‘Sirens’ burst onto the Netflix scene with its supremely bizarre world of the rich. There is an island mansion, sprawling interiors, customized gluten-free menus, summer parties, and enough quirks and control to make this pastel landscape addictive.
Julianne Moore leads the show as a socialite and possible cult leader, Michaela Kell, with the poison-laced-sweet nickname Kiki. She is married to billionaire Peter Kell, played by Kevin Bacon. But, it’s Kiki’s ultra-close and discomforting relationship with her assistant, Simone (Milly Alcock), that becomes her ultimate undoing. At the edge of this storm is Simone’s elder sister, Devon (Meghann Fahy). She is hell-bent on exposing Kiki, but is she the siren everyone thinks she is?
Michaela Kell’s Secret In ‘Sirens’
Michaela Kell is mysterious—a bird whisperer, elegant, seemingly evil, and surrounded by sycophants. Simone is totally in her grasp. It’s no wonder that her sister Devon is skeptical of how she got swept up in this circus. The allure of a lavish lifestyle is clearly lost on her, but her sister is all in for the madness and chaos of the Kells.
There is the added mystery of Michaela’s predecessor, Jocelyn, who was married to Peter but hasn’t been heard of in a decade. Everyone thinks she is dead, but no one talks about it for fear of Kiki. After all, worshipping the wealthy is a resonant theme here.
Simone is forever scared of disappointing Kiki, she keeps her affair with the neighbor Ethan hidden too, she goes for weird morning exercises with her boss and carries out inane to insane tasks for her.
The audience also sympathizes with Peter as he has to lie about a business trip in order to go to his grandson’s christening. His kids’ sour relationship with his second wife Kiki had kept them out of his life for a decade. Kiki isn’t happy to learn about this truth. But, is she a completely malevolent figure? By the end, it’s clear that she just milked every circumstance in her favor. There was never a cult, but she was the leader of her world.
The climactic reveal is strangely fun—Jocelyn is very much alive but went under the radar after being heartbroken over her divorce from Peter. The move resulted from plastic surgery that left her with facial deformities. “We try to respect her privacy by not speaking about her publicly,” Michaela explains to Devon after she flings horrific accusations at her in a party-stopping confrontation.
As for those who flocked around Kiki and imitated her behavior, it’s simply because of her position. In Michaela’s own words, “People will do anything for you when you’re Mrs. Kell. You just tell them what the rules are.”
Why Did Simone Fall For Michaela’s Spell?
The limited series might be messy, but it’s spectacular with pacing. In its finale, Simone’s worst nightmare comes true when Michaela fires her. Why? While Simone’s nervous breakdown was when her bond with Ethan became public knowledge, it was an unexpected moment of vulnerability with Mr. Kell that unraveled her life. Peter, tired of his mechanical life and Kiki’s micro-managing approach, went in for a kiss with Simone. She was rightly disgusted and terrified. And, Kiki let her go.
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All seemed to trickle back to relative normalcy as Simone made way for Buffalo along with her sister and father. They understood her dysfunctional attachment to Kiki had formed due to her tumultuous childhood with a suicidal mother and a negligent, alcoholic father. After her bouts with foster homes, she grew into her own with Devon’s support. But, all she wanted was to get away from her past life and the DeWitt household. Michaela, with her pristine facade, became the answer.
‘Sirens’ Ending Explained
In the final twist though, Peter chose to turn his attention to the young girl, Simone, who had warned him of their kissing photo. Michaela resisted, but Peter painted her as manipulative and bitter because she couldn’t get pregnant. And just like that, Michaela was out. Simone glided downstairs like a fierce goddess and was introduced as Peter’s latest partner. She also took the coveted head position at Kiki’s passion project, the Folger Wildlife Preservation Society.
Now, the question remains, who is the villain? Well, it’s complicated, just like its inspiration from Greek mythology. These women just wanted to survive and make the most of whatever opportunity seemed right at the moment. Did Simone betray Michaela? Sure, but her belief remains firm, taught by the very mentor she replaced: “If it doesn’t serve you, let it go.”
Devon, knowing there’s no place for her in Simone’s brand-new life, goes back to take care of their father. In the final scenes, she talks to Michaela on the ferry ride to the city. Devon assures her that she isn’t a monster. In a moment of grace, Michaela says neither is Simone. And while Jocelyn might’ve thought Kiki’s reign wouldn’t last, she was the queen of the island for 13 years. Maybe, Simone will find her own path and carve her own identity beside Peter.
‘Sirens’ ends with a haunting yet hopeful image of Simone outside the Cliff House, staring at the setting sun. Hers is the new siren song that plays on the island.
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