Content Warning: this article contains a discussion of suicide.
Netflix’s new drama miniseriesSirensoutlines the events of one scandalous weekend at a wealthy seaside home that forces its characters to reflect on their past traumas.Sirens' cast of charactersis led by Devon (Meghann Fahy), who finds her sister, Simone (Milly Alcock), under the grip of Michaela Kell (Julianne Moore), an eccentric billionaire. While Simone seems to have an ideal job as Michaela’s personal assistant, Devon disrupts her sister’s new world, and it becomes increasingly clear that Simone’s past is not exactly what it seems.
Sirens' five episodes gradually revealDevon and her younger sister’s very rough childhoods, with Devon assuming caring responsibilities for Simone when she was just a teenager. Though both Devon and Simone are imperfect people, it is easy for audiences to understand why they make bad choices. Much ofSirensrevolves around the two coping with their past, includingthe reveal of what happened to their mother, leading to Simone’s controversial big decision inSirens' ending.
Simone & Devon’s Mom Died By Suicide When They Were 7 & 12 Years Old
Simone Initially Lies About Her Mother’s Death
Simone and Devon have a complicated family history that unfurls asSirensprogresses. Audiences learn early on that Devon cares for their father, who has early-onset dementia, when she comes looking for help from Simone. It is obvious thatSimone has no interest in helping Devon care for their father, in large part due to the trauma that she experienced throughout their childhood. While much of this comes from their father’s abandonment of her, it is also due to the tragic suicide of their mother.
Not only were Simone and Devon affected by their mother’s death, but the situation was made worse because seven-year-old Simone was in the backseat.
Simone lies to Michaela about her past, hoping to avoid thinking about the horrible things that happened to her as a child. One of the main things she lies about is saying that her mother died in a car accident. However, Simone eventually reveals that her mother died by suicide in the car. Not only were Simone and Devon traumatized by their mother’s death, but the situation was made worse because seven-year-old Simone was in the backseat.It was only because of Devon that Simone survived at all.
Devon was able to find her sister in the car and take her to the emergency room, saving her sister’s life. Devon also filled the role of their mother, dropping out of school to raise Simone. It is clear that Simone still harbors a lot of feelings of resentment towards their mother, so it makes sense why she avoids speaking about her mother’s death. Despite Simone being so young at the time of her mother’s death, the moment and her understanding of it as an adult are crucial to who she is.
Why Their Mom Tried To Kill Simone, But Not Devon, With Her In The Car
Devon Wonders Why Her Mom Left Her Alone
Sirensepisode 3 digs into Devon and Simone’s past much further than previous episodes, including getting into the truth about their mom’s death and how both daughters feel about it. Simone was very young when their mother died, and she admits to Michaela that she remembers it happening but didn’t understand what her mother’s actions meant at the time. However,Devon, at 12-years-old, had a better understanding of just how tragic her mother’s actions wereand how they would impact Devon and Simone’s lives going forward.
Their mother left Devon alone with a seven-year-old to raise and an alcoholic father who ignored them.
When Devon awakens from a nap and finds Michaela in the bathtub, the two women have a very intense, dream-like conversation. Shockingly,Michaela asks Devon if she ever feels jealous about her mom’s decisionto put Simone in the car as well, noting that sometimes those “spared” can wonder why they were chosen. In response, Devon tells Michaela that her mother had not “spared” her at all. Instead, their mother left Devon alone with a seven-year-old to raise and an alcoholic father who ignored them.
ThoughSirensdoes not exactly state why their mother tried to kill Simone in the car but not Devon, the series does explore what Devon thinks about the event. The surreal nature of her interaction with Michaela makes it unclear if Devon is dreaming the conversation or if it really occurs. In either case,Sirensmakes it clear that Devon does wonder why her mother left her alone to handle everything at such a young age, seeing the moment not as being “spared” from death but being left behind with no guide on how to take care of herself.
