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Travel + Leisure
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Travel + Leisure
A Gorgeous Lakefront Resort Just Opened in Massachusetts' Berkshires With 49 Luxe Cabins—and I Was the First to Stay
Prospect's location offers a best-of-both-worlds scenario with its secluded lake setting, charming nearby towns, and easy access to renowned cultural venues. Guests can dine and unwind on a sweeping porch that seats them over the lake. Each cabin has an idyllic perch, especially in the lakeside bungalows, where guests are just a few steps from a dip in the water. The hotel's seasonal programming is packed with fun activities, such as jazz at the pool, sunset paddleboarding, floral arrangement workshops, and cooking classes. Nature-based or 'landscape hotels' can often feel like carbon copies of each other. But once in a while, I come across a place that breaks out of the mold and reignites the spirit like a turmeric-ginger shot to the soul. I was recently caught off guard by a sizzle of such joy while pulling into Prospect, situated in a remote corner of the southern Berkshires. The site of 150-year-old picnic grounds, the 30-acre retreat welcomes you with open stands of white pine trees, cedar cabins seamlessly tucked into the lush landscape, and a glistening 56-acre lake. Prospect feels less like a tourist destination and more like a timeless return to camp. As much as this hidden Eden is an attraction on its own, the hotel isn't resting on its laurels. From the reimagined dining venue at the Cliff House to the cinematic pool area, the vibe is well curated and undeniably frolicsome. Back in 2021, the owners and creative couple behind the project, Ian Rasch and Jade-Snow Carroll, set out to transform what had become a dilapidated park with abandoned RVs into a restorative educational space, cultural center, and community hub for both overnight guests and the public. The restaurant and resort day passes aim to keep it that way. Panoramic views seen from a cabins dining room. 'Nature is the antidote to all that is happening right now,' said Carroll, while identifying a witch hazel plant on a walking tour of the grounds (navigable by foot, bike, or golf cart). Carroll also co-owns a block-printed bedding company, Sister Moons, and designed the interiors for Prospect, which is a love letter to her Berkshire roots (she grew up two miles down the road) and Cape Cod summers camping at Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. Rasch's formative years in Norway, spent sleeping in hyttes —cozy, wooden cabins symbolizing closeness to nature — also had a distinctive influence. Strolling among red maples, flowering dogwood trees, and wind chimes, the lake always twinkling at the corner of my eye, I had the urge to chuck my phone in the woods to cultivate presence instead of Instagram followers. The biophilic architecture, a major collaboration, led by Rasch and partner Roman Montano at their design-build firm Alander, includes an ecological restoration of the entire site, such as constructed wetlands to improve the riparian edge and water quality of the lake, the removal of invasive plants, and the addition of over 600 native trees, shrubs, and grasses. After a few short days, simple pleasures like a walk in the woods, a cold plunge, a good meal—and a dragonfly resting on my hand—were enough to send me back out into the world feeling a little more present than before. Below is my full review of Prospect. A view from one of Prospect Berkshire's cabins. There are four locations offering two types of cabin accommodations, each cabin cluster named for its unique setting: Lakeside, Lakeview, Knoll, and Hillside. All 49 Scandinavian-style structures face the lake, are pet-friendly, and hand-built locally with cedar, marble, and floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors. Every cabin is configured to lure guests into nature's playground, whether you're a couple booking a 135-square-foot King Hideaway nestled in the forest or a family staying in a 400-square-foot cabin a stone's throw from the lake. (Note that the Hideaways share a nearby luxe bathhouse with changing rooms, lockers, and showers with yellow striped curtains by Quiet Town.) I stayed in Lakeside cabin #7, overlooking the waterfront, with what felt like my own private swimming hole (though I was more than happy to share it on occasion with six fluffy yellow goslings). Inside the sunlit cabin, Carroll's minimalist approach reveals a few thoughtful touches: pre-loved books like "The Hobbit" and "The Pearl," a Bluetooth radio, a deck of cards, and a small pink acorn vase with a vine plant on the bedside table. In an age of constant connectivity, there is purposefully no TV or phone in the room, which I didn't miss, as the concierge would promptly reply via text message if I needed anything. While there is solid Wi-Fi available, guests may soon have the option to disconnect their individual cabin from it. I spent my time either reading on a comfortable bench with plush pink pillows beside a big picturesque window or on a wooden lounge chair with a sheepskin throw, made from the owners' herd of 40 sheep that will be making their Prospect debut in June. Classic lawn chairs can be found hanging in every cabin, and I wish I had thought to take one down to sit outside in the grass. Carroll said that picnic tables and Adirondack chairs will be added to cabin areas later this summer. I slept soundly on the organic cotton Sister Moons bedding, topped with soft MacAusland wool blankets from Prince Edward Island (available for purchase at the hotel store). Each room features an electric kettle with complimentary Share Roasters instant coffee and Rishi Tea & Botanicals provisions. Mini fridges will be stocked with picnic products by July. The spacious bathrooms have frosted windows, Sister Moons bathrobes, and biodegradable plant-based bath products from Oneka. An exterior view of The Cliff House. Scenic restaurants are a ubiquitous part of the Berkshires, yet the Cliff House may have them all beat for the best table with a view. With an expansive porch suspended over the water and wide windows—picture swooping blue barn swallows, hypnotic ripples, rustling maple trees, and rolling hills of the Taconic Range—this 5,000-square-foot space harnesses the power of Prospect Lake and fine culinary craftsmanship; every meal here is a thrill. During the restaurant's soft opening, I opted to play musical chairs, first sipping a sublime rhubarb gimlet on the outdoor porch, bedecked with grass-green Hays furniture, before moving to an emerald settee in the middle of the dining room. I had pintxos, a quiet firework of an anchovy bite with its skewered gordal olives, boquerones , and piquant Piparra peppers (a nod to Chef Damian Evangelous's Spanish travels), and a sheep's milk ricotta salad with tender beets, sweet grapes, and almonds. I overheard several guests raving about other appetizers, such as the asparagus with hazelnuts and the buttermilk-drizzled rainbow carrots. For the main course, I sat at a table by the window, where the lake glowed at twilight, and I enjoyed succulent Hudson steelhead trout accompanied by an aromatic sunflower salsa verde sauce. A kids' menu with staples like chicken tenders and pasta is available, but most young patrons were happily digging into whatever the grownups were eating. With the Mezze Hospitality Group at the helm, you can trust the menu is going to feature bright, eclectic dishes that champion small local farms. 'I came for Ian and Jade's commitment to enriching the Berkshire community,' said Nancy Thomas, co-founder of the hospitality company, which also owns Bluebird & Co. and Mezze Bistro. With the natural panorama being the chief design motif, the Cliff House is not an aesthetically demanding experience. (Carroll doesn't subscribe to 'decorating for the sake of decorating.') The interior's modern rusticity feeds off the warm cedar walls affixed with botanical sconces, the rich mahogany floors, and the American Chestnut beams that date back to 1876, when the building originally served as a viewing platform before expanding into a residence and tavern. The soaring 25-foot ceiling lends breadth to the space, which comfortably holds the main dining room, bar area, and a fern-filled lounge with a fireside marble bench. Above the emerald-colored Anthropologie chairs and leather sofa hangs a 1960s elk antler chandelier that Carroll, an antiques enthusiast, discovered and restored herself. At the swanky bar, flanked by golden Murano glass pendants from the 1970s, try another cocktail, such as the Delores del Rio with passionfruit, tequila, jalapeño, and lime, or the Prospect mocktail, a refreshing citrusy drink with palo santo and basil. The Cliff House opens at 8:00 a.m. for continental breakfast. From a corner table on the porch, I watched a fisherman reel in a catch while I enjoyed a cappuccino, fresh sourdough croissant, and a DIY yogurt parfait. A full brunch menu will launch on weekends in late June. A store located at the front of the Cliff House offers grab-and-go fare, sodas, and beers, some of which alcohol-free. Come June, the pool house will have slushees (spiked or not), chips, ice cream, and picnic offerings, including assorted seasonal salads and sandwiches available for order poolside. Loungers by the outdoor pool at Prospect Berkshire. Summers may be for swinging a racket and floating in the pool—and this one makes a chic splash with stark white chaise lounges and retro Tuuci umbrellas—but nature is in abundance at Prospect, and there are many fun ways to engage with it. A centrally located dock features two Sunfish sailboats, six stand-up paddleboards, and two kayaks for exploring the lake, where motorized boats are prohibited. Beginning in July, guided outdoor experiences will include bass fishing, sailing, birding walks, morel mushroom foraging, and hikes along nearby trails. An evolving events calendar will present movie nights and jazz at the pool, sunset paddleboarding, floral arrangement workshops, and cooking classes. If you're staying on days without programming, the general store at the Cliff House has painting supplies to inspire your inner artist. The hotel may be named after its eponymous lake, but the owners chose the name because it also means possibility. 'We would love if people came here and left with great memories and maybe something learned, a craft, a piece of art created, a pause in time,' said Carroll. There are five firepits set up throughout Prospect, and you can build your own fire. Complimentary s'mores kits can be found in the rooms. Beyond the two lakeside Finnish saunas and an additional two saunas at the bath house, there isn't a dedicated spa area. Come summer, Prospect will offer several à la carte wellness services, such as yoga, in-room massages, and facials. In addition to most on-site experiences being suitable for children, Prospect will unveil a forest jungle gym and an arts and crafts corner at the Cliff House by mid-summer. As much as I reveled in my free-spirited time at Prospect, paddling and swimming in the lake, and having a whole bowl of chocolate pudding to myself, I kept thinking about how I'd love to come back with my two kids and parents for a multi-generational vacation. Nature and outdoor adventure can be one of the best ways to bond as a family, and this place has something for everyone. Prospect offers two ADA-compliant cabins in the Knoll section, #33 and #35, and they are the only accommodations with adjacent parking spots. Rooms include roll-in showers, accessible toilets, grab bars, multiple stool rests, and more. Sustainability is an essential part of Prospect. Both Rasch and Carroll said the Prospect vision was to create a hospitality and educational experience using restorative environmental design, 'incorporating the complementary goals of minimizing harm to natural systems and human health, as well as enriching the human body, mind, and spirit.' All buildings are electric and equipped to meet the hotel's net-zero energy goals. The water system includes rainwater harvesting and low-flow fixtures. Over the next year, the Prospect team plans to continue cultivating the landscape through permaculture design, expanding a century-old apple orchard with additional fruit trees, herbs, and pollinator gardens. The general manager, Max Scherff, who previously worked at the historic Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, said, 'As we build out the infrastructure, we look forward to offering opportunities to our community—locals and guests—to participate in regenerative agriculture and restoration practices.' A cabin located by the lake at Prospect Berkshire. Egremont may seem way off the beaten path, but savvy travelers have been flocking here for one great establishment or another long before Prospect—there's hallowed music hall The Egremont Barn and nightlife newbie Hy's Fried (and pizzaiolo Rafi Bildner's much-anticipated Hilltown Hot Pies). Within a roughly 30-minute drive of the hotel, which is about 2.5 hours from Boston and New York City, guests can enjoy world-famous cultural attractions, such as Tanglewood, Jacob's Pillow, and Shakespeare & Company. A ten-minute jaunt north, you'll find the trendy town of Great Barrington, where Carroll recommends And All that Jazz, an antiques store for vintage treasures, and a five-minute drive east will bring you to the W.E.B. Du Bois National Historic Site, where the activist and NAACP founder's childhood home once stood. As this region is a hiker's paradise, spectacular trails abound. There's a beautiful 3.3-mile route along the Appalachian Trail and Alford Springs Reserve with its moderate 4.3-mile Father loop and 2.4-mile Mother loop, two under-the-radar trails that are great for birding. In 15 minutes, you can be at the popular 3.8-mile trek up Monument Mountain, where Herman Melville and Nathaniel Hawthorne did the 1,739-foot climb together in 1850. Prospect offers discounts for longer stays or multi-room bookings. A $30 daily 'adventure' resort fee covers activities like the pool, sauna, tennis, pickleball, and aquatic sports. Food and drinks are not included in the room rate. Nightly rates at Prospect start from $75 during the low season. During high season, nightly rates range from $175 midweek for a King Hideaway to $550 for a Lakeside Cabin on weekends. Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values.
Cosmopolitan
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
The mind-boggling final episode of 'Sirens' will make you rethink everything
WARNING: Spoilers about Netflix's Sirens ahead! Part of the draw of Netflix's new dark comedy series, Sirens, is figuring out the mystery of what the heck is actually going on. While the story is set against the backdrop of gorgeous Martha's Vineyard (a picturesque island in the American state of Massachusetts that's beloved by the mega wealthy), and everyone is wearing preppy attire in bright Easter egg colours, it's easy to sense that there is something eerie and just straight-up wrong. And, from the jump, we're trying to figure out just what is wrong. Why is Simone (Milly Alcock) so obsessed and uncomfortably close with her boss Michaela Kell (Julianne Moore)? Does Michaela have magical powers? Is she actually running a cult? The fifth and final episode of the miniseries answers all these questions — and more. Plus, it might just leave you questioning your whole viewing experience. Here's the ultimate breakdown of the Sirens finale. After her heart-to-heart with Michaela (a.k.a. Kiki), Simone is expecting a big promotion and is looking forward to moving to New York City to run the New York chapter of the Folger Glen Wildlife Preservation Society. But, in the episode leading into the finale, Michaela learns of her husband Peter's (Kevin Bacon) infidelity. A photographer came forward with a picture of him kissing Simone on the island, and this of course changes the course of Simone's career. Much to the delight of the other staff on the property, Kiki asks that Simone's belongings be packed in cardboard boxes and sent to Goodwill because she will no longer be staying or working at the Cliff House. This all happens while Simone is at the hospital, visiting her ex-boyfriend Ethan (Glenn Howerton) who had drunkenly fallen off the side of a cliff the night before. And so, when she gets back to the Cliff House (the Kells' house), she is totally blindsided and left in shock. Just when Devon (Meghann Fahy) was finally at peace with the idea of leaving her sister be, letting go, and going off on a month-long sailing adventure to Palm Beach with a hunky captain — everything feels like its falling apart again. Since Simone got fired, she, her dad, and her ex Ray (Josh Segarra) have been uninvited from the Preservation Society's gala and will no longer be meeting Buffalo Bills icon Jim Kelly. They're told to immediately pack their things and get ready to leave the island. Simone is already in the car with driver/ Peter's assistant/ Cliff House manager Jose (Felix Solis), ready to head to the ferry. But before they can leave, they need to make a stop at the police station because Ray was arrested for public her dismissal, Simone has been completely silent out of devastation. But while waiting as Devon tries to collect Ray from the police station, her dad (who has early-onset dementia) talks to her. He apologises for having neglected Simone as a child to the point of losing her to the foster care system, and says he'll do better this time when she comes home to take care of him while Simone is away. This freaks Simone out, and she runs away — all the way back to the direction of the Cliff House. Ray decides to leave the island on his own, and Jose drives everyone back to the Kells' residence because Peter asked him to take care of something before driving the DeWitts to the ferry. Jose tells Devon and her dad to stay in the car while he took care of the errand. Devon, of course, does not follow these orders and goes off on her own to try and find her sister. She heads straight into the gala and confronts Michaela, accusing her of all the things she's rumoured to be —a cult leader, a murderer, and a monster. But then Michaela is swift in shutting down these accusations and clears things up. As it turns out, Michaela did not murder Jocelyn by pushing her off of a cliff. Since Peter divorced her, his first wife has become a recluse on a remote island in Washington state. She became disfigured due to botched plastic surgery jobs, and has decided to lay low and has been doing so for the past 10 years. Ashamed for having spewed out crazy conspiracies about Mrs. Kell, Devon sees herself out and resumes her search for Simone. When Simone ran back to the Cliff House, Peter was actually the first to see her. They met at the beach, where he apologises for being the reason she lost her job and promises he'll undo the mess. But Simone tells him that she's got some info that she thinks is important for him to know. We find out later that Simone told Peter about the photo Michaela had of their kiss, and that she was hiding it in the house. That's why Peter had called Jose over, to find the photo and destroy it. This leaves him free to divorce his wife, without any repercussions—especially since she signed an airtight prenup that highly favoured him. Peter tells Michaela that he questions ever having been happy in their marriage, and that he blames her for ruining his relationship with his children. She rebuts that he decided to pursue her, he decided to divorce his first wife, and he decided to allow his children to demonise Michaela and therefore creating distance between them. Then he brings up the incriminating photo she was going to keep in the safe as an insurance policy in their marriage, and says "Good marriages don't need an insurance policy." Michaela again brings up a good point, saying that from the get-go Peter and his lawyers already made sure an insurance policy was in place, with an ironclad prenup that only valued Michaela for her ovaries and ability to bear children (which she never did). Michaela tries to fight to keep the aviary and the Preservation Society, but Peter says that Simone will take care of it. Simone later comes down the stairs in her beautiful gala dress, which implies that she will be the new Mrs. Kell. Michaela sees herself out, and Peter and Simone walk back into the gala together as a couple. Devon, too, finds her way back into the main event. That's when she sees Simone and Peter walk in together, with his arm wrapped on her lower back. When Simone sees her sister, she comes to talk to her excited about this new chapter in both their lives. She's going to be the head of the foundation and potentially the new Mrs. Kell, and Devon can go off and set sail to Palm Beach with her lover. This is when Devon gets real and expresses her disappointment at how easily Simone betrayed her former mentor and boss/ supposed best friend Michaela. To which Simone replies, "Am I not supposed to walk through a door that opens?" It dawns on Devon that there's no dissuading her sister, and that this is the choice she wants to make for herself. Devon then tells her that she's decided not to go away, and will be taking care of their father because she wants to. Simone may not realise it, but Devon takes pride in having taken care of her little sister and now to take care of their dad despite it being a thankless job. While Simone suggests that they can still see each other, when she flies into New York City sometime, the two sisters have tears in their eyes knowing this might be the last they see of each other. Devon knows that Simone is going to disappear into this all-consuming world of luxury, and that she's going to lose her little sister. She says goodbye, and leaves the Cliff House as Peter gives the gala toast. Devon and her dad are on the ferry, when she sees a familiar figure on board. Michaela is aboard the same boat, and Devon goes and sits beside her for a bit. She then apologises for her behaviour the whole weekend and all the accusations she made against her at the gala. Then, she asks Michaela what she's going to do now that she's divorced and lost the wildlife preserve, to which she says she has no idea. But she does have a suggestion for Devon: cash in the $10,000 check that she had initially given to her as a bribe to get off the island. At first Devon is hesitant, but then sees that this is something Michaela is offering out of the kindness of her heart. Devon then tells Michaela that she isn't a monster. The truth is, it's her circumstances that have made her out to be one. (And also, to some degree, her ex-husband IMO.) Michaela then reminds Devon that Simone isn't a monster, either.
The Review Geek
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Sirens (2025) – Season 1 Episode 5 Recap, Review & Ending Explained
Siren Song Episode 5 of Sirens begins with Simone waking up from a nap at the hospital. Devon is there and they are waiting for news about Ethan. Simone apologises for not responding to Devon's 'sirens' texts and also for their argument the previous night. Devon agrees she needed to hear some of that. Simone then asks about the times when Devon texted and she tells her how hard things were with their dad. Simone tells her she needs to leave that house and even invites Devon to stay with her in New York once she starts her new job. Devon doesn't take it up and Simone then encourages her to go with Morgan. Back home, Michaela is packing up all of Simone's things. The staff realise she's getting fired and begin to celebrate. Peter and Morgan join Devon and Simone at the hospital. The girls have learned that Ethan has several broken bones. Devon and Morgan head back to Cliff House and Devon asks him when he's leaving for his cruise to Palm Beach. He says he's leaving at daybreak and she finally accepts his request. She agrees to see him after the gala. However, she doesn't find her father or Ray in the guesthouse. She finds Bruce standing right by the cliff and pulls him away from the edge. They head out to look for Ray and find some of his things on the beach. Allie, Ray's wife, calls the phone and Bruce picks up. Devon is forced to take the call and admit that she's with Ray. At the hospital, Ethan wakes up and gets angry when he sees Simone. He blames Simone for pushing him down the cliff but Peter convinces him it's all in his head. Does Simone get fired? Simone and Peter return home and Simone finds the staff in an eerily good mood. However, she gets a cold welcome from Michaela who tells her to wait in her room while the gala rehearsal goes on. Simone is shocked to see all her things packed up. The photograph of her and Peter sits on top of the boxes. Michaela gets another shock when Peter reveals he's invited his kids and extended family to the gala. Michaela then goes up to Simone's room and tells her to leave. Simone tries to explain that it was all Peter and not her. But Michaela sees her as a threat to her marriage and wants her gone. Elsewhere, Bruce is getting fit in a tux for the gala. Devon then tells him she wants to go sailing with Morgan and he tells her to go. But he then calls her Simone and forgets what they were talking about. Then Missy, one of the staff members, arrives and tells them she's here to help them pack. Why does Simone run away? Jose arrives with Simone to pick them up. Simone is in shock and doesn't respond to anything Devon says. Devon then gets a call from the police station and learns that Ray is there, drunk. While they argue, Bruce speaks to Simone and apologises for everything in the past. He then tells her that Devon will be going away and that it will be him and her again. This is obviously terrible news for Simone who ends up running away. When Peter finds out that Simone was let go, he asks Michaela for an explanation. She says Simone stole her earrings and she can't let Simone take what's hers. Back home, Peter goes to Simone's room and pleasures himself. When he looks out the window, he sees Simone standing on the estate. He follows her down to the beach, where Simone says she has something to say. Peter then makes a call to Jose who turns the car around. Does Peter end up with Simone? Jose arrives at Cliff House where the gala has officially started. He goes to a secret safe and takes out an envelope. Inside is the picture of Peter and Simone. Devon heads out to look for Simone and finds Morgan instead. She tells him that she can't go with him. Devon then confronts Michaela for firing Simone and even calls her out for being a murderer. Michaela explains that Jocelyn lives as a recluse because of a plastic surgery gone wrong. Devon looks sheepish and walks away. Peter then arrives and pulls Michaela aside. He says he wants out of the marriage and reveals that he's destroyed the photo of him and Simone. Michaela points out how unfair the prenup is and that Peter is responsible for his relationship with his children. But Peter stands his ground and soon Simone enters the room in her striking gala dress. Michaela realises what's happened and walks away. What happens to Devon and Simone's relationship? Devon then sees Simone and Peter and understands what's happened as well. When Devon asks about Michaela, Simone spouts the same dialogue Michaela used: 'If it doesn't serve you, let it go.' Devon looks sad and says she will be going home to take care of her father. She tells Simone that dropping out of college to take care of her was the best thing she's done. Simone didn't serve her but Devon didn't let go. Simone promises to see Devon again in the city. They exchange 'I love you's and Devon leaves Simone to her fancy new life. What happens to Michaela? How does Sirens end? On the boat back to the mainland, Devon sees Michaela and approaches her. Devon apologises to her and asks her what she's going to do. Michaela says she doesn't know. Devon says she's going to get a place of her own and Michaela advises her to cash that cheque for ten thousand. Devon assures Michaela that she isn't a monster. She tells Devon that neither is Simone. Sirens Episode 5 ends with a shot of Simone standing by cliff, looking out at the estate. The Episode Review So, Episode 5 brings Sirens to a sad but full-circle moment. It's definitely tragic as Simone finds herself in an impossible situation. That moment in the police station where her father gently tells her it will be just them again is done so well; Milly Alcock's performance truly makes Bruce's words feel like more of a threat. Considering all he did in the past, it's natural that Simone wants to run away. Stuck between two hells, she chooses the one with Peter because it is, for now, safer. It's sad because right till the end, you're left with a feeling of wanting to save Simone. And it definitely seems like Devon felt the same, judging by the sad look she was wearing through their entire final conversation. Michaela is forced to leave her life behind and I can't help but feel like she got an easier out. She let go of Simone all too easily for someone who claimed to be so close to her. All in all, it's a solid finale, though. It wraps up the show's loose threads and paints Peter as the real villain (of sorts) and the women as the characters who always get left with the short end of the stick. A tight ending for the miniseries. Previous Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
The Review Geek
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Sirens (2025) – Season 1 Episode 2 Recap & Review
Talons Episode 2 of Sirens begins with Devon swimming her way to Cliff House at night with a snorkel. Jose is notified about an intruder and sees Devon on the cameras. She makes it to Simone's room and tells her she wants to get her out of here. Despite everything, Simone says she's happy here and doesn't want to go back to Buffalo. The argument goes on for a while. Devon reminds Simone that she wanted to be an attorney and Simone points out how Devon sleeps with married men. Michaela turns up again and interrupts their conversation. She hasn't been able to sleep and gets in bed alongside Simone. She also has Jose take Devon to the guesthouse but he actually takes her to a police car, where Devon is arrested for trespassing. Back in Simone's bedroom, Michaela asks Simone why she never mentioned she had a sister. Simone says Devon makes her sad. Michaela then asks if there's anything else Simone hasn't mentioned and Simone says Michaela knows everything about her. Meanwhile, Devon is surprised to find that even the policewoman with her knows who Simone is. In the morning, we see Peter Kell who finally made it home. He comes across Patrice, the cook, and chats with her. In jail, another fellow prisoner tells Devon about Rory and Sarah Kell. They're Peter Kell's kids from his first wife, Jocelyn. Apparently, people think Michaela killed Jocelyn because no one's heard from her. The woman also tells Devon that she was once in a cult and Devon gets tips on how to get out. The woman says her father integrated himself into the cult to get her out. Michaela greets Peter in the morning and they are soon joined by Simone, who gives them a schedule for the day. Peter doesn't want to do a photoshoot but Michaela convinces him to do it. He then gives her a gift from Tokyo from a place called Magpie. Simone then gives Jose and his team instructions to set up a funeral for Barnaby. She then gets a call from Magpie in Tokyo and asks them to send over a specific chocolate. Devon is then pulled out of her jail cell and taken to meet Michaela. Michaela points out that with her second DUI Devon could go to jail for up to four years. Instead of that, Michaela gives her an offer to just leave and go home straightaway. Devon then puts on an act and asks Michaela to take her under her wing like she did Simone. Michaela agrees to keep her for the weekend. Jose then takes Devon back to the guesthouse and tells her Michaela has bought new clothes for her, forcing Devon to dress like Simone. She then finds Simone and Michaela getting ready for the Vanity Fair photoshoot. Devon takes Simone aside and shows her 'change of heart'. Devon then comes across a photographer and tries to sell him a whistle-blower story but he refuses. Simone and Michaela enter a different room, where Peter and Jose are waiting. Peter sends Simone away and then shows Michaela security footage that proves Simone has been having excursions every night. They realise she must be sleeping with Ethan and Michaela says she's just Ethan's type, '25 and here for the summer'. Simone overhears the whole thing and gets upset. Meanwhile, Devon speaks to some other women and learns they are with Michaela in a wildlife preservation society. She then finds an open door and heads up a tower, where Peter is smoking. He lets Devon smoke and also showers praise on Simone. Devon then brings up Peter's kids and first wife and he gets suspicious. Simone stays locked in a room, crying on the floor for a long time. Devon searches through Simone's room and realises she hasn't been taking her medicines. She then sees Jordan (whose real name is Morgan) walking on the grounds and calls him to get her phone back. She reveals she's undercover to get Simone out and then rushes to speak to Ray, who has been calling incessantly. Michaela gets antsy without Simone and tells Jose to go find her since the eulogy for the bird is on Simone's phone. Ray tells Devon that he doesn't want to take care of her father for that long. She then sees a blond woman running into the woods and cuts the call to follow. She sees Michaela's eulogy and watches her and Ethan go for a walk. Jose finds Devon spying and tells her to follow. He takes her to Simone, who's still crying on the floor. Devon holds her and comfort her. The Episode Review Episode 2 has Devon hatch a plan to get Simone out of Michaela's place. As the episode title suggests, Michaela really has a hold on Simone. We see a lot of this through her repeated questioning of Simone, demanding to know why she didn't tell her about Devon. It's nicely done. On the other hand, Devon's undercover skills are not the best. Pitching her scoop to a random photographer and straight up asking Peter if his ex-wife is alive is a terrible move and doesn't feel like realistic dialogue, even for someone impulsive and rash like Devon. She's smarter than that and I hope the show doesn't let such moments puncture the story's experience. Which it is building quite well actually! Michaela's estate feels sprawling and maze like and her guests feel like a version of Mean Girls' Plastics. The suspension of belief hasn't been pushed too far out yet and there's also enough suspense around Michaela and if she's really up to no good. As for Simone, seems like a thread of her perfect life has just unravelled. There's definitely more to come. Previous Episode Next Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
Wall Street Journal
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
‘Sirens' Review: An Island's Money and Mystery on Netflix
From 'Game of Thrones' to 'Family Guy,' the problematic sibling is a prime mover of plotlines, and few are a bigger source of headaches than the delinquent Devon DeWitt of 'Sirens.' An alcoholic with many miles on her drink-o-meter, she claims to be sober, steals opioids out of random medicine chests and has lived a lifestyle of the down, out and dissipated. Yet she looks like actress Meghann Fahy and turns out to be the smartest person in the room. So abandon all hope of plausibility, ye who enter this five-episode series, though the experience is hardly hellish: You can almost hear the wind chimes and pan flutes and feel the sea mist caressing Cliff House, the bigger-than-Rhode-Island-size manor reigned over by Michaela Kell (an unnervingly pale and brittle Julianne Moore), a goddess in her own mind. It is here, maybe on Nantucket, that Devon has come to fetch her long-estranged sister, Simone (Milly Alcock, 'House of the Dragon'), who has risen from their lowly shared station in life to become Michaela's executive assistant, gofer, companion and—maybe—friend. Devon doesn't trust the woman. Should we?
