The Circle Recap: A Snake in the Grass (Season 4 Episodes 9-12)

Emotions run high in the game’s final push and some players start playing dirty on The Circle Season 4 Episodes 9-12.

“Find out what happens when people stop being polite and start getting real.”

That is the tagline for MTV’s groundbreaking reality show, The Real World.

There are many similarities between The Circle and The Real World, and one is that the tagline fits both shows perfectly. However, The Real World is not a game with a cash prize like The Circle, and competition brings out its own nastiness. 

Let’s recap what happens when The Circle stops being polite and gameplay starts getting ugly.

ALERT! Spoilers ahead!

Wicked Game

Alliances are made and broken all the time in The Circle, but we haven’t seen so many sneaky and unscrupulous moves like those Alex as Nathan makes on this block of episodes.

It is possible to play a calculated game without being mean or making up lies about the other players. Season 1’s winner, Joey Sasso, ran a smart game while being genuinely nice to everyone throughout. On this season, those who have been consistently in the top have as well, playing with both head and heart. 

Alex, on the other hand, is all head and no heart (even confirmed by his girlfriend in his message from home). Catfishing as Nathan, a frat bro in his early 20s, Alex deceives, dupes, and double-crosses to get ahead. His interactions with the others are disingenuous, he’s not making real connections or friendships. 

The Circle has shown us time and time again, throughout each season, that catfish are capable of still being authentic from behind the facade. 

Alex is not that species of catfish though, and his failure to bond with the other contestants on a deeper level is evident in the ratings. Nathan is ranked last, even below newcomers Eversen and Trevor as Imani.

If the rankings reflected who gets blocked, then this would be a sweet turn of justice. But, when Alex starts playing dirty (or dirtier, let’s be honest) and pitting the other players against each other, it does as he intends—creates mistrust among trusted alliances and disrupts the delicate balance of fair gameplay in The Circle.

For example, Frank and Bru have a really meaningful chat where Frank opens up about the death of his parents. It is touching to see him feel comfortable enough with Bru to share that with him and for Bru to be inspired by Frank’s positivity and an empathetic ear as well.

It is the kind of thing that builds strong friendships. 

So to see Alex come in and destroy all that by making Frank think that Bru betrayed him is absolutely crushing. Yes, it is a game and Alex is within his right to play in whatever way he thinks will get him to the top, but that doesn’t make it any less disheartening. 

It does, however, make the show pretty representative of real life. There are people out there in the world that lie and cheat their ways to success, stepping and screwing over everyone else without a thought. It, unfortunately, makes a case for the adage that “Nice guys finish last.”

And, it’s even more true when Bru gets blocked before Alex. 

BRUtal

Bru chooses to go see Nathan, and finds out how he’s been sabotaged. It sucks that he used his final visit on Alex, but at least he learned of his deception and that his real friendships are still intact. 

Bru: I’ve been playing this game almost too wholesomely, and that was obviously the demise.

He is so freakin’ pure and The Circle came for him. It reminds me of Michelle on The Circle Season 3—it did her so dirty.

Before Bru gets the boot, he experiences another devastating blow: his precious Mama Carol is revealed to be a 24-year-old dude named John.

So, for Alex to tell him all the ways he undermined him just adds insult to injury. I’m glad he sees Alex for who he is and that Alex has to answer for his treachery. And, I don’t think there’s an actual friendship in their future. I mean, I wouldn’t if I were him. 

It could be my own hatred for Alex, but Bru’s rage seemed to be bubbling right beneath the surface, but he’s too damn nice to really let Alex have it. 

Bru is the third OG player in a row to get blocked. The newbies, save for Rachel, are out for blood. 

Arts and Craftiness

The claws come out as the game nears the end, and it is none more apparent than during the minigame, Portrait Mode. The players submit their artworks anonymously so they can be as shady as they want.

Trevor: Once people are in anonymous mode, they get all the courage in the world.

You know, I like what it says about those that still choose to be nice or tease lightheartedly when the option to be mean with no consequences is available.

Frank: It is so funny that people don’t have anything negative to say to me in the game, but they always take these anonymous opportunities to throw shots.

Trevor, rightly, calls out Nathan. It’s kind of eerie, actually, especially when Alex pulls out a shirt that matches the catfish side of Imani’s portrait of Nathan. This is tactical without being cruel, and it’s so hilariously accurate, too. 

Likewise, Rachel and Bru throw some light shade, but it’s all in good fun. The tone changes considerably when Alex’s portrait of Frank comes up on the screen. Everyone talks about what a positive light Frank is in The Circle, so it’s clear that someone is threatened by him.

Yu Ling: I did not realize it was gonna get this dirty. 

Yu Ling says this before seeing the portrait Eversen painted for her. 

I’m less mad at Eversen than I am at Alex. Eversen is newer than Alex and hasn’t had the same amount of time and opportunity to get to know the others. It makes sense for him to play strategically rather than based on a connection he hasn’t had the chance to form yet. 

But did bro have to go that hard? He made my angel Yu Ling into a demon from hell. 

Karma

In The Circle, though, things sometimes have a way of working themselves out. At the end of Episode 12, “Just When You Thought You Were Safe,” The Circle reveals 4 of the 5 finalists and is about to announce who will join Rachel, Imani, Frank, and Yu Ling in the finals. 

It comes down to the two that played the dirtiest, and I feel good that Alex has a 50/50 chance of getting the final blocking. And if it’s Eversen going home, then perhaps he learns that painting people in a nicer light is the better way to go.  

I’m not too worried about Alex winning even if he continues on to the finals, but it’s impossible to choose between Frank and Yu Ling for who I want to win. Maybe this can be the first tie in Circle history?

What did you think of these episodes of The Circle Season 4? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The Circle Season 4 finale streams Wednesday, May 25 on Netflix.

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