Three women, one wild weekend: Netflix's ‘Sirens' redefines The Myth with dark humor and sisterhood

Time of India

23-05-2025

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It starts with a fruit bouquet and ends with fractured lives and unforgiving truths. For viewers who've ever felt lost between duty and ambition, Netflix's new limited series Sirens might hit close to home. On the surface, it's a chaotic black comedy set in a sun-drenched beach town. Beneath that, though, it's a sharp, emotionally rich exploration of the toll family fractures, memory loss, and female rivalry take on the soul.Sirens, now streaming on Netflix, opens with Devon DeWitt (Meghann Fahy), a gritty and grounded Buffalo native, picking up an edible arrangement from her porch after a stint in jail. Her search for answers leads her to her younger sister, Simone (Milly Alcock), who has been swept into the world of affluent socialite Michaela Kell ( Julianne Moore ) and her billionaire husband Peter (Kevin Bacon).Also read: Inside Netflix's 'Sirens': where Julianne Moore and Kevin Bacon's luxe mansion is actually located Devon and Simone are tied not just by blood but by years of unresolved grief and buried resentment. Devon, who sacrificed her future to raise Simone after their mother's suicide and their father's neglect, now watches Simone enjoy the glamorous spoils of Michaela's elite lifestyle. Simone, however, is unraveling. Despite living in luxury, she's abandoned their ailing father Bruce (Bill Camp), recently diagnosed with early-onset dementia, leaving Devon to carry that burden alone.As the Labor Day weekend progresses, the island becomes a pressure cooker of betrayal, class divides, and long-simmering family wounds. The show deftly uses its beachside setting to highlight the stark contrast between Devon's grounded reality and Simone's new life of curated perfection.By the finale, the house of cards collapses. A drunken fall by Simone's ex, Ethan (Glenn Howerton), sets off a series of revelations. Simone is fired by Michaela after a photo emerges of her kissing Peter, even though Simone insists she stopped the kiss immediately. Despite her loyalty, she's cast out, her designer belongings boxed for Goodwill and her foundation role revoked.Also read: Sirens Season 2: Is it happening? Here's what to know about the new Netflix series Simone's spiral continues as she teams up with Peter to retrieve the damning photo from Michaela's safe. Their alliance is short-lived, culminating in a final betrayal as Peter decides to leave Michaela and move in with Simone, revealing his true manipulative nature.Devon, choosing to return to her modest life and care for their father, symbolizes a return to what's real and grounded. On the ferry back, she and Michaela share a rare moment of understanding. Neither sees the other or Simone as the monster others do.Creator Molly Smith Metzler , known for her work on Maid, reframes the classic Greek siren myth through a modern, feminist lens. In her version, the sirens aren't villains but victims, misunderstood women whose cries are mistaken for manipulation rather than a plea for help.Sirens blends the suspenseful allure of coastal dramas like Big Little Lies with the emotional gut punches of family sagas. For fans of psychological thrillers and sharp feminist narratives , this series delivers both aesthetic opulence and emotional depth. It's not just a show about secrets, it's a haunting reminder of the cost of being unheard.