Netflix’s Sirens (2025), created by Molly Smith Metzler and produced by Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap Entertainment, is a limited series that lands with the force of a riptide—fierce, unexpected, and emotionally disarming. Based on Metzler’s 2011 play Elemeno Pea, this six-episode dark comedy explores class dynamics, power plays, and the unbreakable yet strained bonds between sisters. Set over the course of one fraught weekend, Sirens mixes satire, psychological drama, and social commentary in a compelling cocktail of tension and tenderness.
A Tightly Wound Plot in a Lavish Setting
The story unfolds at the grand beachfront estate of Michaela Kell (Julianne Moore), a mysterious and charming socialite who’s part lifestyle mogul, part human enigma. Simone (Milly Alcock), a young woman employed by the Kells, is basking in the luxurious glow of privilege—until her older sister Devon (Meghann Fahy) arrives. What was intended as a sisterly visit quickly spirals into a confrontation with truths both personal and societal.
Over the course of this single weekend, relationships unravel. Simone is seemingly enthralled by the elite world she’s immersed in, while Devon is increasingly disturbed by how far her sister has been absorbed into the gilded facade. Michaela hovers like a siren—magnetic, manipulative, and mystifying—threatening to pull everyone under.
Acting That Elevates the Material
Julianne Moore is at her best here, playing Michaela with a hypnotic mix of elegance and menace. She doesn’t chew the scenery but rather seduces it. Her portrayal perfectly captures the allure of affluence and the danger of emotional detachment.
Meghann Fahy (known for The White Lotus) brings intelligence and skepticism to Devon, who serves as the audience’s surrogate—our moral compass in a dizzying world of excess. Milly Alcock (from House of the Dragon) offers a poignant performance as Simone, striking a delicate balance between ambition and innocence, devotion and disillusionment.
The chemistry between the two sisters is electric, full of long-held resentments and fierce protectiveness. It’s in these small, often unspoken moments—glances, sighs, loaded silences—that Sirens finds its emotional core.
Themes That Resonate
At its heart, Sirens is a razor-sharp exploration of class, capitalism, and the illusion of the American dream. The show doesn’t just pit the working class against the elite—it examines the psychological toll that proximity to wealth can take. Through Michaela, it interrogates how money can distort identity, mask trauma, and be used as a form of control.
It also dives into sisterhood, with all its complexity. Simone and Devon represent two sides of the same coin: one seduced by the glittering escape of luxury, the other grounded in the grit of reality. Their bond is tender yet turbulent, forged in shared history but tested by present choices.
The show asks provocative questions: Can someone truly belong in a world built to exclude them? What do we sacrifice in our quest for status? And most importantly, can familial love survive when ambition and loyalty collide?
What Critics Are Saying
Sirens has been met with generally favorable reviews from critics and audiences alike.
- Rotten Tomatoes scores it at 76%, noting its nuanced portrayal of class conflict and compelling performances.
- Metacritic gives it a solid 66 out of 100, highlighting strong writing and direction.
- IndieWire’s Ben Travers gave the show an A−, praising Moore’s performance as “both believable and mystical.”
- The Guardian’s Lucy Mangan described the show as “an endlessly entertaining study in class and family,” awarding it 5 out of 5 stars.
- Vulture’s Roxana Hadadi appreciated the complex sibling relationship, stating the series “exposes the beauty and brutality of sisterhood.”
- The Wall Street Journal’s John Anderson noted, “In Sirens, money simply provides the means to be the monster you are.”
This level of acclaim is testament not only to the star power involved but also to the storytelling that doesn’t shy away from messy emotions and moral ambiguity.

Aesthetic & Direction
The show is visually stunning, making full use of the sweeping coastal backdrop and the lush interiors of the estate. Director Quyen Tran and cinematographer Jessica Lee Gagné render every frame with intentional contrast: golden light against cold expressions, pristine decor masking fractured relationships.
The estate almost becomes a character of its own—opulent and isolating, offering comfort while quietly suffocating those within it. It’s a perfect metaphor for Michaela’s world: beautiful, but not built for everyone.
Metzler’s background in theater is evident in the tight pacing and dialogue-heavy structure, but it works. There’s an intimacy to the way scenes unfold, drawing the viewer in rather than relying on melodrama or action.
Not Without Its Flaws
Some critics argue that the show’s theatrical origins occasionally make scenes feel stagy or overly written. There are moments where the symbolism veers toward the obvious—especially regarding the estate representing class divides or Michaela as a modern-day siren—but these are minor quibbles in an otherwise thoughtful piece.
At six episodes, Sirens also walks a fine line between being tightly packed and slightly underdeveloped. A few characters outside the core trio feel underexplored, leaving viewers curious about their motivations and backstories.
Final Verdict
Sirens is not your typical binge-watch. It’s rich, layered, and deliberately paced—a show that demands attention and rewards it generously. With powerhouse performances (especially Moore’s), a smart script, and a biting critique of class dynamics, Sirens is one of Netflix’s most daring offerings in recent memory.
It doesn’t pretend to offer easy answers. Instead, it lays bare the uncomfortable truths about privilege, ambition, and familial love. It’s a show for those who crave character-driven drama with social bite.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
Whether you’re drawn to it for the mystery, the performances, or the deeper themes, Sirens Season 1 will leave you haunted—like the sound of a siren in the distance, both beautiful and ominous