"I try not to let my AMC stub, movie snob persona show too aggressively when raving about my favorite shows, but put me on an island with a star-studded cast, a fun wardrobe, and infinite layers of deep, dark secrets to swim through—I just can’t help myself. When I found myself scrolling through Netflix during a holiday weekend, craving a spicy summer watch, Sirens immediately caught my attention. I mean, it’s hard not to be immediately drawn in with its cast alone: May December‘s Julianne Moore, White Lotus‘s Meghann Fahy, and House of the Dragon‘s Milly Alcock.
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Featuring subtle nodes to her similar roles in Netflix’s The Perfect Couple, Meghann Fahy confidently returns to the beachside mayhem as a troubled, protective older sister, Devon, who is concerned by her younger sister’s (Milly Alcock) oddly ‘cult-like’ relationship with her elite boss, Michaela (Julianne Monroe). Determined to intervene and better understand her sister’s choices that got her here, Devon must learn to navigate this suspicious island and its mysterious lures of vanity and luxury.
This five-episode series is full of Greek mythological themes, entertaining relationship drama, and deep-cutting sister traumas that, together, sing a very satisfying call. And you should definitely answer. Without giving away too many spoilers, read on for why Sirens is my favorite show on streaming right now.
My review of Sirens
Meghann Fahy’s performance is a candid portrayal of eldest daughter syndrome
Being the oldest daughter is a challenging and vulnerable role to carry. You often fall into the role of caretaker or fixer for your siblings or your parents, which can evolve into unwanted anxious tendencies and unsteady boundaries in relationships. As Devon’s character puts it, “no one knows you like a sister,” but that can come at the cost of knowing yourself.
“This five-episode series is full of Greek mythological themes, entertaining relationship drama, and deep-cutting sister traumas that, together, sing a very satisfying call.”
As an eldest daughter myself, I will admit it is no easy job. But it is one that Meghann Fahy’s Devon wears with a captivating and humorous charm. She’s simultaneously working at her local falafel restaurant, taking care of her dad with dementia, and now trying to save her little sister, Simone, from a suspicious cult-like leader. Devon is suffering from a severe case of the anxious caregiver. Never mind that she has her own set of conflicts to face as a semi-functioning, recovering alcoholic who is also sleeping with her married boss on the side. No matter how much she’d like to fight it, Devon is defenseless and lost at sea—but that’s what makes her big sister character so relatable and so easy to connect with.
It’s not until Devon comes face-to-face with Michaela herself and experiences her supposed siren song of weaponized vulnerability first-hand that Devon realizes how alone she actually feels. The layers of conflict in Devon’s world would do well in a few therapy sessions, but in the meantime, the viewer acts as a stand-in therapist, watching her entertaining, moving, and sometimes unsettling character arc. Sirens draws you in like a sailor lost at sea, with suspense and cult-like settings, but the show quickly turns you on your head and asks you to consider hard questions like “What do we owe the people who raised us?” and “How much can people really change?”
The Lilly-Pulitzer-style wardrobe is just as fun as the plot
The best shows are not only good for their twisted plot but also their incredible costuming. Full of preppy, easter-egg dresses, vibrant florals, boat shoes, and everything fishermancore, Sirens‘ wardrobe is full of fashion nostalgia. It’s always funny how simply falling in love with a character can make me rethink my entire wardrobe. As a more subtle neutral gal, I never thought a day would come when I would be itching to wear a Lilly Pulitzer dress, but hey, hey, here we are.
“If you are still in recovery from White Lotus season three and looking for some new tropical chaos to embark on, Sirens is the perfect weekend getaway.”
Simone—Sirens‘ preppy assistant with a suspiciously anxious attachment style to her boss—has my favorite symbolic wardrobe of the bunch. Simone’s tight headband, pink mini dress, and delicate accessories are the way she disguises her true self to fit in with this elite world and get as far away as possible from her past. I’m always a sucker for a symbolic wardrobe, and I love the way her outfits follow along with her internal conflicts in the show.
The concept has so many entertaining Greek mythological themes
One of my favorite things to look for when watching a film or series are those subtle additions that speak deeper to the fun concepts at play (here comes that AMC stub snob). It’s like having a story within a story with infinite puzzle pieces that, when put together, can reveal so much more about the characters. This is where the juicy stuff lives, and Sirens is full of them. From its symbolic use of mirrors (in both art and literature, mirrors can be seen as a symbol for a siren’s ties to vanity and the allure of worldly pleasures) to its not-so-subtle title, there is no shortage of complex mythological themes to grace your screen.
One thing I didn’t know fully before watching, but I was so glad I quickly googled, was the sirens’ relevance to Greek mythology. Known to be monstrous creatures who are often illustrated in literature as the luxurious temptress or the dangers of the sea, sirens will wait upon ocean rocks and lure wandering sailors to their deaths by singing a sweet, enchanting song. Sirens‘ creative and entertaining storytelling leans into this theme in the best ways with the haunting voice that echoes throughout episodes and its cliffside setting.
So, should you watch Sirens?
If you are still in recovery from White Lotus season three and looking for some new tropical chaos to embark on, Sirens is the perfect weekend getaway. It immerses you in a world of its own, full of deep conflict and shocking twists that had me at the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Sirens is one of those shows that’s easily digestible given its fast-paced five-episode structure, but you’ll also be tempted to watch it again just to see if you can pick up on those fun subtle cues you might have missed before. It’s still unknown if we will get a second season, but in the meantime, here’s to hoping they will hear my call for an encore.
Madigan Will, Assistant Editor
As an Assistant Editor for The Everygirl, Madigan writes and edits content for every topic under the digital media sun. As the oldest of four siblings, she enjoys utilizing her big sister persona to connect and inspire readers—helping them discover new ways to maximize their everyday.