Review: "The Secret Circle" is Worth Joining (Even if it's Nothing New)

Thomas Dekker, far left, Britt Robertson, third from left

Are there any teenagers who don't have some secret supernatural destiny or power?

You might be tempted to think there aren't, after all the movies and TV shows like The Vampire Diaries, Teen Wolf, Harry Potter, and Wizards of Waverly Place that show just that.

But to the current lot add yet another project about supernatural teens, The CW's The Secret Circle, which tells the story of a girl whose mother is killed, forcing her to move in with her grandmother in a small town. There she learns a surprising secret about herself: she comes from a family of witches, and she is one of six local teens who together complete a "circle" of powerful magic.

First, no, this show isn't breaking any new ground. It's based on a series of books by L.J. Smith, the author of The Vampire Diaries books, and all the standard "supernatural teen" conventions and clichés are locked firmly in place: plucky, virginal main character, swoon-inducing boy, seemingly loyal best friend, out-of-control "bad girl," and a cast of nefarious townsfolk like the local drunk who are not what they appear to be.

On the other hand, the show doesn't make any major missteps either.

To judge by the pilot, it probably won't end up being as brilliantly philosophical or meta-ironic as another CW show, Supernatural. Nor does it seem as over-the-top Gothic-camp as The Vampire Diaries.

But isn't there a place in the world for an earnest, somewhat angst-y, very watchable little show about teenagers who happen to be witches?

Gale Harold

The actors are certainly appealing, especially Britt Robertson as Cassie, the Everygirl who discovers she comes from a family of witches. Thomas Dekker plays her romantic love interest, and it's nice that he's a little rough around the edges, not the typical buffed-and-polished CW male teen.

And Queer as Folk's Gale Harold gets a chance to go back to chewing major scenery as Charles Meade, the show's handsome and (initially) charming Big Bad. There's a particularly effective scene where he threatens someone with drowning by magically showing them exactly what it would feel like.

The Secret Circle won't blow you away with its cleverness or brilliance. But it'll probably entertain you at least a little.

The Secret Circle airs Thursdays at 9 PM, premiering September 15th.