connection to. Since the feeling seems to be mutual, Jake is bound to have a few problems deciding where his loyalties should lie.
Jake's redemption seems inevitable, but in the meantime, he's a terrific catalyst for conflict. His introduction sets the stage for a solid episode that lacks the chills of the previous two, but is stuffed full of quality character development. Diana dumps Adam after he fights with Jake, and Ethan tells her he and Cassie are meant to be; Charles cracks up ever further; Faye smarts over Jake, a backstory which allows Phoebe Tonkin to add some vulnerability to her character, and finally makes sense of her opposition to Melissa's relationship with Nick. Most movingly of all, there's Melissa herself, mourning Nick. The scene in which she lies on his bed, clutches his jacket and sobs her heart out is a bona fide tearjerker.
And then there's Cassie. Told by Grandma Blake that their lineage goes back to the dawn of witchcraft, and she and not Diana is meant to lead the Circle, there's a noticeable shift in her characterisation afterwards (tartly commented on by Faye: "who died and made you Queen Witch?") It's sorely needed: this is the same episode in which the lead witch hunter tells Jake that "Cassie Blake is a compelling girl"--dialogue that just isn't believable, when to date she's proved the least compelling character in the show. Hopefully with Jake's introduction, and Ethan dropping hints about 'Blackwell'--her father, presumably--that's all about to change. It's noteworthy too that Grandma Blake gives Cassie the Blake family crystal, and warns her it brings the worst out in people; something we've already seen with Dawn and Charles. Perhaps it's 'sweet Cassie', and not Diana at all, who's destined to go darkside.
This week's crossover appeal: a throwaway line about history repeating itself, and the first (possible) mention of Cassie's absent, mysterious father.
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Post by fenris on Nov 5, 2011 17:39:03 GMT
Thanks for the continuing reviews, orokiah. I'm not familiar with the original books on which The Secret Circle is based, but in the lukewarm write-up of the first two episodes in the current issue of SFX magazine (#215), it's mentioned that in the novels there are seven members of the Circle. The one who's been left out of the TV series (presumably to prevent the narrative from becoming overcrowded) is called Doug. I wonder if the show's producers are planning to introduce him at some point in the future?
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Post by orokiah on Nov 6, 2011 17:53:29 GMT
I'm not familiar with the original books on which The Secret Circle is based, but in the lukewarm write-up of the first two episodes in the current issue of SFX magazine (#215), it's mentioned that in the novels there are seven members of the Circle. The one who's been left out of the TV series (presumably to prevent the narrative from becoming overcrowded) is called Doug. I wonder if the show's producers are planning to introduce him at some point in the future? From what I can gather, Doug isn't the only omission--the Circle in the books is quite a bit bigger than that in the show. The character of Melissa doesn't appear in the books at all; not sure if she's one of the book characters renamed or a mix of a few of them. Interestingly, the character of Jake is apparently more like book!Nick than the Nick who ended up on screen. Not read the books either but I'm planning on picking them up at some point. I'm quite enjoying the show, so I'd like to be more familiar with the source.
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Post by orokiah on Nov 13, 2011 17:31:29 GMT
The Secret Circle Episode 1.7: 'Masked'
**spoilers ahead**
Another thoroughly enjoyable episode, with a genuinely tense final stand-off--something this show seems to excel at. Things are really heating up now; so much so that the absence of perennial scene-stealers Dawn and Charles is barely noticeable.
On the magical front, Jake continues to act as double agent, sabotaging Cassie's bid to learn more about the witch hunters, threatening to kill Calvin Wilson, a witch who holds the answers, and then--in an admirably bold move from the writers--following through with it. In other notable developments, nice boy Luke from 'Loner' is revealed to be another undercover witch hunter; Grandma Blake pays a visit to Henry, only to find his (extremely well-preserved) body, before being knocked out by a mysterious, black-clad stranger; and Cassie's father is confirmed as John Blackwell, who attempted to perform some nefarious act on the night of the fire, sixteen years before.
Cassie's increasingly special status (she's doubly strong as a result of being a Blake, and also possessing her father's dark magic--which, unlike the power of the Circle, she can access on her own) still sits a little uneasily given how bland a character she's been. That she remains oblivious to Jake's machinations, in this week's plot-induced stupidity, doesn't help. On the bright side, she's gaining more spark--the witty exchange with Luke, the eye-roll at Faye using her bedroom to distract Jake--and the revelation of her dual nature goes a long way towards making her more interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing how it all develops, and how Cassie is going to handle the discovery.
Cassie's dramas aside, it's the supporting characters and their more human stories that prove the highlights of the episode. Melissa's graveside talk with Jake, and Adam's confrontation with Ethan/attempts to win Diana back: authentic, heartfelt performances all, in the midst of an episode full of showy set-dressing and costumes. Easily my favourite scenes--and also Adam's finest moments so far.
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Post by orokiah on Nov 18, 2011 18:55:48 GMT
The Secret Circle Episode 1.8: 'Beneath'
**spoilers follow**
One of the best episodes so far, despite the absence of Melissa: something the prominence of Faye, Dawn and Charles largely makes up for. Loved the haunted house vibe, Faye's visions and breakdown, the Diana/Adam subplot, and the hints that Jake's resolve is starting to crack. Cassie is becoming increasingly powerful and assertive, even initiating a kiss, but she's still oblivious to his double identity; it's nice to see that Adam--who's received some significant development in the last two episodes--is not so easily fooled. And then there's Charles, bolstered by Henry Chamberlain's crystal, and firmly back to his big bad ways: hiding Henry's body, threatening partner-in-crime Dawn, and casting a spell on Grandma Blake to control her memory, and make her his puppet.
This episode implies that Dawn and Charles' quest to regain their magic, and the murderous deeds it entails, is about more than a simple lust for power: they're not just trying to take back their birthright, but the sense of worth it gives them. Charles, especially, is noticeably more conflicted in the absence of magic. Hopefully there'll be a flashback episode somewhere down the line, so we get to see more of what makes them tick, as well as the origins of their own, mostly-dead circle.
Other scraps of intrigue: Cassie's link to Faye; Charles telling Dawn that magic was fun before Blackwell came along; the discovery that a witch's energy persists after their death, if they're not killed 'correctly'; and Jake's admission that solo magic is possible, even after the binding of the Circle. Hopefully this ability won't end up unique to Cassie and Jake--I'd like to see the rest of the Circle exploring their individual power, weak as it might be compared to Cassie's.
This week's vaguely familiar crossover appeal: the Circle plays a game of truth or dare.
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Post by orokiah on Nov 24, 2011 17:15:47 GMT
The Secret Circle Episode 1.9: 'Balcoin'
**spoilers ahead**
This episode is the mid-season finale, with the show now taking a break until January. It's hit a fine vein of form recently, and the pause button is pressed in cracking fashion. The lead witch hunter, sailing off into the distance with Jake by his side, drops the bombshell that Cassie is not the only child of Blackwell in the Circle, begging the question: which of the other five is her half-sibling? Given the anvils dropped here about Dawn's interest in John Blackwell, and the events of the previous episode, the smart money has to be on Faye. But I'm hoping there's a twist in the offing, and the other child of Blackwell turns out to be Melissa--a development that would give Jessica Parker Kennedy some sorely-needed screentime, and something to do that isn't mourning Nick. As 'Slither' proved, she's more than capable of handling it.
Highlights not of the 'Cassie has a half-sibling!' variety: the shake-up in the Circle dynamics, with Adam teaming up with Faye and Diana embracing the single life with Melissa and her cousin; the further revelations about Cassie's heritage, with her discovery that the Blackwells descend from Francis Balcoin, and the dawn of dark magic; the intriguing reference to 'the Council'--who seem to be the witch hunters' answer to the Elders; the conflict between Dawn and Charles, bickering like children over custody of the crystal and Charles' senility-inducing spell on Grandma Blake; and Faye, as always: not only does she get all the best lines, she's the only one bright enough to unmask Jake.
Hopefully the second half of the season will bring some of the following: flashbacks, exploration of Jake's relationship with the witch hunters, more Melissa, and more personality for Cassie. The Secret Circle is her story, but she's been comprehensively outshone by the rest of the Circle and their parents, and hamstrung by dialogue that reverently paints her as something she isn't. Her super-special status is going to start to grate if her character isn't given more...well, character. They've taken a few, tiny steps in that direction in the last couple of episodes: time to turn it into strides.
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Post by orokiah on Dec 10, 2011 15:31:37 GMT
The Secret Circle has added a new regular cast member to the existing line-up. Highlight to view: It's Jake--a move as inevitable as his redemption. Glad to see Chris Zylka making a return, though, and I'm liking the hints that some flashbacks might finally be coming our way. And what's all this about 'Fayana'?.. More spoilery goodness here.
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Post by orokiah on Feb 2, 2012 14:33:02 GMT
The Secret Circle finally returns to UK screens on Wednesday 15th February at 8pm.
That's several weeks behind its debut in the US - hopefully the wiggle room will allow Sky Living to show the rest of the series without a break.
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Post by orokiah on Feb 19, 2012 18:50:15 GMT
The Secret Circle, Episode 1.10: 'Darkness'
**spoilers follow**
One of the strongest episodes so far, thanks to the focus on the older generation, and Cassie's struggle with her Balcoin blood finally turning her into someone more interesting than the bland blonde who has all the boys falling at her feet and is also the most super special witch of all time ever. As queen of the one-liners Faye puts it: it's always the short, quiet ones you have to watch out for. Britt Robertson is superbly creepy in Cassie's brief turns to the dark side, all wide-eyed stillness and intensity. The final scene, in which she tells Diana she likes the power her dark magic gives her, is chilling.
Charles' mother Kate--another Elder--has arrived in Chance Harbor, and aware of Cassie's lineage, proceeds to try and kill her. When she fails, she claims she'd been testing Cassie's powers, mutters something cryptic about Cassie tipping the balance, and skips off back to where she came from. So far, so predictable. More interesting, as ever, is the Dawn and Charles dynamic, and the insights into it that Kate provides. It's established that Charles had a thing for Dawn in high school, is weak and easily led, and his own mother isn't sure he can resist the darkness--creating an obvious, and intriguing, parallel with Cassie.
There's been little as entertaining in The Secret Circle as this week's face-off between Dawn and Kate, but the repercussions come a delicious second: Dawn, inviting herself for dinner at the Meades', snogging the face off Charles, and brandishing a bottle of wine that may or may not be poisoned. Together and apart, they're consistently the most watchable part of the show, even if parts of their storyline seem to be going around in circles. Dawn and Charles are still pretending they're dating, and still having secret assignations in which Dawn proposes murder, Charles says no and they squabble over custody of the crystal. It's as predictable as the guest star of the week trying to kill Cassie; nonetheless, the chemistry between the actors makes it compelling viewing.
Other developments of note: Faye's quest to get her power back leads her to a fake voodoo practitioner; Melissa tells Faye she's no longer content to be her sidekick; Adam uses his and Diana's secret signal to apologise to Cassie--right in front of Diana; and there's no sign of Grandma Blake, who has gone off to some kind of healer to regain her marbles. Disappointingly, Jake's brief appearance means there's also no mention of the other child of Blackwell.
This week's crossover appeal: Azazeal Jake, lurking outside in the shadows, staring up at Cassie's window.
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Post by orokiah on Feb 25, 2012 16:46:38 GMT
The Secret Circle, Episode 1.11: 'Fire/Ice'
**spoilers follow**
Another solid episode, which doesn't suffer for the absence of Charles and Dawn because it concentrates so heavily on the conflicts and dynamics within the Circle. Make no mistake though: this is still The Cassie Blake Show, and we're reminded of it at every turn. In an unintentionally hilarious sequence, Cassie rushes in to the burning school, trying to rescue Melissa; only to keel over five seconds later, overcome by the smoke. It's played as heroic, but since Britt Robertson can't run in the skyscraper heels she's wearing, and Cassie ends up the damsel in distress (yet again), it's just shambolic. The rest of the Circle is standing right next to her: even with Jake MIA there's no reason they can't work a spell together to save Melissa, except to prop up Cassie at the other characters' expense. Britt Robertson is a fine actress, given the right material, but this kind of contrived elevation of her character is working against her.
The main story of the episode involves Faye, who, still smarting over the loss of her 'indie magic', attempts to steal Cassie's. Naturally, Cassie is much too powerful for this and instead it's the Circle's magic that Faye makes off with. Status quo restored, Faye gets a dressing down from the Circle; stung, she responds with a scathing verbal smackdown that's one of the greatest moments of the series so far. There's a lot of truth in her assessment of Cassie, who might not go looking for trouble, but has made just as many mistakes as Faye, and been given a pass on every single one of them. That it hits home for Cassie too is telling; hopefully it's a sign that the writers are about to give her some much-needed shading.
Other highlights: Melissa and Diana, rekindling their close childhood friendship; the sizzling chemistry between Faye and voodoo Lee; Cassie realising how kind Diana has been to her, and refusing to date Adam even now he's single (sadly, her resolve doesn't last); Adam shaking off his blandness by being ultra-crass instead, and enlisting Diana to talk Cassie into his waiting arms; and the last-second return of Jake, right in time to put a spoke in Adam and Cassie's blossoming romance.
Next time: Flashbacks! Finally.
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