I remember when I first saw promotional material for Netflix’s Sirens, people were intrigued by the thought of it being a sapphic love story, but with a massive age gap. So I think it’s not unfortunate that this isn’t in fact a lesbian love story, but a twisted tale about manipulation, trauma, and familial love. Sirens follows the story of Devon, a young woman who finds herself in downstate New York, on a rich-people island, looking for her sister, Simone, because she needs her help to look after their ailing father. What Devon comes across is entirely shocking to her, though, because the Simone she knew has changed completely as the assistant of a rich woman named Michaela. Devon thinks she’s infiltrated a cult, and goes undercover because she believes she has to save her sister from this malicious cult leader. But does Simone need saving? Or is it Devon who needs help? This is the basic premise of the show.
If you’re interested in female-centric shows, then there’s no denying Sirens should be number one on your list of shows to watch this week. However, if that isn’t enough for you to enjoy something, then tread with caution. On the surface, Sirens feels like a mystery of sorts, and you might think it’s going to be a bit like The White Lotus or any of the other “eat the rich” shows and films we’ve been getting so many of lately. But Sirens is a satirical dramedy that centers largely around a sibling conflict. One that’s super entertaining, but may leave some of you disappointed, not by the sequence of events that follows, but by what comes at the end of that tunnel.
In truth, Sirens seems to be one of those shows that you’ll finish and then immediately discuss “What did you think of that ending?” with other people, but I feel like it’s a little bit lacking in the answers to that question. I guess what I’m trying to say is that rather than being deeply moving or highly convoluted, the show is basically a popcorn entertainer with some dark themes. But I think this is what makes the show stand out in the OTT context. It’s not written stupidly, in the mold of the plethora of shows that Netflix gives us, feeling like they were written by AI. Nor is it so intellectual that you need to take notes and go look up what happened at the end of the show online to fully understand it (but if you’re still curious, have a look at our explainer). I think the show hits the sweet spot right in the middle of this spectrum, making it perfectly bingeable.
Sirens is a limited series spanning only 5 episodes of around an hour each that goes down as smooth as the champagne the socialites on this show are drinking. There’s no denying that this is fun TV, and it stands out especially because of its incredible leading female trio. 25-year-old Milly Allcock of House Of The Dragon fame plays perky Simone, a Barbie with big dreams and a dark past that she must erase at all costs. Milly is innocent yet stern like Simone, but despite her young age and experience, she commands attention even when sharing screen space with her more experienced colleagues. When I saw Julianne Moore in Sirens, I couldn’t help but compare her character with Nicole Kidman’s in Nine Perfect Strangers, another opulent cult show with a woman at the top. I don’t know about you, but I feel the two women are in their “let’s have fun” era, hence taking on these morally grey characters (May, December being another standout) and playing them with excellent precision. Watching Simone and Michaela’s scenes is certainly the best part of the show, and on any other day, this could’ve ended up as a cute little sitcom.
But the true standout of Sirens has got to be Meghann Fahy, who plays the Y2K girlfriend, Devon. She’s like if the “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” had a baby with Barbie. I suppose the perfect blonde hair and the tall stance help in making Devon a character who fits in perfectly on this island, but only physically. But the reason she’s so fun to watch is because she’s got a great sense of humor and a marvelous chemistry with all the cast members, making her a favorite instantly. While Devon is a no-nonsense, straight-to-the-point kind of sister, Simone is the ambitious, goal-driven one who will put herself through anything to escape the exact thing that Devon is eager to hold on to. Allcock and Fahy are perfect as estranged sisters looking to reconnect. If you’re still not convinced and need just one reason to watch the show, make it Fahy and Allcock’s sibling chemistry. Kevin Bacon plays Peter, Michaela’s “born rich” husband, who has a bigger role than you’d imagine. He’s sort of random but goes through the show in stealth mode, making you wonder what he’s really up to. It’s all fun and games.
At the end of the day, Sirens is a show focused on family, but specifically female relationships wrapped up in a colorful (yet white) bow and filled with confetti, making it feel like a birthday cake. Visually, it’s enchanting, and the richness oozes out of the screen, draped in flowy fabrics and bejeweled in massive stones and lustrous gold. Oh, and I’m talking about the actresses too. There’s no denying that this is what Hollywood does best, and Sirens gets most of it right. Honestly, while I’m thrilled the show is just 5 episodes long, I wouldn’t have minded if there were more episodes, because it’s just so perfectly entertaining. But I think that’s what makes it so good, because it leaves you craving for more, wondering what comes next, and making up your own theories in the best way. Sirens should definitely be the next great thing on your watchlist. I give Sirens 4 out of 5 stars for being a total banger.
