Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Full Circle’ Builds a Suspenseful Kidnap Mystery Where Nothing Is as It Seems

Alci Rengifo

The work of Steven Soderbergh jumps from genre to genre but maintains a keen interest in human nature. Whatever the plot may be, the characters are always the most fascinating aspect. The new limited series for Max, “Full Circle,” uses a kidnapping ploy as a stage to witness various characters act out their quirks, dishonesties and own little infernos. Created by regular Soderbergh collaborator Ed Solomon, it’s the perfect material for the director. Streaming has given a particular kind of broader freedom to Soderbergh, who began in the ‘90s as a major indie filmmaker. Famous for working with low budgets and being his own cinematographer and editor, TV lets Soderbergh endlessly create and put out new material. Solomon’s puzzle creates a scenario where we want answers, but we go along with the mystery because it’s absorbing to just observe the people.

It all begins in New York with a shooting in Queens, the victim turning out to be the brother-in-law of Savitri Mahabir (CCH Pounder), the Guyanese matriarch of an organized crime ring. Her spiritual guardian claims that he has found the man responsible for the misfortunes that have struck Savitri’s family and can end them for a cost. It’s the beginning of a web that then includes a wealthy family in the city, composed of Derek (Timothy Olyphant) and Sam (Claire Danes) and their adolescent son, Jared (Ethan Stoddard). They work for the agency that manages Sam’s celebrity chef father, Jeff (Dennis Quaid). Two teens arrive in America from Guyana, Louis (Gerald Jones) and Xavier (Sheyi Cole). Louis is the brother of Savitri’s masseuse, Natalia (Adia), who is deeply in debt with the matriarch. Lured with promises of better living in America, Louis and Xavier soon learn they too must work off their debt to Savitri. Her nephew, Aked (Jharrel Jerome) becomes their handler and quickly gets them involved in a plot to kidnap Jared, which is part of a larger plan to lift the Mahabir family curse. Meanwhile, a Postal Inspector named Mel Harmony (Zazie Beetz) is eager to prove herself at work despite having a reputation for erratic behavior. She’s looking into a case of insurance fraud involving local Guyanese and forced overdoses. It will lead her straight to the ongoing kidnapping plot.

There are a lot of pieces that at first deceive us into thinking this will be a show only about holding someone for ransom. As the actual kidnapping develops the story becomes an addictive combination of quirks and fresh layers of intrigue. Further mysteries and clues are strewn around. Who is the strange kid who’s been stealing Jared’s things, including his cell phone, and then begins online contact with wanting to meet? Then there is Mr. Clarence Joseph (Ted Sod), who lost a grandson and pushes the kidnapping plan with Savitri, which is meant to culminate at a makeshift circle in Washington Square Park in order to complete a circle of suffering. There’s also a circular meaning behind the figure Aked will demand from Sam and Derek, $314,159, which is the numerical value of pi. It’s precisely the kind of material Solomon and Soderbergh excel at. This is a director who takes familiar genres and throws in unique commentary. His 2022 HBO film “Kimi” was a hacker thriller that’s also about lockdown anxieties in the wake of the pandemic. 

After Aked, Louis, Xavier and another henchman seem to pull off the kidnapping the plot then does a total rug pull. Nothing is as it seems. The kid thrown into the back of a van is actually the boy who has been contacting Jared online, apparently dressed in his same clothing for whatever reason. But Aked and the guys don’t know that, and once Sam and Derek realize Jared has come back home after having snuck out, they now feel compelled to still do something for this stranger in serious peril. Much of it becomes dark comedy, especially with the arrival of Dennis Quaid as the celebrity chef who tries to scramble the cash by borrowing against his casino credit limit. He even pauses to autograph a copy of his book for the wife of one of the suits who brings the bags of money. Yet Solomon and Soderbergh don’t turn everyone into caricatures. Mel deals with the case while we get a window into her private life with a girlfriend who takes her to arthouse film screenings and museum galleries, despite Mel seeming more obsessed with her job. She corners Xavier in his neighborhood after connecting him to the forced overdose of a local wheelchair junkie. He takes her card and later calls, nearly giving up everything on the kidnapping plan. 

The supporting roles also pulsate with real authenticity. Mel’s crucible at work is dealing with boss Manny Broward (Jim Gaffigan), who would happily fire her and considers Mel a difficult personality. Savitri, played with restrained, slightly ominous charisma by CCH Pounder, is also surrounded by believable goons in Garmen (Phaldut Sharma) Paul (Kareem Savinon). They have that great air of an over-glorified crew who will try to carry out their bosses’ plan to the letter, despite not understanding every aspect of what’s going on. For the first few episodes we as the audience are also in the dark. There is much more going on, like a shot at the end of the second episode hinting at Derek having witnessed something during a ballgame that means much more for the bigger picture. Where there is a lot of money involved, anything is possible. Claire Danes and Timothy Olyphant are perfectly paired as a privileged couple not accustomed to this kind of sudden shakeup of their lives. Despite coming across as being very nice and orderly, there is much more going on underneath the surface. It’s the establishment of these personalities that makes “Full Circle” a thriller and brain teaser, a set of character portraits and an inviting puzzle. 

“Full Circle” begins streaming July 13 with new episodes premiering Thursdays on Max