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| Sirens | |
|---|---|
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| Genre | Dark comedy |
| Created by | Molly Smith Metzler |
| Based on | Elemeno Pea by Molly Smith Metzler |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Michael Abels |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 5 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producers |
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| Cinematography |
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| Editors |
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| Running time | 52–63 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Netflix |
| Release | May 22, 2025 (2025-05-22) |
Sirens is an Americandark comedylimited series created by Molly Smith Metzler, based on her 2011 playElemeno Pea. Set over the course of a single weekend at a luxurious beach estate, the series explores themes of gender, power, and social class.[1] It premiered onNetflix on May 22, 2025, and received generally positive reviews from critics.[2][3]
Devon, a sharp-witted but troubled young woman, becomes increasingly alarmed by her sister Simone's unsettling entanglement with her new employer, the enigmatic and controlling billionaire Michaela Kell. When Devon decides to track down Simone and impulsively invites herself to Michaela's opulent estate on the fictional island of Port Haven, tensions quickly rise. As Devon observes the psychological dynamics at play, she grows convinced that Simone is caught in a toxic and potentially dangerous friendship. Determined to pull her sister back to reality, Devon stages an intervention—only to find herself drawn into Michaela's manipulative web. Over the course of one explosive weekend, simmering tensions around class, power, and loyalty come to a head in a darkly comedic unraveling of sisterhood and control.
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Exile" | Nicole Kassell | Molly Smith Metzler | May 22, 2025 (2025-05-22) | |
After spending the night in jail, Devon sets out to find her younger sister Simone to get her to come home toBuffalo and help care for their father Bruce, who has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia. She tracks Simone to the remote estate of Michaela on the island of Port Haven; Michaela is a former attorney turned bird sanctuary founder married to Peter, a billionaire. Devon discovers that Simone, working as Michaela's personal assistant, is deeply embedded in a curated, performative life—she is in a secret relationship with Michaela's eccentric neighbor Ethan and hides her past, including being in foster care and having a sister. Devon becomes increasingly disturbed by the estate's strange cult-like dynamics, strict rules,NDAs, and constant surveillance. Her unease grows as she observes Simone's unsettling closeness with Michaela. Simone refuses to return home, and Michaela offers Devon $10,000 to leave quietly, which Devon angrily declines. Devon confides in a worker named Jose about her struggles with hypersexuality after unsuccessfully trying to seduce him and spends the night with Morgan, the captain of Ethan's yacht. | |||||
| 2 | "Talons" | Nicole Kassell | Bekah Brunstetter | May 22, 2025 (2025-05-22) | |
Devon trespasses onto Michaela's estate, determined to convince Simone to leave and return home. Their reunion escalates into an argument, with Simone mentioning Devon's affair with her married boss, Raymond. They are interrupted by Michaela, who orders Jose to escort Devon out. Acting on Michaela's instructions and without Simone's knowledge, Devon is arrested for trespassing. While in jail, she hears rumors that the estate is a cult and that Michaela pushed her husband Peter's ex-wife, Jocelyn, off a cliff. Michaela later agrees to bail Devon out of jail after Devon decides to stay and blend in. When she crosses paths with Peter, who just came back from Tokyo, she unsubtly questions him about Jocelyn, but his evasive answers deepen her suspicions. As Michaela prepares for aVanity Fair photoshoot focused on her bird sanctuary—followed by a lavish bird funeral—she and Peter learn Simone has been sneaking out at night to meet Ethan. Fearing Michaela's reaction, Simone hides and has a panic attack. Alerted by Jose, Devon finds her in hiding and comforts her, having previously discovered that she has stopped taking herKlonopin. | |||||
| 3 | "Monster" | Quyen Tran | Colin McKenna | May 22, 2025 (2025-05-22) | |
After waking up, Simone finds herself in yet another argument with Devon, during which Devon reveals that since Simone went to college, she has struggled with alcoholism and has been arrested twice for DUI. Meanwhile, Michaela discovers that the chocolate Peter gave her, supposedly from Tokyo, was not authentic, prompting her to suspect he might be cheating on her. She sends Simone to spy on him, but Peter catches her and admits he had secretly traveled to meet his grandson for the first time. He kept this from Michaela because of her strained relationship with his children. After the confession, he tries to kiss Simone, but she recoils. Throughout the day, Simone tries repeatedly to reach Ethan, to no avail. Devon begins to suspect that Michaela has something to do with Ethan's sudden disappearance. The situation escalates when they go to Ethan's house to search for him—only for him to walk in, having just returned from Buffalo, accompanied by Bruce and Raymond, who has been acting as his caregiver. The room falls silent as Ethan explains his absence—then stuns everyone by proposing to Simone on the spot. | |||||
| 4 | "Persephone" | Quyen Tran | Molly Smith Metzler & Colin McKenna | May 22, 2025 (2025-05-22) | |
During Ethan's proposal, Michaela arrives at his house looking for Simone. Overwhelmed, Simone does not give an answer and runs out crying. Michaela consoles her, advises against the engagement, and offers her a position as the foundation chair in New York City. Michaela and Peter reconcile after she realizes he has not been unfaithful. That evening, Ethan, Devon, Bruce, Raymond, Morgan, and others have dinner at Michaela's house, where Peter invites them to a humanitarian gala dinner for the bird sanctuary they are organizing the next day. Simone tells Devon she feels no responsibility toward their father, citing years of neglect, her suicide attempt, and blaming him for their mother's suicide, leading to an argument between the sisters. Devon storms out to the beach, followed by her flings Morgan and Raymond, where she ends her toxic affair with Raymond. Later, Simone speaks with Ethan and clearly ends their relationship. Drunk and distraught, Ethan lashes out at Simone and accidentally falls off a cliff. TheVanity Fair photographer reveals a secret photo he took of Simone and Peter's kiss, igniting Michaela's fury. | |||||
| 5 | "Siren Song" | Lila Neugebauer | Molly Smith Metzler | May 22, 2025 (2025-05-22) | |
Ethan survives the fall from the cliff. Morgan invites Devon on a month-long yacht trip, but she declines in favor of returning to Buffalo with Bruce. Prompted by the kissing photo, Michaela fires Simone, leaving her in a state of shock. Jose escorts Simone, Devon, and Bruce to pick up Raymond from jail, where he had spent the night sobering up. During the pickup, Simone runs off to say goodbye to Peter. Jose drives back to retrieve her. At the gala dinner, Devon accuses Michaela of running a cult and being involved in Jocelyn's death—only to learn Jocelyn is alive, living in seclusion after a failed plastic surgery. Peter tells Michaela he wants a divorce and confesses to feeling uninspired, resenting their childlessness, and fearing Michaela's collection of evidence of his affairs—meant to protect her under the prenuptial agreement. He begins a relationship with Simone and asks Jose to escort Michaela out. Devon confronts Simone about her involvement with Peter. Simone invites her to stay at the estate with Bruce, but she declines. On the ferry home, Devon runs into Michaela and apologizes for her accusations, and Michaela encourages Devon to cash the $10,000 check she gave her. Simone, now mistress of the House on the Cliff, gazes out to sea with a satisfied smile on her face. | |||||
In February 2024,Netflix gaveSirens alimited series order, with Molly Smith Metzler attached as creator, writer,showrunner, andexecutive producer. The series is based on her 2011 stage playElemeno Pea. Dani Gorin,Tom Ackerley, andMargot Robbie were also named as executive producers under their production banner,LuckyChap Entertainment.[4] In July 2024,Variety reported thatJulianne Moore,Meghann Fahy, andMilly Alcock had been cast in lead roles.Nicole Kassell was announced as the director for the first two episodes and also served as an executive producer on the series.[5] Later that month, eleven additional cast members were announced, includingKevin Bacon andGlenn Howerton in main roles.[6][7][8]
Music for the series was composed byMichael Abels. On May 22, 2025,Netflix Music released the Sirens Soundtrack album by Michael Abels.
The series premiered on May 22, 2025, onNetflix.[2]
For the week of May 19, 2025,Sirens ranked first onNielsen's U.S. streaming charts for both original programming and the overall Top 10. The series recorded approximately 1.4 billion minutes viewed during that period.[9]
According to data from Showlabs,Sirens ranked first on Netflix in the United States during the week of 19–25 May 2025.[10][11]
Sirens received generally favorable reviews from critics. On thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, 77% of 64 critic reviews were positive, with an average rating not specified. The site's critical consensus reads, "Sirens sings a tune tried and true thanks to laudable performances byJulianne Moore,Meghann Fahy, andMilly Alcock."[12] OnMetacritic, which assigns a weighted average score, the series holds a rating of 66 out of 100 based on 30 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[13]
Ben Travers ofIndieWire awarded the series an A−, praising the lead performances and noting that Moore "finds just the right pitch for Michaela—believable and mystical, easy to stereotype yet hard to pin down."[14]Lucy Mangan ofThe Guardian gave the series a five-star rating, calling it "an endlessly entertaining study in class and family", describing it as "a witty, star-packed treat that zips through five tight episodes."[15] Roxana Hadadi ofVulture highlighted the complex dynamic between the sisters, writing that "prickly performances from Fahy and Alcock give the series an alluring and distinguishing jolt."[16] John Anderson ofThe Wall Street Journal remarked, "InSirens, money simply provides the means to be the monster you are."[17]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2025 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Meghann Fahy | Nominated | [18] |
| Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Nicole Kassell(for "Exile") | Nominated | |||
| Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Contemporary Costumes for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Caroline Duncan, Paul Thompson, Tricia Barsamian, Heather Breen, and Sarah Bacot(for "Exile") | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Picture Editing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Catherine Haight(for "Exile") | Nominated | |||
| Television Critics Association Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials | Sirens | Nominated | [19] |
