Wait, so who's really the villain in Sirens? That shocking ending explained.

Netflix's latest limited series, Sirens, has captivated viewers with its tantalising blend of luxury, manipulation, and family drama.

The five-part series, which premiered on May 22, delivers a finale that's both unexpected and thought-provoking, leaving audiences with plenty to unpack.

If you've just finished watching and are scratching your head about that ending, don't worry — we've got you covered.

Watch the trailer for Sirens. Article continues after video.

What is Sirens about?

Sirens follows Devon (Meghann Fahy), who travels to a lavish island estate to reconnect with her younger sister Simone (Milly Alcock), who works as an assistant to the enigmatic socialite Michaela Kell (Julianne Moore). Michaela is married to billionaire Peter Kell (Kevin Bacon) and commands a strange influence over her staff and social circle.

Over the course of one explosive Labor Day weekend, Devon becomes increasingly concerned about what she perceives as Michaela's cult-like control over Simone.

What initially seems like a rescue mission evolves into something far more complex, as Devon uncovers the true dynamics at play in the seaside mansion.

What happened at the end of Sirens?

In the finale, the carefully constructed façade of the Kells' world comes crashing down, but not in the way viewers might expect.

Rather than witnessing Simone being rescued from Michaela's clutches, we see a calculated power transfer taking place.

The supposed victim, Simone, has actually been orchestrating her own ascent. Unbeknown to anyone, least of all herself.

Simone essentially replaces Michaela, stepping into her role with an eerie seamlessness that suggests this was her plan from the beginning. But was it, really?

Image: Netflix

The closing scenes show Simone adopting Michaela's mannerisms, style, and position of authority, completing a transformation that was hidden in plain sight throughout the series.

Meanwhile, Devon made the difficult decision to leave with their ailing father, rejecting the glamorous but morally compromised world her sister had chosen.

Why did Simone stay?

Throughout the series, we unravelled some of Simone's childhood trauma to understand this was a scared, vulnerable young woman before us.

In the early episodes, Michaela seemed to have some unruly hold over Simone — she had a cult-like power that captivated this young woman. But by the fourth and fifth episodes, the dreamlike intensity of Michaela gave way to reality, suggesting we may have been seeing her through Devon's eyes at first. She wasn't some magical, murderous, scary woman.

Instead, she was someone who genuinely did seem to have Simone's interests at heart. That is, until she found out Simone had kissed her husband. She unceremoniously booted her from the grounds. And Simone had a choice to make: head home, or stay and fight (by forming an actual romantic relationship with Michaela's husband, Peter).

Simone's decision to stay and essentially become the next Michaela reveals the true nature of her character. Far from being a victim of manipulation, Simone proves to be calculating and ambitious.

The series subtly hints throughout that Simone and Michaela are kindred spirits — both willing to do whatever it takes to secure power, status, and control. Simone stays because she has recognised an opportunity to advance her position in a world she finds irresistible.

Unlike her sister Devon, who ultimately rejects this world, Simone embraces it fully. She studied Michaela's techniques and relationships until she could step into her shoes. Her decision to stay represents a conscious choice to prioritise power and luxury over authentic connection.

But, her powerful choice also came from a feeling of helplessness.

Simone was faced with returning home with her sister and father, who she resented for neglecting her in childhood.

Her option was to return home, to a place she felt trapped, or to follow in the footsteps of her mentor and become 'someone' on the arm of a powerful man.

She chose herself. In every sense.

Image: Netflix

Why didn't Devon go to Palm Beach?

Devon's decision not to join Simone in Palm Beach represents a crucial moral choice at the heart of the series. Throughout the show, Devon has been positioned as someone searching for her place in the world, torn between family obligation and personal ambition.

By the finale, Devon recognises that Simone's path represents a moral compromise she cannot make. Despite the allure of wealth and status, Devon chooses authenticity and family responsibility over the seductive but ultimately hollow world of the ultra-wealthy.

In one of the most poignant moments of the entire show, after taking Michaela's place, Simone justifies her actions by saying, "If it doesn't serve you, let it go."

To which Devon recalls her choice, years ago, to drop out of college and take care of Simone.

"You didn't serve, and I didn't let you go. But now I have to," she responds.

And this is the moment that Devon, as well as the audience, realises just how different the two sisters have become.

Devon's choice to go home with her father symbolises that, while Simone has changed, Devon has not — choosing again to continue the cycle of her life.

Image: Netflix

What does the ending of Sirens mean?

The genius of Sirens lies in its subversion of expectations. What initially presents as a cult, reveals itself to be something far more nuanced — a story about personal agency, ambition, and the choices we make.

There is no brainwashing here. Simone isn't helpless — she's a willing participant who sees Michaela not as an oppressor but as a blueprint. The series ultimately reveals that Simone and Michaela are cut from the same cloth, both willing to do whatever it takes to secure power and status.

The show's title takes on new meaning in this context.

Like the mythological sirens who lured sailors to their doom, the allure of wealth and power proves irresistible to Simone. But unlike the helpless sailors of legend, she approaches this dangerous shore with her eyes wide open.

Image: Netflix

Devon's journey represents the opposite choice — rejecting material comfort and status in favour of authentic connection and family responsibility. Her decision to care for her father symbolises choosing love and duty over the seductive world that has ensnared her sister.

What makes Sirens particularly compelling is its refusal to cast any of the female characters as a simple villain. Michaela isn't evil — she's simply playing the game of high society according to its established rules. Simone isn't brainwashed — she's ambitious and will do whatever it takes to avoid the trauma of her past. Devon isn't perfect for putting others first — she's struggling with her own values and priorities.

At the end of Sirens, it becomes clear that Peter is actually the most to blame for the chaos and heartbreak that unfolds.

Like the sailors in Greek mythology, who blamed sirens for their own ruin, the men in this story — especially Peter — project their failures onto the women around them.

Raymond blames Devon for his own decision to cheat on his wife and leave his family behind. Ethan blames Simone for ruining him after she rejects his marriage proposal. Peter, a man of immense wealth and status, repeatedly shifts responsibility for his choices onto Michaela, blaming her for his estrangement from his own children.

Despite having complete power to resolve these issues, he chooses instead to rewrite the narrative, casting Michaela as the obstacle and ultimately discarding her when she no longer serves his legacy. Just like in mythology: the women are labelled monsters, but it is the men who steer their own ships into disaster.

Peter's actions throughout the series reveal him as the true catalyst for much of the turmoil. He kisses Simone without her consent, continuously lies to his wife, and manipulates those around him, all while maintaining the facade of a man who lets his wife call all the shots.

Throughout the show, we are led to believe that Michaela holds all the power — over her husband, her employees, Simone — but in reality, she, too, is trapped. Career-less, powerless, and isolated in a life defined by her husband's decisions. In the end, she is left with nothing.

The title Sirens is a misdirection: the women are not the cause of the wreckage, but rather the scapegoats for the men's own failings, with Peter orchestrating the most damage while remaining, in the eyes of many, blameless.

The women in this show are all just playing the game… a game created and upheld by the men in their lives. Sirens ultimately asks viewers to consider what they might choose when faced with similar crossroads. Would you pursue power at any cost? Or would you choose family and authenticity despite its challenges?

Sirens is streaming now on Netflix.

Feature Image: Netflix.