Sirens Series-Premiere Recap: Big Little Cult Vibes

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The series “Sirens” begins with a stunning scene featuring Julianne Moore, elegantly clad in white silk, walking barefoot through a forest and reaching a cliff by the sea. She releases a falcon named Barnaby and watches with delight as it flies high up into the sky – a seemingly beautiful moment, yet under this show’s perspective, it carries an unsettling vibe. Regardless of its conclusion, “Sirens” sets a tone that I am familiar with and admire as someone who appreciates the cinematic exploration of violence between white women. Here’s to an exciting journey ahead!

Transition to: A disgruntled woman exits a police station, clad in a mini dress and heavy eyeliner – a clear sign of someone grappling with life’s complexities. This is Devon, a woman battling to maintain her composure, sobriety, and family bonds. Actress Meghann Fahy swiftly draws me into Devon’s corner, as her predicament unfolds within mere seconds. Not only has her sister, Simone (Milly Alcock), vanished without a trace, but learning about their father, Bruce (Bill Camp), suffering from early-onset dementia, she opted for an Edible Arrangement instead of tangible aid. The sheer incongruity and ostentatiousness of such a large, cantaloupe-laden Edible Arrangement cannot be overemphasized.

As a cinephile, I can’t help but express my astonishment at my sister’s audacity, given our recent communication fiasco. With my nails painted a bold black, I’ve been sending Simone frantic messages that she seems to have ignored entirely. In a fit of pique, I pack up the family melon monstrosity, point Dad towards his favorite beer and Stouffer’s in the fridge, and hitch a ride on the nearest Peter Pan bus. The journey is a testament to the potency of petty rage, and I find myself unable to look away from this raw display of disdain.

As Devon departs to meet Simone, known as our ‘Rogue Cinderella’, we delve deeper into Simone’s polished existence. Currently serving as Michaela (Moore)’s personal assistant, the mistress of the house, Simone boasts an uncanny ability to predict events before they occur. She resides in Kiki’s house, jogs alongside her in coordinated athletic wear, and even composes flirtatious texts for her husband. Communicating with the landscapers, who harbor a disdain for her, via a megaphone, she adopts an air of authority reminiscent of a sorority president reprimanding pledges. The only aspect of Michaela’s realm that appears genuinely hers is a clandestine relationship with Ethan (Glenn Howerton), an affluent older man whose formal attire includes blazers adorned with rubber duckies. Her life may appear visually appealing, but upon Devon’s arrival, it becomes increasingly evident that it’s also rather unusual.

Devon’s blunt phone case sticker underscores the difficulty in considering Simone’s life as her own, given that she seems more attached to work and reveals nothing about herself to those she calls friends. Later, when Devon successfully escapes from the hidden guesthouse and locates a kind-hearted gardener ally, she also comes to understand just how much everyone on the compound is controlled by Michaela’s desires. They have all signed non-disclosure agreements and are under constant surveillance, with no one allowed to consume carbs on site, causing the hungry grounds crew to secretly stash bagels behind a storage shed.

What strikes Devon as most troubling is her unexpected entrance into the weekend’s gathering, which Simone had tried so hard to prevent her from attending. This wasn’t just any ordinary fundraiser for Michaela’s falcon rescue; it was a meeting led by an extensive team and opened with a prayer to “patron saint Rachel Carson.” Everybody, including Simone, echoed the prayer. Rachel Carson was a marine biologist and conservationist who warned about the harmful effects of pesticides on both wildlife and people. On its own, this doesn’t appear problematic. However, when you factor in group chants, vast amounts of money, and a heavy dose of MAHA rhetoric, my suspicions are definitely raised.

Devon concurs with your statement, and her response suggests a touch of relief rather than surprise. She believes Simone has joined a cult, which provides an explanation for Simone’s abandonment of her sister and life in Buffalo. Ethan notes that this isn’t the same as the comfortable upbringing Simone has been pretending she had all along, which was more like being from Westchester or Connecticut. Molly Smith Metzler’s previous Netflix series, “Maid,” dealt with similar themes, so we can expect more of the same in future productions.

In the first episode titled “Exile,” the story primarily focuses on establishing the game’s setting and characters. Michaela, once a successful attorney, now finds validation in a 25-year-old complimenting her looks, making her The Beautiful Mystery. Devon, who fiercely battled for custody of Simone after their mother’s passing and remains devoted to his father, embodies The Man Who Cares Too Much Despite His Mistakes. Simone, who harbors intricate emotions towards the man who abandoned her in foster care, copes by immersing herself in others rather than confronting her past, making her The Child Prodigy Preferring to Evade Her Past Memories.

In a stark contrast, Simone’s rigid demeanor, Devon’s suggestive behaviors hinting at a possible sex addiction, and their minimalistic wardrobes portray the sisters in vivid detail. However, the skillful hand of Fahy, Alcock, and director Nicole Kassell brings even the strangest moments, like Simone chewing Michaela’s discarded gum or Devon licking a landscaper’s neck, into a peculiar coherence. The most impactful scene is when Michaela politely evicts Devon from the house with a $10,000 check, a seemingly insufficient amount for elder care, especially from what appears to be a billionaire. This scene resonates powerfully due to Fahy’s and Alcock’s poignant expressions of anger and silent anguish.

In case there remains any question about the nature of these characters or the type of series Sirens aims to present, “Exile” offers an unsubtle exploration in a three-part sexual narrative. Devon, having splurged on a red dress for Michaela’s complimentary hotel room, engages in a tryst with a stranger on a yacht. Simone, adorned in frilly pink lingerie, comforts Duckie Blazer concerning his past traumas. However, it is Michaela who spends the night alone, as her husband fails to reciprocate their explicit messages. Meanwhile, Barnaby the falcon, whom she believed was ready to take flight, ends up crashing into her window, leaving a heap of feathers and blood behind. Oh, the horror!

Yet, it’s not nearly as chilling as when Devon peers through the yacht telescope at the house, only to see Michaela appear to gaze back at her. She lets out a shriek of fear, and justifiably so! It’s a perfectly rational reaction when you discover that a wealthy cult leader is fixated on you, and that your sister, whom you care for deeply despite her reliance on Edible Arrangements as a coping strategy, might be in grave danger.

Bread Crumbs

Greetings, fellow film enthusiasts! A heads up before we dive into the Sirens recap: The style here ranges from delicate pastel Easter egg elegance to raw, ripped-to-shreds edginess – anything in between is a no-go zone. Enjoy the ride!

Tentatively supporting Trevor (Trevor Salter), the attractive man who counteracts Devon’s deception about being Christina Grey from Seattle, a tech billionaire, with one of his own. He does not possess the yacht they have intimate moments on; instead, it belongs to Simone’s boyfriend, Ethan. In essence, Devon humorously clarifies, “I just had sex on my sister’s boyfriend’s boat crew member’s vessel,” Devon admits/helpfully emphasizes for those of us who were momentarily diverted by a doorbell ringing during the scene. Thanks for the heads-up, Dev!

Although I’m eager to genuinely enjoy Josh Segarra in “The Other Two”, given that his character is Devon’s fast-food boss who only takes interest in her father when she uses blackmail as a threat, it’s best for me to withhold my final opinion for now.

In this episode, property manager José (Felix Solis) stands out as a scene-stealing supporting character. His understated yet hilarious reactions, such as his casual “Okay…” after the neck lick incident, and his brief but memorable conversation about football allegiance, make him a standout. The exchange went like this: “Bills fan?” “Yeah, go Bills. Why? You?” “Dolphins fan.” “Ah.” “Fuck the Chiefs?” “I’d rather say, the Chiefs can get fucked!

• “I feel alive! And also, happiness. :)”

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2025-05-22 11:54