The series is set in Los Angeles, and depicts the lives of the Fisher family, who run a funeral home, along with their friends and lovers.
In the episode, Nate experiences alternate realities during his coma, as he is instructed to choose between life and death.
He starts seeing different versions of himself, including one where he plays with Lisa (Lili Taylor) and Maya, and another where he learns to speak.
Lisa now works for neurotic film producer Carol Ward (Catherine O'Hara), whom Nate dislikes.
Claire (Lauren Ambrose) is now in LAC Arts, where she is specifically asked to draw "perfect circles" for her class.
Federico (Freddy Rodriguez) is enjoying his new stake in the newly rebranded Fisher & Diaz, but struggles to understand many of the concepts that come with his position.
Nate notes that this conversation is similar to the one he experienced in his coma, leaving him curious over his future with Lisa and Maya.
Club wrote, "It's his most intense déjà vu experience in an episode full of them, and it appears to solidify Nate's conviction that there was a meaning to those operating-table visions.
"[4] TV Tome gave the episode a 9 out of 10 rating and wrote "Despite the utter confusion, this was a bloody brilliant way to open Season Three, even if the show steeps into fantasy territory more than Ball and co may be willing to admit (although they do acknowledge that unlike their Emmy rivals, they have a "cult" appeal) and this foreshadows the inevitable darker than usual tone this season is set to take.
The “Perfect Circles”’ opener is a shock, but by giving us these possibilities and also the reality of Nate surviving, we get to have our cake and eat it too.