[PREVIEW] 'The Circle' Is Back And More Cutthroat Than Ever

“Bachelor in Paradise” has moved to Tuesdays for the rest of the season, so let’s make Monday special: Let’s talk about “The Circle.” Season 3 of the reality show, in which contestants compete to become the most popular player in a closed social media platform called The Circle, began dropping episodes this week. In this week’s recap, we discuss the first batch of four episodes — meeting the new contestants (from Crazy Kai to Mama Michelle), watching flirtations develop and strategies take shape, and, of course, the show’s baffling new twists. This episode is for subscribers only! We hope it starts your week off right.ShareWe’ve been watching…No time for anything but “The Circle” and “Bachelor in Paradise,” sadly — except that Greg and I are nearly caught up on “Ted Lasso.” I do think the season is improving as it goes on, and the last episode or two did not leave me utterly cold. Hoping this trend continues, though I stand by my critiques of the first handful of episodes! -ClaireDamn it Claire, I was *also* going to say “Ted Lasso”! I’ve also been catching up on “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” which is a wild fucking ride this year. -EmmaWe’ve been reading…Sally Rooney (see previous newsletter), Maggie Shipstead’s Great Circle (it’s long but worth it!). Also, if you’re into no-holds-barred reviews (and I am!!!!), it’s been a prime week or so in book criticism. Dale Peck’s blistering pan of Andrew Sullivan’s Out on a Limb: Selected Writing 1989–2021 in The Baffler is a treat, and both Andrea Long Chu and Charlotte Shane published bracingly rigorous reviews of Maggie Nelson’s On Freedom: Four Songs of Care and Constraint in Vulture and Bookforum, respectively. -ClaireJust started Jill Gutowitz’s forthcoming essay collection, Girls Can Kiss Now, which explores queerness, identity and desire through the lens of pop culture. -EmmaWe’ve been buying…There was a new Hill House drop this week, so… like, are multiple ruffly smocked dresses winging their way to me right this second? No comment. -ClaireHill House, you say? No no, I definitely didn’t buy a very unnecessary transitional quilt coat and extremely Cher Horowitz-meets-cottagecore dress. Never heard of it. -EmmaWe’ve been listening to…Remember Ryn Weaver? I was algorithmically served “Pierre” by Spotify after another artist’s album ended (apparently this was a TikTok thing months ago but I missed it), and I realized I’d never actually listened to anything of hers after “Octahate” and “Promises.” Turns out her 2015 album “The Fool” has some bangers! -ClaireKacey! Freaking! Musgraves! I know it’s perhaps an obvious choice, but I’ve had “Star-Crossed” on repeat since it dropped. I’m a sucker for a thoughtful heartbreak album. -EmmaShare Rich Text