The Secret Circle

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Witchy thriller has sexy edge that's best for mature teens.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that teens will be drawn to this supernatural thriller based on a book series by L.J. Smith partly because of its similarities to the author's other hit story, The Vampire Diaries. The stars of this show are teen witches (both male and female) who set out to uncover the truth to their families' mysterious past and master their craft now that their powers are in full swing. This being a teen-targeted drama populated by impossibly beautiful characters, love (or, at least, lust) is always in the air, and there's a sexy edge to the teens' relationships. Expect some partial nudity (bare torsos for guys, bras or naked upper backs for girls), intense make-out scenes, and the unspoken assumption of intercourse. Bullying, emotional manipulation, betrayal, and duplicitous motivations are integral to the suspenseful plot, and violence sometimes leads to death.

  • Most of the main characters intend to use their supernatural gifts for the greater good, but at least one lets the power get to her head and has trouble understanding the responsibilities that accompany her abilities. Social dynamics are complicated by a love triangle and a manipulative mean girl who likes to make her own rules, regardless of their effects on the group. Characters' loyalties are questionable and often difficult to determine. Viewers see a teen cope with the loss of a parent. On the up side, the teens must learn to get along for the sake of their powers.
  • Adults aren't always reliable role models, as many have secret agendas and seem willing to manipulate the teens' actions for their own benefit. Most of the characters acknowledge their responsibility to minimize the impact of their powers, but one in particular is reckless with hers and threatens lives because of it.
  • Sometimes teens use their powers to hurt or kill people, and other fights turn bloody. There's a consistent sense of doom lurking throughout the show, and malevolent witches use their powers to set deadly fires and induce drownings.
  • Kissing, some making out, implications of sex. Girls are shown in bras, and guys are shirtless at times. Complicated love triangles bring out the worst in some teens.
  • Occasional use of "hell," "sucks," "slut," and words like "idiot."
  • Some advertising (for Bing) appears on the screen during the show, and characters from the series are appearing in commercials that air in conjunction with the show.
  • Adults sometimes drink and talk about being drunk. In at least one instance, teen witches take a mood-altering substance called "Devil's Spirit," with disastrous results.

What's the story?

Cassie Blake (Britt Robertson) is an average teen whose world is rocked when a fire kills her mother and forces her to movie into her grandmother's house in a small Washington town. Soon after she arrives, she learns that she's part of a coven of witches whose power is compete now that she's in the presence of her new peers, Diana (Shelley Hennig), Faye (Phoebe Tonkin), Melissa (Jessica Parker Kennedy), Adam (Thomas Dekker), and Nick (Louis Hunter). When she finds a letter from her mother confirming her identity, Cassie is drawn into a world of powers, curses, dangerous adversaries, and long-hidden secrets about hers and all of the families in Chance Harbor. Things get more complicated with the arrival Jake (Chris Zylka), who brings his own mysterious past to the mix, and later the return of Cassie's father, John Blackwell (Joe Lando), who has his own set of secrets to keep.


Is it any good?

 

This fast-paced thriller rides the supernatural wave to certain popularity among teen viewers, who will find many similarities between the Twilight story and this one, which also follows a newcomer to a small northwest town with secretive residents and a mysterious history. Here it's witchcraft rather than yin and yang of werewolves and vampires, but it's the enticing suggestion that things aren't always what they seem on the surface that beckons to thrill-seeking viewers. Of course, drop-dead gorgeous stars and complicated love triangles don't hurt, either.

Sexual content and violence are the main issues to consider in this show. The fact that they're witches doesn't make these teens any less susceptible to the social struggles of this age group, either, and instances of peer pressure, competition, and jealousy are even more glaring when the players involved have powers that can maim or kill. Generally the show's themes veer toward the positive, showing teens choosing the common good over personal desires, but there are some moments when selfishness and retaliation win out. On the plus side, the show is enjoyable enough that it's a truly fun watch for you and your teen to share.


Explore, discuss, enjoy

  • Families can talk about the appeal of supernatural series like this one. Why are fans so drawn to shows about vampires and witches? Do you think this implies that people believe in the supernatural? Do you think this trend will pass, or is it here to stay?

  • What are this show's messages about relationships? Do you believe that destiny plays a role in love? What factors are essential in a successful relationship?

  • If teens have read the books upon which this show is based, talk to them about how the series compares to the original story. Was anything important altered for the show? Do you think this impacted the story?


This review of The Secret Circle was written by
Adult
October 17, 2011
 
Highly sexual content
I am a parent of a 9-year old who loves fantasy and magic stories but is a young-minded preteen who isn't ready for sexual content. After watching the first 4 episodes of The Secret Circle, I personally think it's not for any kid under 16. There is very graphic sexual scenes between high school students. They show two friends having habitual sex, with the boy doing it for fun and the girl secretly liking him. The scene is very explicit with showing the girl removing shirt and taking bra off with full back view. The only way there was no frontal nudity was that she was slightly angled. The latest episode had a high school couple about to have sex and showed foreplay by having whipped cream placed on neck and chest and then moving to the bedroom with girl only in lace bra and panty. It got even more explicit. So needless to say, this is not appropriate for children.
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Adult
November 2, 2011
 
Mature
Some violence, few suggestive scenes, frightening images. Suitable for teenagers.
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Teen, 13 years old
October 6, 2011
 
secret circle
who ever reviwed this should really check up on the show more often it has alot of sex and violence
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Teen, 13 years old
November 4, 2011
 
good show
I think this show is fantastic. Just love it
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Teen, 14 years old
November 12, 2011
 
Intense, NOT for younger children, but good
Really good show! I guess they didn't update the review on here because there is a lot more than "a few forbidden kisses" in this show. Younger children shouldn't watch this because of the teen sex and violence, but older teens will love this show. Make sure that the person watching this show knows about how sex is wrong if its not with the person you are truly in love with, and that the violence and demon possession is not real.
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Teen, 15 years old
December 30, 2011
 
I love this show!
I have to say, i fell in love with this series ever since it came out, and haven't missed one freakin episode! Cassie Blake is a shy, blue-eyed girl who just suffered her mother's death and is forced to move into a new town, where she finds that everything she thought to be true about herself - who she was, her background, and who her parents were- is not half true. She's a witch, and she doesn't want to be. At the first episode, she is shy and not very outgoing, hiding from social situations and hardly standing up for herself. By the end of the first seasion (or the mid-season finales) she is strong, a leader, determined and in love. She is still a little shy and stutter-y around people, but she has strong opinions and believes in what is right, and won't leave until justice is served. She trusts people and has every trait a leader should posess, and she seems to become and act as if she is the new leader, rather than a shy and weak female, she is the strongest character there. Cassie's qualities, as before mentioned in above paragraph, have great value and make her a good role model for kids. If kids act like Cassie blake, they'll become strong leaders as well, and i'm happy to say that finally TV came up with a true heroine. The boys and girls in this show are realistic and deal with situations as best as they can. I have to say, sex isn't very harsh. There is a lot of kissing and making out, but mostly it's just implied as well as "clothing" - characters such as Diana Meade and Fay Chamberlain wear slutty clothings around boys at times, and Fay loves having sex, drinking and showing skin and breasts. In fact, i'd say that the biggest thing the show has going for it is the makeout scenes, slutty clothing and drinking. There is lots of highschool parties complete with drinking, spin the bottle and such, but it's not so inappropriate. Know your kid - if they are mature enough not to be influenced, then just let them watch it. Nothing under the age of 10, though, would be appropriate, and ten is quite a stretch. I think eleven is MAYBE all right, and twelve is perfect, as most twelve year olds are mature enough to handle the brief sexual kissing and clothes. The drinking, might be a bigger problem, but twelve and up kids can surely handle it well. I love the show. The plot, actors, everything in it makes me want to watch even more. I can't say CW has a better show, ever.
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Adult
February 12, 2012
 
Woah.
The sexual behavior in this show surprised me seeing as it's marketed to teens. Lots of sexual scenes between two of the main characters that had me raising my eyebrows and thinking I was watching Grey's Anatomy with an extra dose of anatomy.
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Teen, 16 years old
February 2, 2012
 
the review
it's nice but somthings are not for kids
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Kid, 11 years old
April 19, 2012
 
11 and up
great show, it is age appropreat for all children over the age of 11
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Teen, 13 years old
March 3, 2012
 
The Secret Circle is great!
I like this show its really good! Thought it has some scary scenes that gave some of my friends nightmares. And the people who do the review didn't do the best job as it has a lot of sex and violence. But in the end I would say its a great show and recommend to any older teens and mature young teens.
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This review of The Secret Circle was written by
This review of The Secret Circle was written by
 

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