Episode 1 of Max’s new crime thriller is free to watch online – stream it here
The first episode of Full circlethe latest crime drama to be released on Max has been made available to stream online for free.
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Steven Soderbergh (Ocean 11, magical mike), the crime thriller didn’t make its Max debut until July 13. However, just over two weeks – at the time of writing – after the final episode aired on July 27, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) decided to release Episode 1 online to attract new viewers.
So, where can you watch it? YouTube of course. Anyone interested to check out Full circle‘s first episode can go to the official Max YouTube channel, scroll down the page until they reach the ‘New in 2023’ section and click Full circle‘s first episode (it’s the third video to appear). You can also watch the episode via the YouTube embed below:
Unfortunately for the British and Australian public, Full circle Episode 1 cannot be streamed in these countries. That’s because Max’s YouTube channel is region-specific to the US — one of the few countries where Max, HBO Max’s superstreamer successor, is currently available. Australians can catch it on Binge instead, and if you’re British, you can use one of the world’s best VPNs to get around this problem and stream Full circle free. But hey, you didn’t hear that from us, okay?
Before you look Full circlepremiere, you might want to know a little more about it. Since this is a crime thriller with tons of twists and turns, I can’t give at much about his plot. But for anyone interested, here’s a very brief but official synopsis of the story, courtesy of WBD: “An investigation into a kidnapping gone wrong reveals long-held secrets that connect multiple characters and cultures in present-day New York City. “
There is plenty of top talent both in front of and behind the camera. In addition to Soderbergh, Ed Solomon (Men in black, Bill & Ted’s excellent adventure) created and co-wrote the series. As for the cast, Zazie Beetz (dead pool 2, joker), Timothy Olyphant (The Mandalorian), Claire Danes (Native country), Dennis Quaid (Strange world, The parent trap), Jim Gaffigan (Luke), and Jharrel Jerome (If they see us) belong to the stacked A-list.
A streamable freebie, but you may not be impressed
This isn’t the first time one of the world’s top streaming services has made its content available online for free. For example, Netflix and Paramount Plus have special YouTube playlists with full episodes that you can watch for free. At the moment you can stream multiple episodes of it Our planet free on Netflix’s YouTube channel, or watch the very first episode of popular drama series Billions on Paramount’s YouTube channel.
It’s a new strategy for these streaming giants to use. Posting a full episode (or, in some cases, multiple episodes) of a show to YouTube — which, as I keep saying, you can watch for free — is worth it if it entices new viewers. Full circle‘s first episode on YouTube, enjoy what it has to offer and then log in to Max to watch the remaining five entries. If that happens hundreds or even thousands of times and Max’s paying user base grows, WBD’s game plan will have worked.
Unfortunately for WBD, it’s a scheme that may not be as successful true Full circle is worried. Per review aggregator website Rotten tomatoes, the miniseries is not universally loved by viewers, with a viewing rating of a whopping 57%. This is in stark contrast to the critics’ score, which at 79% provides more digestible reading pleasure.
The jury is therefore not out Full circle is really worth it. With the first episode available for free, you might as well try it. If it doesn’t leave you impressed, you haven’t lost anything (well, beyond an hour of your life). Alternatively, you can get caught up in its intriguing, noir-positioned plot and, as a result, take the plunge and subscribe to Max.
If you do, there are plenty of other brilliant things to stream on the platform. Our best Max shows, best Max movies and best Max documentary guides give you some tips on what’s worth watching first. But, if you are unmoved by Full circledon’t worry – just watch one of these five mystery dramas instead.