Circle

After Aliens arrive, the story takes place in two time streams: 2017 and 2037. In twenty years, and by 2037, the world has been divided into a “Smart Earth” where artificial intelligence has created a utopian environment in which no diseases or crimes exist, and an “Ordinary Earth” where people still suffer from rampant plague and lawlessness.

Circle (2017) is a South Korean science fiction mystery series created by Min Jin-ki and Sang-yeon Park for tvN, produced by Studio Dragon. Across a single twelve-episode season, the story moves between two timelines, 2017 and 2037, following characters such as Kim Woo-Jin (Yeo Jin-goo) and Kim Joon-Hyuk (Kim Kang-woo) as their lives tangle across the divide. Han Jung-Yeon (Gong Seung-yeon) and Detective Oh (Kwon Hyuk-soo) are among the principal figures drawn into the mystery. The engine of the series is the slow pull between two worlds: a near-future Smart Earth where artificial intelligence has eliminated disease and crime, and an Ordinary Earth still scarred by plague and lawlessness. Each episode peels back another layer of the connection, with the premise of alien arrival hanging over the proceedings. The tone is intriguing and atmospheric, mixing unease with a sense of conspiratorial discovery. Fans of Dark and Signal will find resonance in its layered time-split puzzle and its questions about technology, control, and what a society gives up for safety. The result is a cerebral, compact Korean thriller that rewards close attention and a single binge-worthy season.

• Dark (2017)shared parallel-world sci-fi mystery with a utopia versus dystopia split and a near-future AI premise
• Stranger Thingsshared alien contact premise, near-future conspiracy and a serialized mystery tone
• Signal (2016)shared time-split mystery where a detective pursues connected events across two eras

Created by

Min Jin-ki, Sang-yeon Park

Release Date

2017-05-22

Episode runtime

60 min

Rating

7.9 / 10 (35)

What is Circle about?

After aliens arrive, two time streams in 2017 and 2037 follow a utopian AI society and a plague-ridden ordinary Earth as their stories begin to connect.

What is Circle like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Circle as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.

Is Circle violent?

Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Circle as moderate.

Which shows are like Circle?

Shows with a similar feel include Dark (2017), Stranger Things, and Signal (2016).

How long is Circle?

Circle: 1 season, 12 episodes.

Is Circle still running?

No, Circle has ended.

Where can I watch Circle?

In United States, Circle streams on The Roku Channel, OnDemandKorea, Tubi TV, Amasian TV.