Circle (2017)

This is probably the best show I have watched that I couldn't predict! Just when you start to think you know what's going to happen, you don't. I about broke my neck there were so many plot twists, but I loved it!! I love how everything fit together and came together. It might be confusing or a bit slow in the first episode, but it picks up so fast to the point that you're practically running to keep up. I loved the story, the casting was on point, and so was the music. I wouldn't mind watching this again even if I know all the plot twists already. Since it is only 12 episodes it doesn't take that long to watch and it feels like it goes by so fast! All in all, I loved it and it's going on my favorites list!

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Korean television rarely does science fiction, so Circle has novelty in its favor. Unfortunately it tries to cram the entire genre into a mere twelve episodes. It dashes from alien encounters to mad scientists to dystopian utopias to cyberpunk hackers to clones without ever stopping to flesh out a single theme or develop a unique voice and production style. It raises some interesting questions about the role memory plays in identity and whether trauma is an important part of our humanity or an impediment to happiness, but it never digs into its ideas in a meaty, revelatory way. Plot points are introduced to provide “twists” and then discarded when they’re no longer useful. Characters often behave in unbelievable ways, and perfunctory directing leads to visual inconsistencies and hackneyed acting choices. Yeo Jin Goo is talented enough to be riveting anyway, but the rest of the cast suffers. The final result is a show that feels more like a sketch than a finished product. It’s fast paced enough to hold viewers’ attention but it doesn’t give either of its worlds or timelines the care and attention they deserve.

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The Mother of All Plot Twists for Kdramas

Compelling, fascinating and brilliant from start to finish. Really rare for you to find dramas which has like twists in each episode. I ended each part with 'NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO' so many times lol.

I love the fact that the writers are very creative in coming up with this complex story that made you question about everything only to be proven wrong episodes later. The writers also love to tease/mislead the audiences with the way they structure the plots.

Even the final scene is brilliant as well. The solved everything at the end but to excite the audiences with the sci-fiction theme that they're going for, they put that little bit mystery at the end. It opens for future possibilities and made people speculate about what could happened after that.

Great movies / dramas always made people talk and speculate about the ending and this drama is exactly like that as well. Some people might dislike it (which I totally understand) but this is one aspect of creative writing and with the way everything is structured since in the beginning of the drama, we should expect the non-typical finish that the writers might give us at the end. They certainly didnt disappoint.

Simply the most compelling Kdramas I have ever watch and no doubt in my book as one of the greatest Kdramas ever made.

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Posing a trite question: Whether invention of new technology is a bliss or a curse of mankind? With the conjecture of an exclusive scientific research work started in 2017, which fortunately or unfortunately followed a trajectory of quandary took a proper shape in 2037. The whole concept of the story is extremely new where the dramatization involved a fraternal twin and all the incomprehensible incidents they were surrounded by. Like a web of mystery the more they were trying to solve it, the more they were getting tangled with mishaps. Gradually facing series of tribulations and by using their own intellect they tried to overcome their problems though not succeeded fully. According to my understanding (I can be wrong), this drama tried to portray that progressive technology is acceptable which should be free of manipulation, deceit and identity theft. In the process of gifting human race with something phenomenal, the human race by themselves subject to self-destruction. They fall prey to their own greed and take a wrong detour to satisfy their own selfishness.

The whole story is like a big board of puzzle pieces cut randomly into different shapes without any connection but as the story development progresses bit by bit all the pieces have been fallen into their correct places. It exudes the suspenseful feel of American sci-fi genre series, nonetheless, the writers maintained originality which is beyond interesting.

 From the very beginning till the end it was riveting, breathtaking and fast-paced. No amount of time is wasted on idiosyncratic character development. Each and every characters were necessary and sufficient; none seemed out of place or redundant for the development of the story. The writers tried their best to convincingly elucidate a completely new concept of a non-existent theory on which the pillar of the whole plot was standing. They expressed erudition through their meticulous writing ability. Hats off to the scriptwriters. It may seem frazzling to keep up with the pace since each episode shows two stories of two different years but it is highly engrossing and enjoyable. The ending of every episode left me at the edge of my sit. Thank goodness I binge watched it rather than waiting every week. I would have died out of anxiety and curiosity. The cliffhangers are deadly.

On another note, I never trusted Korean dramas of science fiction genre since never found any solid story so far. Either they make it extremely confusing and superfluous or greatly preposterous. However, Circle is an exception. Every occurrences are given a proper explanation. I feel a strange empathy towards the production team and feel like giving a deep bow for presenting us the show so intriguingly despite having minimal budget. It's perfectly fine of not using extraordinarily top-notch visual graphics as many were complaining, I could feel their urge of showing some CG effect which are common in any sci-fi movies/series but they couldn't and it's beyond ok. At the end of the day I count on story, if the story is good and acting is on par it's intensely satisfying for me.

Acting by the ensemble is praise worthy, especially performances given by Yeo Jin Goo and Kim Kang Woo are commendable as they always are. My words will fall short to describe their charisma. Lee Ki Kwang is also good but sometimes felt like he was forcing too much to draw out his emotions. I appreciate the girls as well. Gong Seung Yeon is one of a kind gorgeous actress, she looks serious with her character display and works hard. She surely has long way to go and I believe she would perform better and better in course of time. That day is not far away when Ahn Woo Yeon & Jung In Sun will be flooded with main roles in dramas/movies. Both of them has utmost potential of rising stars.

Background score is perfectly fitted with the thrilling feel of the drama. OSTs are ear-catching as well.

One thing I have noticed in all these currently airing dramas that female protagonists are given powerful roles rather than being treated as a mere trophy only there to depict love interest of the male protagonist. The roles which were normally given out to male protagonists are now given out to the females which is a very commendable new trend.

I would love to detail out my analysis on every scenes but I’m afraid I’m too conscious on giving out spoilers. Hence, I want to stop and request all the sci-fi/suspense genre lovers out there to watch Circle. You will definitely love it because of - a refreshingly new story, the group of beautiful young and energetic casts and their laudable acting skills.

On the other hand, fingers are crossed this ephemeral drama has left us uninformed ‘bout one thing at the last episode. So we can hope for a second season. ;) ;)

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Be prepared for the essay that's about to become my review.

First of all, this drama is amazing. I know it isn't popular (how I don't know), but it is truly a gem, and I recommend all to watch it. This drama is extremely well thought out, and I don't know if I've ever watched a drama where the plot, characters, acting, just everything tbh, was super thought out.

Characters:

Woo Jin played by Yeo Jin Goo: That's right, I'm even going to mention who played who in this drama, because they were all that good, and deserve as much recognition as they can get, especially this guy. Before I watched Circle, I had only seen Jin Goo in Moon Embraces the Sun. But in that role he played the child story, and I was 13 when I watched that, so my memory is fuzzy, but I remember he did well. Watching Jin Goo in Circle, I thought I was watching acting art. I have never ever felt that when watching a drama before. In fact he was so good, that when I was feeling withdrawals from Jin Goo one weekend I watched two of his movies (Shoot my Heart and Long Way Home) which he also did great in. Despite his greatness in all of those roles though, I'd say he's done his best here and improved a lot. I would consider him equal or better to more veteran actors, and he's only 19. But enough on Jin Goo, let's talk about Woo Jin. Woo Jin is a great character. He is someone you're always rooting for no matter what. As the drama goes on, you can feel his desperation to find his brother growing, and you truly feel everything he feels. He will break your heart in all the right ways, and end up being your favorite character. While he is very good, pure, loyal, kind, and all the right things, he still manages to feel extremely relatable and human. His character was one of my favorite things about this drama.

Jung Yeon played by Gong Seung Yeon: I am rarely impressed with actresses in kdramas. This one did fantastic though, I would legit follow her. She essentially played three differently personas, and did them all so well! Very versatile. I hope we get more female characters with depth and real stories (besides being in love) in the future. I really loved her character and story. She is also someone you can't help but feeling for. She plays an alien that learns to be human in child story, a cute college girl who is also going through a hard time in 2017, and a rebel in 2037. I really love her in all the roles, and she does them so well!

Bum Gyun played by Ahn Woo Yeon: I have seen Ahn Woo Yeon in Five Children and Strong Woman. Let's just say those dramas didn't properly use his talent. This guy did excellent playing Bum Gyun. He played the slightly crazed, obsessed, playful, determined older brother so well. Though he was given few scenes (since 2017 is all about finding him lol), the scenes he's in he does phenomenal in. I really enjoyed his character and his pursue of the truth really made me think.

Joon Hyuk played by Kim Kang Woo: Kim Kang Woo also did a great job in his role! He really brought depth and emotion to his character later on in the series, and had a really realistic way of acting :) I can't go too much into his character without spoilers, but let's just say he really grew on me. I didn't really care about his character at first, but as the drama continued on I grew more and more attached to his character. I also found him really relatable and loved his story!

Ho Soo played by Lee Ki Kwang: I would say Ki Kwang was the weakest actor in the series, his voice was a tad too dramatic at times, BUT he still did well and brought life to his character Ho Soo. Ho Soo's character was a real nice touch the story. I loved seeing him grow, and I found the story with his girlfriend truly touching. With his character they brought complicated issues to light, and it really gave impact to the story. Also he's like the cutest thing ever, oh my gosh this guy was adorable lol. I really enjoyed his character!

Plot:

Wow. I told a user on here that if they wrapped everything up I'd give it a 1000 stars, 1000 stars it is then, because they wrapped everything up quite nicely. I've seen 12 episode dramas before (Sassy Go Go and Solomon's Perjury) and while I loved both of those to pieces, the ending was a bit rushed. Not in this drama, everything flowed naturally and made perfect sense. I don't know if there was a single plot hole. That is quite a hard feat to pull, especially with such limited space, so kudos to the writers for being so smart in their writing! In this drama, the villains and main cast are EQUALLY smart, and it truly makes it quite the ride. The plot is unpredictable, full of twists, but somehow still makes sense in the end. It is a rare thing for a drama to make the viewers think and question themselves, without dumbing them down, which is exactly what this drama did. Fantastic writing, and I am so proud!

Ending: No spoilers! I overall liked the ending, it wasn't rushed and answered everything I needed to know. There was a small disagreement I had, but I'm still giving it 10 stars so it clearly wasn't that big of a deal. Ending was really well done and definitely worth the ride!

I would truly recommend this drama to everyone, it was very well done and you can tell the writers truly cared about what they were writing about! It honestly deserves more recognition, and its a shame that the ratings aren't higher. This drama has made it into my top 5, so watch it!

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It's a strange feeling to realise you've never reviewed the drama that is one of the best ever made and one of your personal favourites as well.

Circle is a rare Korean science fiction drama; a mind-bending, time-warping tale with the first half of each episode set in 2017 and the second half 20 years in the future. Events unfold simultaneously in both timelines, with 2017 and 2037 being inextricably intertwined.

Future cop Kim Joon-hyuk (Kim Kang-woo) in 2037 tries to uncover the mystery of what happened to a set of twins Kim Woo-jin (Yeo Jin-goo) and Kim Bum-gyun (An Woo-yeon) back in 2017, while in that time we see the two young men embark on their own investigation around the mystery of Han Jung-yeon (Gong Seung-yeon), whom Bum-gyun is convinced is an alien.

At a tight 12 episodes, the show wastes little time on filler and instead launches itself into action from frame one. It's a thrilling ride that barely allows you to draw breath in either time period as it races to a fascinating and at times unexpected conclusion.

The future envisaged by Circle includes memory-altering technology and the show's constant questioning of how our memories shape who we are is endlessly insightful and often poignant. The ambiguity the show retains even as it answers our questions is its best quality and it's that ambiguity that has led to hopes the show would have a second season.

Circle is a rare beast from Korea and its almost-universal acclaim may make it possible for the country to start producing more hard science fiction. We can only hope that happens soon.

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I think "Circle: Two Connected Worlds" is the perfect sci-fi binge drama I was hoping it would be. With only 12 episodes, and such a compelling story, I easily finished this in two days. The most interesting thing about this drama is how it's literally split into two different stories, so it almost feel like you are watching the original and the sequel at the same time, and you're basically waiting for the stories to eventually connect. The first part is set in 2017 (which is actually the past and called “Beta Project"), and it has more of a sci-fi thriller feel. This story centers around a disturbing trend of suicides at a school that are more than they seem to be. The second half is set in 2037 and has more of a sci-fi fantasy feel with a detective edge (called "Brave New World") which took a little more time to grow on me. I do think the fantasy world was imaginative, yet realistic, for just 20 years into the future (I want those phones), but I still was more into the the story set in 2017 involving the 2 brothers, the suicides, and this mysterious "being". The Brave New World part of the story has more of a dystopian society feel, that is equal parts "ideal" and creepy. I guess which you prefer may depend on what genre you prefer.

Those looking for a romantic drama should know that this falls more in the category of bromance. The story centers around the relationship between twin brothers played by Yeo Jin Goo and Ahn Woo Yeon in the Beta Project episodes, and Gong Seung Yeon rounds out the trio as the mysterious Han Jung Yeon. There are so many twists in the story that I am hesitant to talk about any of the characters too much, but it's fun to figure out who's crazy, who can be trusted, and who the heroes will be. Yeo Jin Goo as Kim Woo Jin definitely has star quality that I remember from "The Moon that Embraces the Sun", and "Missing You", where I think he was better than his "older" counterparts. He is the deserving star of this drama and I think he did a great job. I was initially less impressed by Gong Seung Yeon and her blank face stare, but I really started to like her as well, and I'm impressed by how beautifully she cries.

In the 2037 cast the stand out is Kim Kang Woo as Kim Joon Hyuk. It's initially very hard to figure him out which I think is a good thing for this kind of story. This is the first drama I have seen him in, so I had no expectations for him, and by the end he made me tear up. I also really loved Lee Ki Kwang as Lee Ho Soo, his reluctant side kick. This was another character that really grew on me as the show progressed.

The rest of the cast, in both worlds, were really good, even when some were, almost comically, acting in an over the top manor. The villains in particular were definitely extra wide eyed crazy. But all the characters were played well, and those who had a matching future counterpart were matched pretty well. Even the kids were super cute, so I have no cast complaints.

Now, the story is definitely full of complicated and confusing twists, and some of the logic may not work if you pay too much attention, but in general I thought they did a good job of keeping the story constantly interesting, especially when the two stories started to merge more. There may be some holes in the science that I'm sure you could find, but what I liked about the story was that it was more about the moral questions that the science brought up, than the scientific details. I think they hit on some really thought provoking questions like "What makes us who we are?", or "What creates inner peace?", or "Can science go to far?", or even "Should happiness trump all else?". Those are just a few of the things this drama touched on in this story that I thought were very interesting. There are some other thoughts and themes that would fall too close to the spoiler zone to mention here, so I will just sayI enjoyed the philosophical aspects of this drama as much as the story.

I will say that I have mixed feelings about the end. I think the goal was to leave it open for possibilities of a sequel, or just to keep people thinking. Not every question is answered either, but I think everything that needed to be resolved was resolved, and the rest is just open for interpretation, or a season 2. I could see myself watching this again, because it's not drawn out, and it would be interesting to watch the story knowing how all the pieces fit. I admit that the fact that it's not very predictable is what kept me watching initially, but the story and characters are entertaining, and the surprise element isn't it's only appeal.

Overall this is not the kind of KDrama I would usually watch, but I'm glad I expanded my horizons a bit. I do like sci-fi in general, and love Thrillers, and both of those elements were done well here. This may not be full of rom com antics, but it is not totally without some romantic elements. If you like endearing cops cracking the case, there's some of that too. It's also the perfect length, so there is absolutely no dragging storylines, or rushed endings. I know this personally opened me up to watching more dramas like this one. "Circle" didn't give me the obsessive feels that my favorite dramas give me, but sometimes a really good story told well is all you need!

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A Sci Fi thriller with tones of action and a solid story. My main
problem with this drama was that it was kind of hard to keep up. The
events followed one another too quickly and you had to pay attention to
two stories and not just one. Honestly, the 2017 story was better than
the new earth one, but they were equally entertaining nevertheless. The
performances were really good, as the actors had to deal with a action
packed theme. Also, the mystery was quite intriguing, even though the
whole bug thing was gross. Fortunately, there wasn't too much blood, as
the drama focused more on the mystery rather than impressing with gore
and sci fi technology. So, 7 out of 10, because the second story was a
but boring.

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Although the show lacks computer graphics that are typical of sci-fi shows (maybe due to budget constraints for TV?) this drama continues to hold its ground with the solid storyline and impressive direction and acting from a pool of very very brilliant actors. Jingoo is definitely well beyond his years as an actor, showing intensity and maturity. Kim Kang Woo is as usual, precise and forceful. Gong Seung-Yeon is not only beautiful, but she also is strong as an actress and quite effective in playing 3 personas of Byul/Jung Yeon/Bluebird. All the rest of the actors are equally brilliant and such a delight to watch. Casting is PERFECT! This drama is gripping and keeps one on his feet. As it is, it is already a masterpiece; how much better it could be when it gets more CGI? Daebak!

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Delusional and Crazy Scientists are Terrifying to Mankind!

Completed - 4/11/2022 - 8.75 rounding up to 9.0

I am late to the party watching this drama in 2022 instead of 2017. I can understand why the high rating (currently at 8.5) remains for an "old" drama. I rarely watch sci-fi dramas, esp. those without a romance subplot. But I am glad I finally dug this up from my PTW list and watch it.

The general plot is nothing super special that you haven't seen in similar sci-fi dramas and movies. Aliens coming to Earth, and human beings using their technology to "improve" life on earth. Of course, we have to throw in a few greedy, delusional and unethical scientists in the mix. But don't worry, someone righteous will save the day.

Having said that, "Circle" excels in excellent pacing, tight storylines and great acting performances. Because it's only 12 episodes long, no time was wasted in useless side stories. Viewers are very clear what the main plot is, and the motivation or goal of each character. I was invested throughout the drama. It captured my full attention so much that I didn't pause to write down notes for this review. I also really enjoy the parallel storytelling - first half of the episode in 2017 and second half in 2037. I feel myself looking forward to the 2037 storyline just a tad more.

I've always been a fan of Yeo Jin Goo, especially his performances in "Moon Embracing the Sun" and "The Crowned Clown". So, I totally expect him to be great here. I've seen Gong Seung Yeon in four (wow!) other dramas, but I think I am most impressed with her in this one. She has a more complicated character to play and was able to display a variety of emotions. Besides, she looks badass in her 2037 cool outfits and makeup. This is my first time seeing Kim Kang Woo and Lee Ki Kwan, and I also really like their acting. "Circle" also has a very strong supporting cast of child actors and veteran actors. There is no weak link here.

The last few episodes of the drama are really exciting. It kept me on my toes and also increases my hatred for our villain. Each time I see him in the 2017 storyline being his scheming, evil self, I want to punch him in the face. LOL. I think we got a very satisfying ending that ties up most of the loose ends nicely.

If I have to criticize this drama, or pin point something I want more, it would be the background story of our alien. The drama really didn't tell us anything about Byul's background. What planet is she from? Why does she look like a human? What is this technology? No one tries to make contact with her for 30 years? I wonder if they plan to do a season 2 to address all that.

Overall, I really enjoy this drama. I can't say how good it is compared to others in the same genres, but I like it!

*edit* One more loose end, who are the Human B investors??? How did the police get involved?? We never found out.

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I must say, Circle is the closest to a near-perfect minidrama that I've ever seen. In just 12 episodes it succinctly and cleverly delivers a solid and captivating story without being overly ambitious nor disappointingly sparse. Was is my favorite drama of 2017? Probably not. So why do I pretentiously name it as a near-perfect minidrama? Because despite it not being my personal favorite (I still thoroughly enjoyed it), it is the pinnacle of what a minidrama should be. Usually, due to limited runtime, 12-episode dramas either are too ambitious and fail to properly articulate the story/message, or they just forego substance altogether. Circle's writing, editing, and formatting is able to present a story, message, and impact that balances pace and relevance.
It's easy to mix up sci-fi and fantasy. In my dictionary, fantasy tends to focus more on lore, while sci-fi is more focused on the consequences of human's actions. I'm not going to spoil anything, but I will confirm that this is sci-fi. There's action, tech, and definitely some curveballs, but if you're looking for something more fantasy, this drama may not be what you want. If you're looking for some action and thought-provoking narrative, I'd highly recommend this.
Now for the best part: the cast and acting. With such a short and fast-paced drama, a huge burden shifts from the story to the actors; they basically have to carry the story along. I've watched some of Yeo Jin Goo's child acting, which was enjoyable, but him as a lead was very impressive. Aside from the fact that he's just so darn pretty, he's able to express emotion far beyond his young age. The biggest surprises here were Kim Kang Woo and Lee Ki Kwang. I must say that Kang Woo stole the entire show (sorry Jin Goo). I've never seen him before, but I plan to keep watching his works; I haven't seen an actor display such raw emotion in a long time. He even moved me to tears in my favorite scene of this drama. As for Ki Kwang, I didn't know what to expect from an idol actor, but he blew me away. I felt every emotion he expressed, when he smiled, I found myself smiling. When he was distressed, I felt his frustration. Absolutely amazing. As for Gong Seung Yeon, I recently became a HUGE fan after Introverted Boss and My Only Love Song. This girl will make it big. She's absolutely charming.
As for music, there's only 2 songs on the OST, but they're solid. Not the best, but definitely enough for this drama.
As for rewatch value, I think this is the only drama I would give a 10. It's so complex that I'm tempted to go back and find clues.
Overall, a very good drama. Some may find unsatisfying plot holes, but I had no problem with the omitted information. It's heavy on action and humanity, and light on world-building and lore.

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