Editor’s Note: The following contains full spoilers for Sirens.

Summary

Netflix’s Sirens centers on three women in Port Haven, exploring complex dynamics and social class issues.

Creator Molly Metzler discusses the casting process and character development, highlighting strong performances with Collider in an exclusive interview.

Series finale leaves room for audience interpretation on characters’ fates, with potential for future storylines.

Coming in at just five episodes, Netflix’s newest series from creator Molly Smith Metzler centers around three women in a fictional New England town. Sirens, currently in the Top 10, stars Julianne Moore, Meghann Fahy, Milly Alcock, and Kevin Bacon, and follows these three women through a tumultuous weekend at the end of summer that ends up changing them completely. Devon (Fahy) has arrived at Port Haven to find her sister, Simone (Alcock), after learning that their father (Bill Camp) has dementia. Simone currently works for the influential Michaela (Moore), the second wife of Peter Kell (Bacon). Thinking her sister is part of a cult, Devon endeavors to get Simone out of Port Haven and bring her back to Buffalo with her family. However, all is not as it seems. We spoke with Metzler about her series and broke down the surprising finale that sees Michaela being ousted by her husband, Devon returning back to Buffalo alone, and Simone stepping into place as Peter’s potential third wife. The series delves into issues about social class and creates complicated dynamics with its three leading female stars. Metzler discussed with Collider about her casting process, how she views the end of the series, and where the three characters could go in the future, diving deep into the show’s finale and complex story.
Molly Smith Metzler Reveals Who She First Cast in ‘Sirens’

“We started with her, and it could only be her.”

Image via Netflix

COLLIDER: Talk to me about the casting process. I really loved Milly Alcock in this. Her scenes with both Meghann Fahy and Julianne Moore are so great. What was it like finding her to be Simone? MOLLY SMITH METZLER: Well, it was easy. She read for us, and the minute we saw her, we were like, “That’s Simone,” and we locked her in. She was the first person we cast, and it was the easiest. We started with her, and it could only be her. She’s so fabulous. I think that Simone is a tough role because you can’t give much away. There’s a lot of withholding. When you choose to turn those cards over, the craft has to be very strong, and she’s such a sophisticated actor and such a star on the rise. We feel so lucky to have her in this.
Metzler Breaks Down the Meaning Behind the Title of ‘Sirens’

“Why do we villainize women, especially beautiful seductress women?”

Image via Netflix

In this series, there’s an episode specifically called “Monster,” and at some point in the show, all three of these main female characters are called a monster for essentially jolting the men that they are involved with or making their lives just difficult in general. What makes you want to hinge on that point, and what does that mean for this story, for these three characters? METZLER: I love that you caught that. Thank you for watching so carefully. It’s this idea of the sirens from Greek mythology. These three women are on an island. By the way, they don’t want to be there; it’s a punishment. They lost Persephone. That’s why they’re there. They’re singing, and so all these stupid sailors are crashing their boats and then blaming them for killing them, and they’re the ones who get labeled monsters. We don’t ever hear much about their side of the story. We only hear about them through the lens of the sailors. So, it’s this idea of why are certain women considered monsters? Why do we villainize women, especially beautiful seductress women? It just seemed like a very ripe thing to talk about, but I didn’t want it to overwhelm the show, so it’s in there in gentle ways. Like, you’re absolutely right, each of the male characters on screen blames a woman at some point for being a monster and ruining their lives or ruining something. I think there might be more to the siren story than Greek mythology tells us.
Should We Be Happy for Simone at the End of ‘Sirens’?

“This is life or death for her. It’s survival.”

Image via Netflix

I’m really curious about the end of this show, because I feel like I had very mixed emotions. I was like, “Am I meant to be happy for Simone by the end of this series?” Because she has escaped what potentially would have been a grueling life with her dad, who was abusive towards her, but she’s just replaced Michaela in this role as this sort of trophy wife. What are the feelings that we are meant to be feeling in those moments? METZLER: My answer is going to irritate you, but whatever you feel is right. It is a complicated moment. My job is to ask the question, but I then give the question to the audience. You get to decide how you feel about it. I mean, I have a guess. I have my own feelings around it, but I think my job is to make sure that, love or hate what happens with Simone, you understand why she makes the decision that she does at the end. So, in building this character across five episodes, we were so careful about revealing her backstory, revealing her trauma, and making us really understand that it’s suicide to go back to Buffalo with Bruce. She’s not going to be okay. This is life or death for her. It’s survival. That’s my job to make sure the audience understands that. But how you feel about it, I love that it’s not clear, because it’s your right. Whatever you think is absolutely right. I can’t wait to hear people argue about it, and I can’t wait to hear people’s thoughts about it. But I anticipate lots of different points of view. That’s very fair. I had a feeling you were not going to give me the straight answer on that one, but I had to try. What’s your answer? What’s your take on it? METZLER: I think it’s a little sad. I think when Michaela and Devon are on the ferry and they say, “You think she’s going to be okay?” they’re concerned, and I share their concern. But I’m also deeply empathetic because she got her heart broken by Michaela today, who is the one person she trusted. And I think you do what you gotta do. You do what you gotta do in this world.
Understanding Simone and Michaela’s Special Relationship and How It Developed

“I think when you have money as a part of your relationship, it’s never clean.”

Image via Netflix

Speaking about Michaela, in the beginning, I was like, “Oh, I don’t like this character,” and then I found myself empathizing with her. As we learn more about her backstory, you’re like, “Okay, so she’s not that much different from these other two characters.” I thought that was interesting because towards the end of the show, at one point, she’s talking with her husband, and she’s sort of treating Simone like an object, like a possession, like, “She’s mine and you’re taking her away from me.” I thought that relationship with Simone was very interesting because it is so unhealthy and so codependent. Can you talk about how you developed that relationship, and what you wanted the takeaway message to be about that relationship? METZLER: When I was thinking about that relationship, I was thinking about extreme wealth and how, for one thing, I think it can be a little lonely. I think Michaela is a very lonely character. But when you have that kind of money, you can buy everything, and you can buy yourself a friend. I think what’s happened there is she’s spun herself a friend, and convinced herself that it’s a relationship, and I think Simone’s convinced herself it’s a relationship, but there’s actually a real currency between them. I feel like that’s very relatable for all of us. The gap between the haves and the have-nots is growing in this country. It feels more and more like Parasite in this country every day — I love that movie. It’s a crazy time! And I think when you have money as a part of your relationship, it’s never clean. So, even though they both try to convince us not to pay attention to that, it’s an economic relationship. Definitely. At one point, she’s like, “You’re my best friend,” and I’m like, “But you definitely pay her salary and make her live in your home. That’s a little weird.” METZLER: Yeah. The stories we tell ourselves, right?
What Is Next for Devon After Walking Away From Jordan and Going Back to Buffalo?

“I respect that Devon owns that about herself at the end…”

Image via Netflix

It was really interesting with Devon. There’s an argument that she has with Simone where she’s like, “I sacrificed everything for you,” and at the end, she’s like, “I’m proud of these sacrifices. You didn’t serve me, but I’m still proud of that.” But I’m curious, she’s going back and she’s going to be taking care of her dad, although she says she’s not gonna be living with him anymore. Is she content to walk away from Jordan and this potential of a more carefree life, or is there still some conflict within her about where she wants to go in the future? METZLER: Meghann Fahy’s beautiful performance in that final scene, her face tells me that this is bittersweet. There’s a version of Devon that would like to sail off into the sunset and enjoy some time on her own, but I also think there are a lot of people in America who do not have money who are dealing with ill parents. Suddenly, you’re burdened, and it’s a very real burden. Financially, you’re strapped. I respect that Devon owns that about herself at the end, that she is going to get her own apartment, and she’s going to, I think, take care of herself. I imagine a trip to see Jordan is in her future, but that’s not who she is right now, and it’s not where she is economically either. It’s also an economic choice at the end. That 10 grand is going to help, but not for long, right? She better cash it fast, too. METZLER: Yeah. She better cash it fast. [Laughs]
How Real Is Peter’s Relationship With Simone?

“He wants goodness and lightness in his life.”

Image via Netflix

Looking at some of the other characters, specifically Peter, we meet him and we get to know him, and he’s almost like a sympathetic character, but the way that he treats Michaela at the end of this, when they they decide to separate, is very cold and is very, like, “I’m just going to cut ties with you and we’re done.” Is there a genuine connection that we’re meant to feel he has to Simone, or is this just the next stepping stone in a line of women, just like Ethan has his girl of the summer? METZLER: I think Peter is very upset that she was going to bribe and blackmail with a photo. It’s the same thing — Simone got her heart broken by Michaela. Michaela betrayed Simone in a huge way by firing her. Peter has also been really betrayed by Michaela today. He’s like, “You’re going to just hide that photo and milk out your prenup?” He’s also upset. His actions don’t come out of nowhere. This resentment he has towards her for fucking up his relationship with his family, it’s all coming to a head. Then, to add insult to injury, she pulled this stunt today. I think he really does believe that she is a monster. He wants goodness and lightness in his life. He doesn’t want this toxic stuff all around him. I think he really believes that. Whether or not that’s true, whether it’s a story he’s telling himself, I think we all tell ourselves stories. But in that moment, I believe that he believes he is saving himself from a monster.
Where Does Molly Smith Metzler See the ‘Sirens’ Story Going in Five Years?

“I worry about Simone, and I’m excited for Devon.”

I want to do a little bit of theorizing with you. Where do you see these characters five years down the line? Where do you see Simone, Devon, and Michaela in the aftermath of the show? Because we end on a new chapter for each of their lives, and I need to know more. METZLER: I know. I have to write the next chapter, I think. I’m not sure. This weekend was a big weekend for all three of them. I don’t think anyone’s going to be the same again. I don’t think Simone and Devon are going to have a lot of contact in the next handful of years. That’s my hunch. Unless there’s another intervention. I’m not sure. I think Michaela is the character who’s going to land on her feet. But when she’s on the ferry at the end and she says she doesn’t know what’s next, I love Julie’s performance there because she seems a little excited, like there’s a freedom in getting to leave this prison that’s been this island in a lot of ways. I’m not sure what’s next for her, but I think there’s a chance that it will be good. I think there’s a lot about that world that was very, very lonely for her. I worry about Simone. I worry about Simone, and I’m excited for Devon. I think Devon’s going to continue to heal herself and take care of herself in a new way.
Metzler Explains the Alluring “Siren Shot”

“So, it’s very, who holds the power of seduction? Who is able to command the camera?”

Early on in the show, there are definitely some themes and tone of mysticism and eeriness happening, especially with Michaela, who, aside from her “hey, hey’s,” has definitely got this really soothing, calming voice that Julianne Moore is very good at. But by the end of the series, we definitely get more grounded. What was your intention behind starting in this mysterious place and creating Michaela as a larger-than-life character? METZLER: The show is called Sirens, and there’s some sirening happening. Certainly in the first episode, Nicole Kassell beautifully directed this shot we called “the siren shot” — the extreme close-up where you just feel this pull towards Julie, and like she’s looking right at you. It is the sirens’ myth; it’s like she is pulling you towards her. She sees you, you see her back. And we see her do it with Devon, too, like, “I see your pain. I know who you are.” That’s all there very intentionally. But I also think that it’s all about perspective and point of view. We come into the world with Devon’s point of view, and we leave it with Michaela’s point of view. So, I love that shift. We see that siren shot, and that same beautiful siren shot becomes Simone’s shot in [Episode] 5. So, it’s very, who holds the power of seduction? Who is able to command the camera? That is just another tiny way that we told the story.
What Are the Key Differences Between ‘Sirens’ and the Play It’s Based On?

“There’s so much that’s new, but the spine of it is still a story about losing your sister to a cult, a little bit.”

Image via Netflix

Then I have a more general question. Obviously, this is based on one of your plays. I haven’t seen the play, so I’m not sure how different it is. What are the key differences or changes that you wanted to make when you were adapting it into a TV show? METZLER: The play is crazy different than the show. What’s the same is the five characters. So it’s Ethan, Jose, Devon, Simone, and Michaela. That’s the cast of Elemeno Pea, and those five characters are obviously huge characters in the show. But the play is 90 minutes long, and it takes place in one room. So, it was really just a jumping-off place, which is great because I wrote it so I could just totally disregard it and not be precious about it at all. It was really freeing, actually. But I’ve always loved these characters, and I think the idea of a sister intervention was a great shape for a story about class and power. So, from there, it’s just really fun. We get to create Peter Kell and create him with Kevin Bacon, and fill out the staff — we don’t get to meet any of the people who work at the house. Michaela’s, I call them her harem, but all of her friends, the 200 people at the gala, we get to build all that out. We get to build out Simone and Devon’s family life. Their father is not in the play. All that backstory is all brand-new to the show. Devon’s suitors, that’s all brand-new to the show. There’s so much that’s new, but the spine of it is still a story about losing your sister to a cult, a little bit. The cult of wealth.
Metzler Gives an Update for ‘The Thing About Jellyfish’ With Millie Bobby Brown

“There are no plans to go into production on that.”

Image via Netflix

I do have a question about a future project: The Thing About Jellyfish. Where are you in that process, and what is it like working with Millie Bobby Brown on that? METZLER: So The Thing About Jellyfish was a while ago, actually. Sometimes it shows up as new. It’s a fabulous book, and Millie is fabulous, but I wouldn’t say that that’s a project that’s coming up. The screenplay was on The Black List in 2018, which was really exciting, and it had a bunch of different homes. It got close to being made by a bunch of people, but I’d have to check in with the producers on what’s happening right now. There are no plans to go into production on that. I have other things cooking that I can’t talk about that would come out much sooner than that, but I can’t talk about that. I will say, I just renewed my deal with Netflix, so whatever I do next will be with Netflix, which I’m very excited about. All episodes of Sirens are available to stream on Netflix in the U.S.

Sirens

Release Date

2025 – 2025-00-00

Network

Netflix

Directors

Nicole Kassell, Quyen Tran