At this juncture, observing Meghann Fahy grapple with her emotions on a beach is evolving into its own distinct genre — and with Netflix’s *Sirens*, she is yet again contributing to the transformation of coastal turmoil into must-watch television.
The limited series, which has just reached #1 on Netflix in the US, plunges viewers straight into a realm of affluence, manipulation, and mythical undertones, all ensconced in pastel sundresses and passive-aggressive brunch gatherings. If *The White Lotus* laid bare the dark humor of elite resort life, *Sirens* explores further the tumultuous waters of female power struggles and sibling discord while also challenging you to avert your gaze.
Set across a single Labor Day weekend, *Sirens* centers on Fahy’s character Devon, a sharp-witted, self-aware woman from Buffalo who arrives on an opulent private island convinced her younger sister Simone (portrayed by *House of the Dragon’s* Milly Alcock) is embroiled in something cult-like. The focus of Simone’s fixation is Michaela Kell, a mysterious and hauntingly regal socialite portrayed by Julianne Moore, who glides through her Cliff House estate with the detached grace of someone who has forgotten the feeling of scrutiny.
Devon is present to orchestrate a sort of emotional intervention, yet she soon realizes she is outsmarted in an environment where outward civility conceals something far more predatory. Imagine *Succession* colliding with *Big Little Lies*, but on a beach where the water glistens and every compliment carries the weight of a veiled threat.
The show’s creator, Molly Smith Metzler (*Maid*), has characterized it in a Netflix promotional interview as “operatic” and “uncomfortable” — a dark comedy that draws heavily from Greek mythology as well as from contemporary fixation on the ultrarich. Michaela and her circle begin to mirror the sirens from ancient tales: Beautiful, alluring, and perilous. Cliff House itself, with its expansive grounds and polished interiors, serves not merely as a backdrop; it’s virtually a character of its own that contrasts sharply with Devon and Simone’s working-class origins.
That friction between old-money sophistication and Buffalo straightforwardness fuels the narrative. Flashbacks to the sisters’ modest upbringing clarify that Devon’s discomfort stems not just from Simone’s new acquaintances. It’s tied to class, identity, and the slippery facade of change. Can one truly abandon their past simply by upgrading their ZIP code and wardrobe? Or are the individuals sipping rosé at Michaela’s table just as ensnared as the guests at *The White Lotus* without yet realizing it?
Featuring an A-list ensemble that also stars Kevin Bacon and a visual aesthetic overflowing with coastal privilege, *Sirens* is equally enticing and disconcerting. It may appear to be a light summer binge at first glance, but delve a bit deeper and you’ll uncover something considerably murkier lurking beneath the surface.
