Netflix launches Sirens with a magnetic first episode titled Exile. The show wastes no time in laying its foundation: a complex tale of power, sisterhood, and suspicion set against the deceptive calm of a wealthy seaside estate.
Devon DeWitt knows something feels off. Her younger sister Simone has stopped responding to texts and calls. That alone alarms Devon. The two have shared a rocky but deep bond that never allowed silence to stretch this long. Simone has moved into an exclusive oceanfront mansion, working as a personal assistant to billionaire Michaela Kell. Devon senses danger.
Devon arrives at the Kell estate, dragging her skepticism, her sharp tongue, and her Buffalo upbringing into a world that thrives on curated perfection. The estate overwhelms with its grandeur. Sculpted lawns, Mediterranean architecture, luxury draped over every corner. But beneath that beauty, something feels wrong. The staff behaves too carefully. The air stays too quiet. Simone behaves like a stranger.
Meghann Fahy gives Devon a biting intensity. Her performance threads together sarcasm, protectiveness, and heartbreak without slipping. As Devon investigates her sister’s new life, she begins to see how easily charm can become control. She watches Michaela Kell with guarded eyes.
Julianne Moore plays Michaela with frightening precision. Her character never raises her voice. She floats across rooms. Her compliments sound generous until they land. Then they burn. Michaela never directly threatens anyone. She makes you question if you even felt a threat. That power poisons the air around her.
Milly Alcock turns Simone into a study of internal conflict. Simone glows in Michaela’s world. Her hair shines. Her posture straightens. She has stepped into a version of herself that finally feels seen. But you see her doubt. Her eyes flicker when Devon speaks. Her voice wavers when Michaela interrupts. She lives in a house built from gratitude and manipulation.
The episode unfolds over one weekend. Conversations stretch and snap like rubber bands. Devon clashes with Michaela in a dining room lined with ocean views. She tries to pull Simone aside. She fails. Michaela always finds a way to interrupt. Devon loses her temper. Simone stays behind.
Each scene tightens the sense of unease. Devon does not trust the calm. Michaela does not trust Devon’s influence. Simone does not know who to believe.
Director Tanya Hamilton frames every scene with deliberation. Wide shots remind you of the estate’s isolation. Tight closeups remind you of the emotional claustrophobia. The estate becomes a character itself. It offers safety while it traps. It comforts while it blinds.
The writing never spoon feeds the audience. Instead, it lets tension build. It respects the viewer’s ability to read between lines. Michaela speaks in riddles wrapped in silk. Devon fights back with truth and grit. Simone stays caught in the pull between them.
By the final scene, you feel what Devon feels. You do not know exactly what holds Simone to Michaela. But you know it is real. It is powerful. It is dangerous.
Exile sets the tone for a limited series that aims to dig deep rather than race forward. It explores class without preaching. It questions sisterhood without romance. It invites discomfort without apology.
This episode does not scream its themes. It whispers them through every glance, every pause, every word left unsaid. Sirens begins like a quiet wave. But you already sense the storm coming.
