Directed by Steven Soderbergh (Oceans trilogy, Erin Brockovich, and more recently, Kimi), Full Circle is a twisty and stylish noir that takes a while to grasp, what with its epic ensemble and sweeping storylines, but once that first thread of connection is made, it becomes a series that’s very hard to leave. Each episode leaves you excited for the next, which in turn ups the ante even more. Soderbergh is in his element, and aided by a stacked cast of veterans and newcomers alike, he turns in a series that’s expertly tense and watchable throughout.
An investigation into a botched kidnapping uncovers long-held secrets connecting multiple characters and cultures in present day New York City.
Postal inspector Mel Harmony (Zazie Beetz) realizes that a series of seemingly unrelated occurrences involving various individuals share a strange but vital connection.
Hollywood does not have the best track record when it comes to portraying foreigners, but it has admittedly come a long way, and nowhere is that more apparent than in Full Circle’s representation of Guyanese immigrants. Here, they’re not just background actors, and their beliefs and struggles aren’t just used to spice up a storyline; quite the opposite, they take center stage in a series that’s filled to the brim with different characters and side plots. In a stacked cast of a-list actors, it’s CCH Pounder as the kingpin Savitri Mahabir who steals every scene (though Danes certainly gives her a run for her money). And in the story’s intricate web of lies, it’s the Guyanese family curse that kicks everything into place. Full Circle pulls from many backgrounds and churns out many twists, and it impressively manages to juggle them all equally.
It’s the thinking man’s Knives Out.