"The Secret Circle" Review: Have I Fallen Under Its Spell?
When I first saw the trailer for “The Secret Circle,” I actually snickered a little.
I mean, it was another teenager finds out she has powers story. And I had just seen that with “The Nine Lives of Chloe King.” So imagine my surprise when I found myself being entertained…
Cassie (Britt Robertson) is a 16-year-old living a normal life until her mother dies in a horrific accident—or what she thinks was an accident (We actually see what happens). Her mother’s death sends her to live with her grandmother and that’s where things get interesting as Cassie soon finds herself as the final piece in a secret circle of witches.
But teenage witches aren’t the only thing going on here. There are also adults with hidden agendas and massive powers of their own. Think of it as the Force versus the Dark Side. And, of course, there are the beginnings of a love triangle as Cassie finds herself attracted to fellow witch (or is that warlock?) Adam (Thomas Dekker), whose longtime girlfriend is the circle’s unofficial leader. And the attraction is mutual…
The premiere wastes no time in setting up the action as Cassie loses her mother in the first 10 minutes in one of the creepiest, yet coolest, death scenes I’ve ever seen.
Coming from the team behind “The Vampire Diaries” and based on a novel series by the author of the “Diaries” books, “Circle” is meant to be a good soapy drama for young adults with a cool sci-fi edge (Think of it as “Gossip Girl” with actual witches.). And I think it succeeds on both of those—at least in the premiere. Whether it can keep it up, remains to be seen.
“The Secret Circle” premieres Thursday, September 15th at 9 p.m. on The CW…
Photo Credit:The CW
