The Secret Circle (TV series)
Encyclopedia
The Secret Circle is an American television series broadcast on The CW Television Network
. It was developed by Andrew Miller
, based on the book series of the same name
written by L. J. Smith
. On May 17, 2011, The CW announced they had picked up the pilot
as a series. It premiered on Thursday, September 15, 2011.
On October 12, 2011, The CW ordered a full first season of the series, which will consist of 22 episodes.
Cassie Blake is a sixteen-year old troubled teenager who is learning to adjust to her new life in Chance Harbor, after the tragic death of her mother, Amelia. Orphaned and deeply saddened, Cassie moves in with her warm and loving grandmother, Jane. After being enrolled into a local high school, Cassie comes into contact with five unlikely friends, Adam, Diana, mean girl Faye, her sidekick Melissa, and a brooding loner Nick. After her new friends explain that they are all descended from a powerful lineage of witches, and that they need her in order to complete their circle, Cassie refuses to believe them - until Adam shows her how to unlock her magical powers. However, it isn't until Cassie discovers a message from her mother in an old leather-bound book of spells that she understands her true and dangerous destiny. What Cassie and the others don't yet know is that darker powers are at play, powers that might be linked to the adults in the town, including Diana's father and Faye's mother - and that the death of Cassie's mother might not have been an accident.
Recurring characters for the first season include, Chris Zylka
as Jake, Nick's bad boy brother,
Emily Holmes
as Amelia Blake, Adam Harrington
as Ethan Conant, Arlen Escarpeta
as Holden Glaser, Bianca Lawson
as Karima Glaser, Dustin Milligan
as Jamie Dollanger, Logan Browning
as Sally Matthews. Tom Butler
as Henry Chamberlain, and Hiro Kanagawa
as Calvin Wilson.
. On February 8, 2011, The CW
picked up The Secret Circle with Dawson's Creek creator and The Vampire Diaries co-creator/executive producer Kevin Williamson now attached. However, he told The CW that The Vampire Diaries companion series he was helming had been put on hold in order to focus on The Secret Circle. Williamson worked on an original script penned by Andrew Miller
, creator of the Emmy-nominated web series Imaginary Bitches
, with writer credit shared by both men.
On February 16, 2011, The Secret Circle booked Liz Friedlander
to direct the pilot. Friedlander also directed episodes for The Vampire Diaries
, Pretty Little Liars
, 90210
and One Tree Hill
.
On October 12, 2011, The CW ordered a full season of twenty-two episodes.
giving a score of 55 out of a 100 based on 20 Critics. Lloyd Roberts of the Los Angeles Times
thought the pilot was "splendidly rendered; effective in the expected ways in a way that makes you forget you expected them." He then wrote "Director Liz Friedlander aims not just for creepiness but for a tremulous sense of beauty that reflects the heightened sensibilities and hair-trigger sensitivities of adolescence" and appreciated the actors "who are good to look at, but also bring a little soul to their roles." First Stop News gave the premiere episode a rating of 7/10, saying that the episode was "incredible", and praised the premise, but criticized some of the performances.
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The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
. It was developed by Andrew Miller
Andrew Miller (actor)
Andrew Miller is a Canadian actor, writer, and director.- Career :Miller began his career as an actor at age 16 in Toronto, Canada. Early theater roles include Moritz Stiefel in Frank Wedekind's Spring Awakening and Eugene Morris Jerome in Neil Simon's Brighton Beach Memoirs...
, based on the book series of the same name
The Secret Circle
The Secret Circle is a fictional novel series created by L. J. Smith. The series revolves around thirteen teenage witches that form an infamous coven known as 'The Secret Circle'....
written by L. J. Smith
L. J. Smith (author)
Lisa Jane Smith, known professionally as L.J. Smith, is an American author of young-adult literature. Her books, which combine elements of the genres of supernatural, horror, science fiction/fantasy, and romance, are populated with young and apparently young human and supernatural characters...
. On May 17, 2011, The CW announced they had picked up the pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
as a series. It premiered on Thursday, September 15, 2011.
On October 12, 2011, The CW ordered a full first season of the series, which will consist of 22 episodes.
Synopsis
Set in the fictional town of Chance Harbor, Washington, the series revolves around six teenage witches who form an infamous coven known as 'The Secret Circle'.Cassie Blake is a sixteen-year old troubled teenager who is learning to adjust to her new life in Chance Harbor, after the tragic death of her mother, Amelia. Orphaned and deeply saddened, Cassie moves in with her warm and loving grandmother, Jane. After being enrolled into a local high school, Cassie comes into contact with five unlikely friends, Adam, Diana, mean girl Faye, her sidekick Melissa, and a brooding loner Nick. After her new friends explain that they are all descended from a powerful lineage of witches, and that they need her in order to complete their circle, Cassie refuses to believe them - until Adam shows her how to unlock her magical powers. However, it isn't until Cassie discovers a message from her mother in an old leather-bound book of spells that she understands her true and dangerous destiny. What Cassie and the others don't yet know is that darker powers are at play, powers that might be linked to the adults in the town, including Diana's father and Faye's mother - and that the death of Cassie's mother might not have been an accident.
Cast
- Cassie Blake, played by Britt Robertson, the series central character, who is a newly discovered witch. She moves to Chance Harbor after her mother Amelia is killed and joins the Secret Circle, a group with five other witches. At first she hates the idea of being a witch and being in a 'secret cult', but then she accepts her true nature and eventually joins the secret circle of witches. Cassie and Adam share a strong mutual attraction, due to the fact that they are supposedly destined to be together. It is later revealed that Cassie's magic comes from both her mother's side (Blake) which dates back to the origins of witchcraft giving her the power to lead her circle, as well as black magic from her father (John Blackwell, a direct descendant of Francois Balcoin - the head of the most powerful family of dark magic witches) which makes her a stronger witch than the rest of the circle.
- Adam Conant, played by Thomas DekkerThomas Dekker (actor)Thomas Alexander Dekker is an American film and television actor and a musician. He is also a singer and has written and produced two albums. He is best known for his roles as John Connor in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Nick Szalinski on Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show, and Zach...
, is one of the two male members of The Secret Circle. Adam becomes attracted to Cassie as soon as he meets her and has feelings for her even though he's been dating the leader of the coven, Diana, for years. Adam helps Cassie accept that she is a witch and teaches her how to use magic, showing her that it's not all bad, bringing the two closer together.
- Charles Meade, played by Gale HaroldGale HaroldGale Morgan Harold III is an American actor widely known for his roles on Queer as Folk, Desperate Housewives and Hellcats.-Early life:...
, is the father of Diana Meade, and the main antagonist. At the start of the series, he is shown to be the man who caused the fire that killed Cassie's mother, Amelia Blake. Charles will do whatever it takes in order to have his way.
- Faye Chamberlain, portrayed by Phoebe TonkinPhoebe TonkinPhoebe Jane Elizabeth Tonkin is an Australian actress and model. She is best known for portraying Cleo Sertori in H2O: Just Add Water and Fiona Maxwell in Tomorrow, When the War Began...
, is the daughter of Principal Chamberlain, who is the reckless one of the group. She uses her magic for her own selfish desires and struggles for power within the group. In Episode 9, "Balcoin", it is hinted that Faye may be the daughter of John Blackwell (Cassie's father), especially since her mother had a thing for him.
- Diana Meade, portrayed by Shelley HennigShelley HennigShelley Catherine "Shell" Hennig is a beauty pageant titleholder from Destrehan, Louisiana who held the Miss Teen USA 2004 title. She is also an actress who played Stephanie Johnson on Days of our Lives...
, is assumed leader of the coven. She quickly befriends Cassie with her positive and infectious attitude and gets her to put her magical powers to good use. Diana is always looking out for the circle and making sure the right decisions are made. Diana is dating Adam Conant and soon realizes his attraction to Cassie. She was told about Cassie and Adam being destined to be together and it soon resulted in their breakup.
- Melissa Glaser, played by Jessica Parker KennedyJessica Parker KennedyJessica Parker Kennedy is a Canadian actress. She is perhaps best known for her recurring portrayal of the comic book character Plastique, in the Superman-inspired TV series, Smallville...
, is best friends with Faye, and an insecure girl. In the beginning, she feels she is in Faye's shadow and must learn to face her insecurities and become her own person. Eventually she realizes her feelings for Nick and the two start dating.
- Jane Blake, portrayed by Ashley CrowAshley CrowAshley Diane Crow is an American actress. She is most known for her role of Sandra Bennet on the television show Heroes.-Life and career:...
, is Cassie's grandmother and a nurse, whom Cassie lives with in Chance Harbor. She is also one of the other earlier witches and helps Cassie with her powers after Cassie confides in her.
- Nick Armstrong, portrayed by Louis Hunter, is the second male member of The Secret Circle. He lives with his uncle in a house next door to Cassie. He is known as a bad boy with a great physique, which he uses to his advantage. Nick lost both of his parents and is known as a loner in the series. He eventually gives into his feelings for Melissa and the two start dating. After Melissa is taken over by a demon it later gets inside Nick. Charles is left with nothing other than to drown Nick so the demon dies within him, Nick then dies leaving the coven with a tragic loss.
- Dawn Chamberlain, played by Natasha HenstridgeNatasha HenstridgeNatasha T. Henstridge is a Canadian fashion model turned actress. Her most notable on-screen roles include Species, The Whole Nine Yards, It Had To Be You, Ghosts of Mars, She Spies, the TV series Eli Stone, and the Canadian TV mini-series Would Be Kings, for which she won the Gemini Award for...
, is principal of the school which all of the coven attend. She is shown to care for her students and protect the coven, but unbeknownst to the world she is working with Charles Meade. In Episode 9, "Balcoin", Jane Blake reveals that Dawn had a relationship with John Blackwell when they were younger.
Recurring characters for the first season include, Chris Zylka
Chris Zylka
Chris Zylka is an American actor and model.Zylka was born Chris Settlemire in Warren, Ohio. He took his mother's maiden name as a stage name. Zylka began his career with a guest appearance on 90210 in 2008...
as Jake, Nick's bad boy brother,
Emily Holmes
Emily Holmes
Emily Holmes is a Canadian television and film actress.Holmes was born in Ottawa, Ontario. She has appeared in such television series as Night Visions, Mysterious Ways, The Dead Zone , Stargate SG-1, Dark Angel and more. In 2002, Holmes appeared in Steven Spielberg's Taken as Julie Crawford...
as Amelia Blake, Adam Harrington
Adam Harrington (actor)
Adam John Harrington is an Canadian-American actor and producer. He is known for his role as Roy Earle in the video game L.A. Noire.-Personal life:...
as Ethan Conant, Arlen Escarpeta
Arlen Escarpeta
Arlen Alexander Escarpeta is a Belizean actor. He is best known for his roles as Lawrence in the 2009 remake of Friday the 13th and as Mike in the 2010 drama Brotherhood...
as Holden Glaser, Bianca Lawson
Bianca Lawson
Bianca Jasmine Lawson is an American film and television actress.-Early life:Lawson was born in Los Angeles, California. She is the daughter of Denise and actor Richard Lawson. Bianca is also the great niece of Motown founder Berry Gordy...
as Karima Glaser, Dustin Milligan
Dustin Milligan
Dustin Wallace Milligan is a Canadian film and television actor known for his role as Ethan Ward on 90210.-Life and career:...
as Jamie Dollanger, Logan Browning
Logan Browning
Logan Laurice Browning is an American actress and singer. She is best known for playing Sasha in the 2007 film Bratz: The Movie and Brianna in Meet The Browns . She is sometimes credited as Logan L...
as Sally Matthews. Tom Butler
Tom Butler
Tom Butler is a Canadian actor who has starred in movies and on television series and in many TV movies.He best known for his television role on the science fiction series Sliders as Michael Mallory, the father of Quinn Mallory in the pilot episode. Tom reprised his role as Michael Mallory in the...
as Henry Chamberlain, and Hiro Kanagawa
Hiro Kanagawa
Hiro Kanagawa, born , is a Vancouver-based actor.He was born in Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan. He is perhaps best known as Principal Kwan from Smallville. His most notable anime role is Gihren Zabi from Mobile Suit Gundam...
as Calvin Wilson.
Development
On October 28, 2010, L. J. Smith announced that the series had been optioned for a TV series by The CWThe CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
. On February 8, 2011, The CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
picked up The Secret Circle with Dawson's Creek creator and The Vampire Diaries co-creator/executive producer Kevin Williamson now attached. However, he told The CW that The Vampire Diaries companion series he was helming had been put on hold in order to focus on The Secret Circle. Williamson worked on an original script penned by Andrew Miller
Andrew Miller
-Sports:* Andrew Miller , pitcher for the Boston Red Sox* Andrew Miller , cricketer for Oxford University and Middlesex* Andrew Miller , Canadian professional ice hockey player...
, creator of the Emmy-nominated web series Imaginary Bitches
Imaginary Bitches
Imaginary Bitches is a web series created by Andrew Miller that premiered on May 2, 2008. Season one comprises 13 five to seven-minute webisodes...
, with writer credit shared by both men.
On February 16, 2011, The Secret Circle booked Liz Friedlander
Liz Friedlander
Liz Friedlander is an American film, music video and television director.Originally from New York, Friedlander moved to Pennsylvania to attend the Drama Conservatory school at Carnegie Mellon University...
to direct the pilot. Friedlander also directed episodes for The Vampire Diaries
The Vampire Diaries
The Vampire Diaries is a young adult vampire horror series of novels written by L. J. Smith. The story centers around Elena Gilbert, a high school girl torn between two vampire brothers. The series was originally a trilogy published in 1991, but pressure from readers led Smith to write a fourth...
, Pretty Little Liars
Pretty Little Liars (TV series)
Pretty Little Liars is an American mystery-thriller teen drama television series created by Marlene King. Based on the popular series of novels written by Sara Shepard, the show premiered on June 8, 2010 on ABC Family...
, 90210
90210 (TV series)
90210 is an American teen drama television series developed by Rob Thomas, Jeff Judah and Gabe Sachs, and the fourth series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise created by Darren Star. 90210 is the first series produced by CBS Productions under the company's re-launch, but is now produced by CBS...
and One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill (TV series)
One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
.
On October 12, 2011, The CW ordered a full season of twenty-two episodes.
Critical reception
The pilot has been met with mixed reviews, with MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
giving a score of 55 out of a 100 based on 20 Critics. Lloyd Roberts of the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
thought the pilot was "splendidly rendered; effective in the expected ways in a way that makes you forget you expected them." He then wrote "Director Liz Friedlander aims not just for creepiness but for a tremulous sense of beauty that reflects the heightened sensibilities and hair-trigger sensitivities of adolescence" and appreciated the actors "who are good to look at, but also bring a little soul to their roles." First Stop News gave the premiere episode a rating of 7/10, saying that the episode was "incredible", and praised the premise, but criticized some of the performances.
People's Choice Awards
|-|2012
38th People's Choice Awards
The 38th People's Choice Awards, honoring the best in popular culture for 2011, will be held on January 11, 2012 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California, and were broadcast live on CBS at 9:00 pm ET.On November 8, the nominees were announced...
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External links
- The Secret Circle at MetacriticMetacriticMetacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
- The Secret Circle at TV.comTV.comTV.com is a website owned by CBS Interactive. The site covers television and focuses on English-language shows made or broadcast in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Japan...