THE PREMISE:

"Devon is concerned about her sister's unhealthy relationship with her new boss."

OUR REVIEW:

Sirens is a Netflix dark comedy miniseries that had me inching towards the edge of my seat waiting for a mind-bending bombshell… that never happens. It’s a modern spin on the idea of the siren from Greek mythology that’s easy to binge in a day, but it doesn’t quite stick the landing.

The show follows a woman named Devon who is the sole caretaker of her father who has just been diagnosed with dementia. After receiving an Edible Arrangement from her estranged sister Simone, Devon angrily travels a far distance to arrive unannounced at Simone’s place of work: a swanky coastal mansion owned by the very rich and influential Michaela Kell. Devon immediately senses the peculiar closeness between Simone and Michaela, and Devon decides she must find a way to open her sister’s eyes to the unusual nature of her situation. 

While the story felt far-fetched to me, I was captivated by the powerful performances of Meghann Fahy, Milly Alcock, and Julianne Moore as Devon, Simone, and Michella, respectively. Devon is a layered character; someone who will do the right thing for her family in an instant, but doesnt always choose the same for herself, while somehow still being totally charming and likable. The complex nature of this character unfolds beautifully on screen and Fahy makes it look effortless. I was unfamiliar with Amelia Alcock, but boy am I glad this show introduced me to her talent. Julienne Moore is also brilliant as usual, showcasing an extremely unsettling presence as the enigmatic billionaire.

Disappointingly, Sirens dangles the carrot in front of you all the way til the end. Sometimes the ride can be fun, but other times it’s having an identity crisis. You think the show is building up to something that never comes to fruition. There are fantastical transitions that allude to something more under the surface, that I guess that can be left up to interpretation, but I wasn’t too wowed by the conclusion. 

Sirens is easy to consume, but difficult to digest. I do recommend trying it for yourself if you want to take a crack at a deeper level of analysis, but the story at face value and the (admittedly intoxicating) Summer vibes weren't enough to score full marks.