Full Circle

Steven Soderbergh’s Full Circle has a lot going for it on paper: a high-stakes kidnapping plot, a star-studded cast, and the director's signature touch. Unfortunately, the result is a messy, overcomplicated web of interwoven storylines that collapses under its own weight.

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Let’s start with the good news: Claire Danes absolutely nails her role as Sam, a mother on the brink of unraveling. Her performance is a masterclass in restrained hysteria, as she navigates her character’s emotional breakdown with finesse. Timothy Olyphant, playing her husband Derek, is solid if not spectacular, while Dennis Quaid, sporting a questionable rattail, brings a dose of absurdity to the proceedings as a celebrity chef caught up in the chaos.

But for every standout performance, there’s a character whose delivery feels overcooked. Zazie Beetz as Postal Service inspector Melody Harmony – yes, that’s really her name – gives an uneven, almost distracting performance. Her attempts at eccentricity feel forced, pulling focus from the narrative rather than enhancing it. Similarly, Jharrel Jerome’s portrayal of Aked, though brimming with intensity, occasionally veers into melodrama, making his character's actions feel less menacing and more theatrical.

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The plot? Buckle up, because this is where Full Circle falters. What begins as a relatively straightforward kidnapping plot quickly spirals into an overstuffed, tangled mess of conspiracies, old family secrets, and bizarre occult rituals. By the third episode, I found myself more interested in checking my phone than keeping track of who was betraying whom or which subplots were still relevant. Soderbergh’s direction, usually sharp and immersive, can’t quite save a script that feels like it's trying to juggle too many storylines at once. The constant back-and-forth between different schemes and hidden agendas makes it easy to lose interest and hard to stay invested.

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As the series progresses, the plot starts losing its grip on reality. The show’s believability suffers as each new twist feels less like an organic development and more like a desperate attempt to keep viewers hooked. By the time the final episode rolls around, the story has twisted itself into so many knots that it’s hard to care about the resolution.

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That’s not to say the show is without its redeeming qualities. There are moments when Full Circle shines, largely thanks to Soderbergh’s directorial style. His use of handheld cameras and close-up shots gives certain scenes an intimacy that makes you feel like you’re right in the room with the characters. And when the plot slows down enough to focus on character development, there are glimpses of the show that could have been – a tense family drama hidden beneath layers of convoluted storytelling.

In the end, Full Circle feels like a classic case of “too much of a good thing.” There’s a great show buried in here somewhere, but it’s hard to find amid the overly complex plotting and uneven performances. If you’re a fan of Soderbergh’s work or just enjoy a good puzzle, you might find some satisfaction in untangling this web of deceit. But for most viewers, it’s likely to feel like a drawn-out exercise in frustration.