Full Circle is one of the latest shows to reach HBO Max’s library. This thriller mystery miniseries was written by Ed Solomon and directed by Steven Soderbergh and features quite an impressive cast. With two episodes out already, is the story about a botched kidnapping in New York as stellar as its ensemble? Let’s take a look.
What’s Full Circle?
Full Circle is a new miniseries from HBO Max. On the surface, the show is a crime mystery or a thriller about a web of gangsters and global interests in the city of New York. However, as we just mentioned, Full Circle was directed by Steven Soderbergh, who is behind blockbusters like Ocean’s Eleven and The Magic Mike franchise. So, this means things are definitely NOT going to be simple. The more you watch, the more secrets you can expect to be inevitably revealed. And, what’s more important, we know we’ll also have to deal with the same events being told from different perspectives.
One of the things that makes this new series stand out is, no doubt, its cast. Just looking at the poster, you can tell the producers were planning for a character-driven story.
Let’s start with Timothy Olyphant and Claire Danes, who play the parents of abducted Ethan Stoddard, all of which are great at capturing privilege. There’s also the abductors, of course, Jherrel Jerome, Sheyi Cole, and Gerald Jones (whose characters are not all capable of making sound choices), and Zazie Beetz, a Postal Inspection Service officer investigating a series of scams, and her superior, played by Jim Gaffigan.
So, Should You Watch Full Circle?
Some critics have said you should watch Full Circle just for the cast (the power couple, the crime syndicate members, etc). Now, not everyone has loved the first two episodes we’ve gotten so far. Steven Soderbergh has a specific style that relies on characters driving the story forward, so there is definitely a focus on their actions. In other words, expect a lot of dialog (sometimes mundane), and some repetition as you follow different people around the city.
If you liked Soderbergh/Solomon’s 2021 No Sudden Move (which premiered on HBO Max, too), then you’ll like Full Circle. Soderbergh’s camera work is particularly impressive, with excellent shots that visually connect the characters and their very different worlds. However, the script has received some criticism because it doesn’t always manage to keep things consistent. The various motives and schemes are kept opaque for as long as the director can do it… which, in some cases, feels like too long.
All in all, Full Circle is an interesting thriller with a brilliant cast and a premise that, although simple at first sight, continues to develop episode after episode. So, we can’t wait to see the next four!
