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We begin with Cassie driving her car late at night, on an abandoned stretch of highway. Except it's not so abandoned. A car recklessly careens past her causing her to be all like, "Are you kidding?" That car's not kidding. A few seconds later, she gets a flat tire. Coincidence? Spooky music says no. Also, she gets out of the car and sees the fast car stopped on the road ahead of her. She waves for help but it speeds off. As she's trying to change her tire, she talks to her mother, who is cooking for her at home. She wants to come meet Cassie, though neither of them is very good at changing tires. Suddenly, the car that zoomed past Cassie is outside of her house, watching her mom. With what appears to be special powers, the guy from Queer as Folk kills Cassie's mom in a fire.
, teary Cassie is moving in with her grandma, into her mom's old room. She has never visited before because her mom was upset about Cassie's dad dying when she was just a baby. That night, as she's getting ready for bed, she sees some hot, creepy, shirtless dude staring in her window from door. She closes her curtains and walks away but turns around and they're opened again!
At school, she meets Principal Chamberlain who says that she knew Cassie's mother. A bunch of the kids at school have apparently been waiting for Cassie and it's all very menacing. One dude, Adam, keeps giving her the eye and one amazing bitch, Faye, appears to unlock Cassie's locker for her. "Nice girl" Diana shows up and offers to introduce Cassie to everyone at the Boathouse after school. She goes and meets this grizzled drunk, Ethan, who happens to Adam's father. Ethan calls her "Amelia's girl" and tells her that their families are written in the stars. Faye and her tagalong, Melissa, show up and weirdly taunt her about hooking up with Adam. She decides to leave and Faye makes her car set on fire, in the hopes that she'll use some power to put the fire out. She doesn't, but Adam saves her. He and Diana, who is his girlfriend, realize that Faye was to blame. Later that night, Diana confronts Faye at her house (she's the Principal's daughter!). Faye says that she didn't intend to set the car on fire. It was Cassie's energy that made it happen. They argue and Faye says that she will approach Cassie (apparently she's necessary for the function of their own powers) any way she wants.
The day, Cassie's grandma goes to Principal Chamberlain and questions if the kids in town are "practicing." She insists that they're not. Diana takes Cassie to this abandoned house in the middle of nowhere -- a room has been decked out with plants and stuff... and all of the witch kids, including Nick, the hot creepy guy from door. They tell Cassie that she belongs to a circle with the rest of them. They're witches with a super old legacy from the town that goes back before TV even. Without a complete circle (one person from each of the six old-school witchy families), they don't have the full access to their powers. They tell Cassie that she can't tell anyone, but she dashes. Adam follows her into the woods and proves to her that she's a witch by holding her hand and making drops of water hang in mid-air. So cute.
That night, Cassie finds Ethan and asks him about her mother. The creepy guy who killed Cassie's mother AND IS ALSO DIANA'S FATHER, Charlie, interrupts and Cassie leaves, but not before he tells her that her father was a bad man. Then, Charlie almost kills Ethan by magically planting water in his lungs. He's good with the water and fire. Faye, feeling her oats, starts a giant thunderstorm and, as we've already seen with the burning car, is unable to stop it. Diana almost gets struck by lightning and it's getting pretty scary when Cassie arrives and stops that freaking storm. She goes home and finds a letter from her mother, planted when she was a baby, saying that she didn't want this life for Cassie, but it's hard to run away from destiny.
Vlogger Sean Crespo sees absolutely no connection between Twilight and The Secret Circle. Nope, nothing at all. Except magical teens making out:
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Want more? The full recap starts right below!Hello, Secret Circle, I've been waiting for you. Your ads have been sufficiently tantalizing, your cast is above-average hot and I like my autumns filled with supernatural shiz. Here's hoping this is the beginning of a bewitching relationship. We begin with a voiceover from a woman: "My sweet Cassie, I didn't want you to have this life, but destiny's not easy to run from." Underneath, we hear this creepy young voice singing like finger-playing on the piano. I love it. I will be singing it non-stop, whenever something weird happens. I know this about myself.
Cassie is driving along a quiet strip of highway at night (and listening to Passion Pit?) when a honking car passes her recklessly. She's like, "Come on!" Then, she has a blowout, which magically (?) turns off her radio too. She gets out and the car that sped past her is stopped a few yards ahead of her. She waves at the car for help, but then it speeds off like a jerk. , she's calling her mom as she's trying to change her tire and this girl has as much chance of getting a lug nut off of a tire as I do fitting my foot into one of Kristin Chenoweth's heels. Her mom insists that she's going to come to her, but we see the same car that passed Cassie show up outside of her house. They don't have curtains, really. Driving the car is a menacing looking guy. The Canadian who almost married Susan on Desperate Housewives. Suddenly, the signal gets static-y and Cassie can't hear her mom anymore. The guy gets out of his car and walks towards the house, while draining a bottle of water (?). Then, he drops the bottle. Suddenly, the sink bursts in the house -- water is everywhere. The dude then lights a match and the stove flames up. She turns off the stove but he lights another match then another. Fire everywhere. All over the kitchen. She slips in the water and hits her head. Then, she comes to, gasping, "Cassie." She tries to crawl out but this guy just keeps lighting match after match and the fire engulfs the home and the mom really quickly. She's a goner. He lights one more cluster of matches and the windows in the home burst. Bye, mom.
A month later, we see Cassie overlooking a beautiful northwestern vista while standing beside her car. She wipes a beautiful tear from her beautiful face and gets back into the car and drives into Chance Harbor, Washington. She drives through a gorgeous suburb and stops and a lovely old home. She is greeted by her grandmother at the door. She hugs her and says that she should never have let Cassie drive by herself, but she says that she didn't give her a choice. She brings her into the house, where her mother grew up, and apparently she'd never been there before. She moves into her mom's old room and asks her grandma why her mom never came home. She says that Cassie had just been born when her dad had his "accident." That's all they really know. Cassie looks at an old photo of kids from the early '90s.
That night, Cassie is getting ready for bed when she sees from her window a studly dude with his shirt open just standing around his room. I'm suspecting that there's a mirror nearby that we don't see. And, perhaps an iPhone? You know the kids and the pictures and the naked these days. Epidemic. Anyway, he looks at her and saunters over to the window with a "coffee, tea or me?" sort of swagger. She's not having it. She shuts the curtains and changes her shirt. Then, she turns around and the curtain is open again! She looks out the window but doesn't see the stewardess. Those curtains are cute. This room has aged really well.
Cassie is getting ready for bed and humming the theme tune when grandma comes in. She says that her mother used to hum that tune all of the time and Cassie says, duh, she knows, that's where she got it. She asks Cassie if she's ready for the day at school and Cassie's like, meh. She says that if Cassie has trouble sleeping she can do as her mother did and count the stars. Cassie looks at her like, "I'm not trying to be camping right now, Grams." But, when she gets into bed she sees lots of glowing stars on her ceiling. Now she gets it. She looks at pictures of her mom on her phone. She should hook that up to a charger.
The day, Cassie meets with Principal Chamberlain, who is played by Natasha Henstridge. She says that she knew Cassie's mother well. She seems nice. In the hall, the stewardess is at his locker when this guy with seriously brooding eyes walks up to him urgently. The stewardess says that "she" arrived yesterday. And, that's all he's got. These two don't really seem to be that great of friends. We see Cassie wandering through the hall when she locks eyes with the brooding guy. He's really looking hard. She can't get into her locker when two girls show up. One girl with enormous eyes who is clearly evil starts a convo with Cassie by saying, "You're the new girl. You're very pretty." She tells Cassie to try her lock again then walks away and, you got it, the locker opens.
Another girl, this one looks like a good egg, walks up and says that big eyes was Faye and she's the "resident bad girl." Cassie says that she was convincing. She says that her name is Diana and she knows Cassie's grandma. She invites Cassie to the Boathouse after school. She'll show her around. "Everyone" hangs ut there.
Cassie follows orders and arrives at The Boathouse, which actually looks like a really cool place. I bet their gazpacho is rad. She wanders into the grille and looks around. Suddenly, this rather haggard dad-looking dude (who is kinda hot, if you ask me) sees her and says, "You're Amelia's girl." He tells her that he's sorry about what happened to her mom. He says that he loved her mom (as he pours himself and shot of whiskey and drinks it), which her dad apparently was not wild about. Imagine! He says that it was "written in the stars" though. Cassie looks confused. Suddenly, Adam, the guy who was staring at her from school, is behind the bar and taking the glass out of his dad's hands. No drinking in the daytime, apparently. But, it's OK to bartend when you're in high school. Washington State liquor laws are made for fun. His dad introduces them and walks away saying that Cassie is beautiful and WORD. This girl is so cute. Adam apologizes for his old man. They officially meet and Adam tells Cassie she can sit and he'll bring her a mai tai, I mean, menu.
Cassie sits in a booth and Adam asks her how her first day was. She reminds him that it isn't over yet. In China it might be. She is then joined by Faye and the other girl from earlier, Melissa. Faye says that Adam is hot and Cassie should make a play for him. We find out that the Principal at school is Faye's mom. Faye says that Cassie shouldn't be fooled by her nice act -- she can be a bitch. Seems like that might run in the family. Then, Faye says that Cassie is totally Adam's type -- sad and delicate. Clearly (and with good reason -- I mean, c'mon, bitch) offended, Cassie says that she's not feeling too delicate at the moment (which really isn't that great of a comeback if you think about it), so she's going to leave. See? Leaving is kind of a delicate move. Not her strongest semantic moment.
Melissa and Faye, who really loves to direct her lines facing her chin downward -- can't say I'm not into it right now -- watch her get into her car. Melissa says that she doesn't think that Cassie knows and Faye decides that she needs a nudge. Cassie's car won't start, then the engine catches on fire and the doors won't open. Faye keeps waiting for her to put out the fire, but bitch is just trying to get the hell out of the burning car. Adam arrives and starts to try to get the door open. Finally, he concentrates real hard on the fire and it goes out. He's also able to open the door and pulls her out. She looks delicately into his eyes. She's saved! And, her lip gloss is still perfect. Commercials.
We return and Cassie is sitting with Adam on the back of an awesome freaking jeep. Diana arrives and asks if Cassie is OK. Adam says that Cassie's engine blew as he looks at Diana like something else is totally the answer. Cassie says that it was really weird what happened. She says she's going to call her grandmother and Diana says, no, Adam will take her home instead. SHE SHOULD TOTALLY CALL HER GRANDMOTHER. Can you imagine, fancy Wiccan priestess or no, how furious your guardian would be if you didn't call them after your freaking automobile exploded? There are at least insurance and smoke inhalation medical care issues to discuss! Well, maybe she was just stunned after Diana tells her that the boy who has been making sexy warlock eyes at her is her own personal boyfriend. And, he takes her home. She is still perplexed about the locks in her car and Adam wonders if she didn't lock them when she was trying to unlock them out of panic. She's sure that she knows how to work a lock, duh. He tells her that he and Diana have been together for three years. Maybe Diana was sad and vulnerable when he met her but she seems kinda with it and strong and happy now. Faye's a damn liar. She doesn't know Adam's type AT ALL. She also doesn't know how to put out fires. He apologizes for his dad and she says that she thought he was sweet. So, I love the soundtrack on this show. Lots of pretty girl voices singing songs that make you want to cry or ride a bicycle though you can't even hear the lyrics.
That night, Diana goes to the Chamberlain home and tells Faye to lay off of Cassie. She says that it's reckless to test Cassie. Diana says that they're doing things her way, but Faye gets up in her face and says that she'll do whatever she wants. Diana says not to push her but Faye says she's not convincing in her badassness. These two.
Cassie gets into bed and turns out the lights. As she's staring at the star stickers, they start to move and shit. She turns on the light and calls for her grandma.
The day, Cassie is hustling down the street and bumps into the man that offed he mom. He introduces himself as a friend of her mother's, Charles. Some friend. Then, Diana shows up and Charles is her DAD. Wow. Diana just got a whole lot more interesting. Charles leaves the girls. Cassie's looking for her grandma. Since last night? Cassie says that Chance Harbor is a sideshow and she needs to find her grandmother. Diana stops her and says that she thinks she can help.
Meanwhile, after an apparent all-night rager, Grandma Jane finds Dawn, the Principal. She tells her that she suspects that the young folk are "practicing" and that could have horrible repurcutions. Dawn assures her that they can't possibly be doing anything like that. She promises to tell her if she finds out anything.
Diana takes Cassie to a clearly structurally unsound abandoned house in the middle of the woods. Hopefully, their magic powers include home improvements. They enter and find, in a nattily dressed up little room with plants and hammock, Melissa, Faye, Adam and the hot boy from door, Nick. I don't trust him with powers, that's all I'm saying. Cassie is freaked. They tell her that she's a witch. All of their families are witches. They've been around forever (1692) and when one person in each of their six families is together or something, they form a SECRET CIRCLE. Each family has a book of spells. Cassie realizes that Faye caught her car on fire. Diana tells her that, now that the circle is complete, there is a ritual that will allow them to control their powers. She thinks they're all insane, but Faye says that she knows Cassie believes them. Diana says that noone can know about them, but Cassie bolts.
Adam follows her into the beautiful woodlands. He tries to convince her that they're telling the truth. He tells her that something went wrong before and people were killed, so "they" abolished witchcraft. I guess that was in like 1995, when Sabrina was still on the air. Cassie says she doesn't believe, so Adam picks up a wet leaf and puts in Cassie's hand. He tells her to close her eyes and think about connecting with the leaf and the water. Then, he tells her to say, "A drop of water as light as air" which she does, but nothing happens. So, he holds her hand (nice one) and does it with her. Suddenly, the drops rise into mid-air. Then, you see that drops all around the forest have done the same thing. Trippy! Pretty visuals and nice acting -- they're really seeing those drops. She's delighted and Adam says that never happened before. Then, Adam moves in to kiss her. She stops and all of the water falls.
Back at the death trap, Diana seems a little peeved that Adam did magic with another girl. He tells everyone that their magic is way more powerful with her around. Diana says that they need to perform the ritual and Melissa says they need to do it before she tells her grandmother or anyone else. Faye isn't interested in finding Cassie or performing the ritual. She doesn't really want to control her power so much.
Cassie finds Ethan, Adam's dad, at The Boathouse. She asks about her mom and he says that she and Adam are written in the stars. He also tells her that her dad was a bad man and is interrupted by Charles. Things get tense and Adam shows up. Charles says that Ethan is in a bad way and Cassie bolts again. Meanwhile, Faye struts to the end of a pier and turns off lights on boats as she walks down. Oooh. It's sort of a metaphor for a young person finding their sexual power. She looks to the sky and asks for a sign and is given a lightning sign.
Diana finds Cassie and tells her that 16 years ago, there was an accident and the people who died were members of the last Circle, including Cassie's dad and Diana's mother. Diana doesn't think it was an accident though. She thinks that the remaining members of the Circle are trying to keep it from them. This is neither here nor there, but it just seriously freaked me out to hope that I could get an audition to play Nick's dad. I mean, these parents are so YOUNG! Oh God. I'm still vital, I swear! Cassie can't believe that her mother wouldn't tell her about all of this. Faye is conjuring up a big storm. She tells the sky to rain down on her. Way to ruin your outfit, crazy. Hope you can conjure up some cash for some more Forever 21. Diana runs up to her and tells her that she can't make it rain just because she can. "Uh, sure I can" -- Faye Chamberlain. Diana tells her to make it stop, then she's almost struck by lightning. Faye runs to her side and agrees to make the storm stop, but...you guessed it, crazy bitch don't know how to undo nothing at all. The storm is getting crazy when Cassie calmly walks to the end of the pier and concentrates and says, "Make it stop." And, it does. Send Faye your cleaning bill, girl. Cassie turns to the girls and says that she wants no part of this.
Jane sees that Cassie is drenched when she gets home. She says that she was just caught in the rain, nothing special. She goes upstairs and Jane clearly wonders what else is up. Meanwhile, Charlie pays a visit to Ethan. He says that Ethan talks too much, as a drunk and all. He threatens him with drowning, then suddenly he starts to drown on the floor, coughing up water. It's terrifying. Charlie says that this is his only warning and leaves. It looks like Ethan is dead, then he finally gasps for some air.
Jane calls to Cassie and tells her that she has a (very late) visitor. It's Adam and she'll be in the kitchen very nearby, thank you very much. Adam tells her that Faye is unpredictable. Cassie says that she won't be convinced to join their cult, but he says he's merely there to apologize. "Which part?" Damn. The part where he tried to kiss her. He says it never should have happened and he loves Diana. They agree that it won't happen again, then he leaves, but not before he reminds her that she's one of them and she's not alone.
Dawn is unlocking her front door when suddenly it flies open. She's scared for a moment but knows it's Charlie before she turns around. He tells her that he took care of Ethan. She says that they did the right thing by bringing Cassie there. She rolls her eyes when she says that she's her mother's daughter. BAD! And, she says they won't have to do anything to make Cassie do what they want. The Circle will do that without even knowing. Love it.
That night, as Cassie goes to sleep, the stars on the ceiling do their freaky shit again. This time, she just sort of enjoys it. Then, she hears movement from the fireplace. A part of the mantle molding is visibly loose. She looks inside and finds a super old family book. Looks like someone's going to be able to conjure up some family recipes. She also finds a letter with her name on it. It's from her mother, written in case this moment has come and Cassie is alone. She tells her that people will come for her powers. And her. Freaky finger-piano singing and... scene. Yes!
Jeff Long is a writer/performer in Brooklyn. He can be reached at jeff.long75@gmail.com or followed on Twitter at @jblong.