Netflix’s Sirens, the dark comedy thriller created by Molly Smith Metzler, took the streaming world by storm with its first season, a five-episode rollercoaster of class warfare, psychological manipulation, and twisted sisterly bonds. Set against the opulent backdrop of the fictional Port Haven island, the series, starring Julianne Moore, Meghann Fahy, Milly Alcock, and Kevin Bacon, left viewers reeling with its shocking finale. Simone DeWitt (Alcock) usurped her billionaire boss Michaela “Kiki” Kell’s (Moore) life, becoming the new Mrs. Kell, while Devon DeWitt (Fahy) returned to Buffalo to care for their ailing father. The question on everyone’s mind: could a limited series deliver a second season worthy of its predecessor? Season 2 of Sirens answers with a resounding yes, diving deeper into the murky waters of power, betrayal, and identity, starting with a funeral and ending with a wedding that flips expectations on its head.

A Funeral Sets the Stage

Season 2 opens with a somber scene: a funeral at the Cliff House, the sprawling Kell estate that loomed so large in Season 1. The camera pans across familiar faces—Simone, now firmly entrenched as the lady of the house; Peter Kell (Bacon), still exuding charm laced with menace; and a noticeably hardened Devon, who has returned from Buffalo under mysterious circumstances. The mood is heavy, the air thick with unspoken accusations. But whose funeral is it? The show plays its cards close to the chest, revealing only in the final moments of the premiere that the deceased is Ethan Corbin III (Glenn Howerton), the Kells’ neighbor whose drunken cliffside fall in Season 1 left him battered but alive. His death, ruled an accident, casts a shadow over Port Haven, with whispers of foul play circling Simone, whose rejection of Ethan’s proposal preceded his fall.

The funeral serves as a narrative catalyst, reuniting the core cast and introducing new players. Among them is Lila Corbin (played with icy precision by Sarah Paulson), Ethan’s estranged sister, who arrives to settle his estate and unearth the truth about his death. Lila’s presence injects fresh tension, her sharp intellect and relentless suspicion challenging Simone’s carefully curated facade. Meanwhile, Devon’s return is no mere cameo—she’s back with a purpose, armed with a cryptic letter from Ethan that hints at secrets buried within the Kell household. The funeral also marks the return of Jose (Felix Solis), the Cliff House manager, whose loyalty to Simone is tested as old alliances fray.

Metzler’s writing shines in these early episodes, balancing the gothic atmosphere of Season 1 with a newfound focus on moral ambiguity. The funeral isn’t just a plot device; it’s a mirror reflecting the characters’ fractured psyches. Simone, draped in a black gown that screams both mourning and triumph, navigates the event with a chilling mix of grief and calculation. Devon, meanwhile, is a powder keg, her rage at Simone’s betrayal simmering beneath her forced civility. The episode’s standout moment comes when Devon confronts Simone at the cliff’s edge, echoing their Season 1 dynamic but with higher stakes: “You’re not her, Simone. You’re not Kiki. And you’re not me. So who the hell are you?” It’s a question that haunts the season, driving its exploration of identity and self-destruction.

The Siren Song of Power

If Season 1 was about the allure of wealth, Season 2 dissects its cost. Simone’s ascension as Mrs. Kell is no fairy tale—she’s trapped in a gilded cage, her every move scrutinized by Peter and his circle. Alcock delivers a tour-de-force performance, portraying Simone’s transformation from ambitious assistant to embattled queen with heartbreaking nuance. Her scenes with Bacon are electric, their dynamic a twisted dance of mutual manipulation. Peter, ever the puppet master, seems to revel in Simone’s struggle, but cracks in his armor suggest he’s not as invincible as he appears.

Michaela, meanwhile, is far from defeated. Exiled to a minimalist compound in the Pacific Northwest, she’s plotting her comeback. Moore imbues Kiki with a raw vulnerability that wasn’t as pronounced in Season 1, making her both pitiable and terrifying. Her interactions with a new character, a disgraced journalist named Nora (Tessa Thompson), hint at a scheme to reclaim her status, but at what cost? Kiki’s arc is a standout, exploring the fallout of losing the “sirenhood” she once wielded so effortlessly. Her mantra, “Hey hey,” once a symbol of her control, now feels like a desperate plea for relevance.

Devon’s journey is equally compelling. Fahy, who stole scenes in Season 1, grounds the season’s heightened drama with her portrayal of a woman grappling with loyalty and survival. Back in Buffalo, Devon has been caring for their father, Bruce (Bill Camp), whose dementia worsens, adding emotional weight to her return to Port Haven. Her alliance with Lila puts her at odds with Simone, but it’s clear Devon’s motives are more complex than revenge. A subplot involving Jordan/Morgan (Trevor Salter), the yacht captain she spurned in Season 1, adds a layer of tenderness to her otherwise gritty arc, though Metzler wisely avoids a neat romantic resolution.

Twists and Turns

Sirens Season 2 doesn’t shy away from its signature twists, but it’s more restrained than its predecessor, favoring character-driven surprises over shock value. The middle episodes delve into the mystery of Ethan’s death, with Lila uncovering evidence that suggests Simone may have had a hand in it—though the truth is, as always, murkier than it seems. A flashback episode, directed with visual flair by Nicole Kassell, revisits key moments from Season 1 through Ethan’s perspective, reframing Simone’s actions and casting doubt on her innocence. This narrative choice pays off, deepening the show’s exploration of perspective, a theme Metzler emphasized in Season 1: “In Greek mythology, the sirens are only described by the sailors. We don’t ever know the sirens’ point of view.”

The season also introduces a new layer of mythology, leaning into the siren metaphor without veering into the supernatural. A haunting sequence in Episode 3, where Simone dreams of drowning in a sea of silk dresses, symbolizes her struggle to maintain her identity amidst the Kells’ suffocating wealth. Cinematographer Macall Polay’s work is breathtaking, using the island’s cliffs and ocean to mirror the characters’ inner turmoil. The score, by composer Laura Karpman, amplifies the tension, its dissonant strings evoking the pull of the siren song.

A Wedding to Remember

The season builds to a finale that delivers on the promise of its subtitle: a wedding, but not the one viewers expect. Without spoiling the specifics, the wedding is a masterclass in subverting expectations, blending dark humor, heartbreak, and a touch of absurdity. It’s not a tidy resolution—Metzler avoids easy answers, leaving the characters’ fates open to interpretation. The final shot, a callback to Season 1’s image of Simone standing triumphant at the cliff’s edge, is both triumphant and tragic, encapsulating the show’s core question: what does it mean to win in a world built on betrayal?

The wedding also serves as a stage for the season’s emotional climax, particularly for Simone and Devon. Their relationship, the heart of the series, reaches a turning point that feels both inevitable and devastating. Fahy and Alcock’s chemistry is palpable, their scenes crackling with the weight of shared history and unspoken love. Moore, too, gets a moment to shine, her final scene a quiet but powerful reminder of Kiki’s enduring strength.

Why It Works

Sirens Season 2 succeeds because it dares to evolve. While retaining the lush visuals and biting wit that defined Season 1, it takes risks with its narrative structure and character arcs. The addition of Paulson and Thompson as Lila and Nora injects fresh energy, while the returning cast delivers career-best performances. Metzler’s writing, informed by her play Elemeno Pea, remains incisive, tackling themes of class, gender, and power with a nuance that elevates the show above its “rich people behaving badly” peers like The White Lotus.

Critics have already praised the season, with Vulture calling it “a deliciously unhinged study of ambition and betrayal” and The Guardian lauding its “razor-sharp performances.” On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an 82% approval rating, up from Season 1’s 76%, reflecting its tighter focus and bolder choices. Viewers, too, have embraced the season, with social media buzzing about the finale’s twists and the sisters’ fraught dynamic.

What’s Next?

Though billed as a limited series, Sirens Season 2 leaves room for more. Fahy and Alcock have expressed interest in returning, with Alcock telling Cosmopolitan, “I would love to explore a season three, but it would have to be a new story.” Metzler, for her part, has remained coy, though she hinted at Netflix’s Tudum that the show’s success—18 million views in its premiere week—could prompt a renewal. For now, fans can revel in a season that honors its roots while charting new waters, proving that the siren song of Port Haven is as irresistible as ever.

Sirens Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix. Heed its call—you won’t be disappointed.