Netflix's Sirens: Complex Pasts and Power

Evanne Evans, 27 May 2025

Directed by Nicole Kassell and produced by LuckyChap Entertainment, with executive producers including Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley, and Dani Gorin, Sirens premiered on May 22, 2025. This five-part limited Netflix series delves into the complexities of familial bonds, the seductive allure of wealth, and the psychological underpinnings of power dynamics.

Created by Molly Smith Metzler, known for her work on Maid, the series is adapted from her 2011 play Elemeno Pea and marks the first project under her multi-year deal with Netflix. The series boasts a stellar cast including Meghann Fahy as Devon DeWitt, a sharp-witted waitress from Buffalo grappling with personal demons, Milly Alcock as Simone DeWitt, Devon's estranged sister who has immersed herself in the lavish world of her employer and Julianne Moore as Michaela Kell, a charismatic billionaire philanthropist with a potentially manipulative streak.

Sirens intricately weaves satire with themes of sisterhood, childhood trauma, and the intoxicating influence of emotional manipulation and wealth, with the narrative unfolding over a single weekend at Michaela's opulent island estate.

Metzler drew inspiration from her own experiences working at an exclusive yacht club in Martha's Vineyard, where she observed the sometimes peculiar behaviors and dynamics of the ultra-wealthy. Her first hand observations inspired the show's exploration of privilege and the often unseen complexities beneath glamorous facades.

Sirens has received critical acclaim for its sharp writing and compelling performances.