‘Sirens’ (2025) Netflix Series Review - A Weekend Getaway into Dysfunctional Luxury

You don’t go into Sirens expecting a heart-to-heart family reunion. It’s not that kind of show. You expect a little tension, a bit of wealth-induced weirdness, maybe even a slap or two. What you get instead is a fast-talking, sharp-eyed, occasionally dizzying long weekend of power games, sibling grievances, and champagne-soaked introspection wrapped in five crisp episodes.

Let’s start with the setup. Devon, the older sister, storms into the story like a woman with nothing to lose and one goal: to drag her sister Simone back from what she sees as an artificial life wrapped in satin and served with caviar. Simone, the younger sister, is all smiles and newfound manners, sipping kombucha in a house she doesn't own, living on someone else's terms. The house in question belongs to Michaela Kell, who might be the most unsettling hostess to ever set out a cheese board. Devon shows up uninvited to Michaela’s mansion for Labor Day weekend, and the entire show unfolds like a party where no one actually wants to dance together, but now they’re stuck on the floor.

Meghann Fahy, as Devon, plays the part like a tightly wound spring, constantly two sentences away from either a hug or a complete meltdown. Milly Alcock’s Simone is slippery—not in a sinister way, just in that she’s clearly struggling to balance the life she came from with the life she thinks she wants. And then there’s Julianne Moore, who seems to thrive in roles where being charming is a threat, not a compliment. Michaela Kell is glossy, polished, and terrifyingly polite. You can’t quite tell if she’s offering you a croissant or your own downfall.

One of the things Sirens gets very right is tone. It doesn’t shout “satire” in your face. It doesn't parade its themes around. Instead, it lets the characters do the heavy lifting. Visually, the show is no slouch. The island is pristine, with all sunlight and linen and quiet tension. The cinematography plays it straight, not trying too hard to dazzle but quietly framing moments of emotional discomfort and social friction. You get the sense that behind every soft curtain and gleaming wine glass, something uncomfortable is waiting to crawl out.

Now, where it falters. For a show that kicks off with so much promise, it occasionally trips over its own pacing. Certain episodes dip into exposition territory a bit too eagerly, slowing down momentum in favor of backstory we didn’t necessarily need. Devon and Simone’s conflict is compelling, but it loops in circles sometimes, as if the show is afraid of pushing them too far too soon. There's also a vague air of missed opportunity in the show’s ending—neat, tidy, and a little too polite for something that built itself on dysfunction.

Also, while Michaela is a magnetic presence, her mystique sometimes leans more toward style than substance. We’re told she’s manipulative, but her influence is mostly implied rather than actively demonstrated. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it does leave you wishing for a few more tangible power moves from a character built up to be the human equivalent of quicksand.

Despite that, the show works. It’s weirdly fun. It doesn’t try too hard to be clever. It lets its awkward silences linger. It allows characters to be frustrating without needing to redeem them in every scene. There's a strange pleasure in watching these three women navigate each other, each convinced she’s the only one who knows what’s real.

Ultimately, Sirens is about illusions: the illusion of control, the illusion of safety, and the belief that love, money, or family can put life's tumult away. It may not go as far as it might have, and it occasionally relies too much on atmosphere, but it accomplishes its goal of telling a crisp, slightly unnerving narrative about how people use each other to fill the gaps in their own lives.

It’s not a perfect show, but it knows its characters well, and it respects them enough to let them be messy. For that alone, it’s worth the watch. And really, if nothing else, it’s a great reminder of why you never mix family drama with vacation plans.

Final Score- [6/10]
Reviewed by - Anjali Sharma
Follow @AnjaliS54769166 on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times