Sirens

Interview with showrunner Molly Smith Metzler

Show premieres on Netflix May 22

Describe the TV show for us in your own words.

Sirens is about sisterhood, trauma, sex, class, and power. And there's a twist of Greek mythology, too.

What drew you to this story?

I spent a summer waitressing at a very exclusive yacht club in Martha's Vineyard. I was young and broke, fresh out of state school (SUNY Geneseo). I didn't know this level of extreme wealth existed in the world. I remember seeing the wives at the club in their pastels, in town for the "high season." I found them fascinating. What can I say? I've been writing about them (and class, and power, and socioeconomics) ever since.

What do you want people to think about?

I think the ending might surprise you in a way that might make you reconsider the assumptions you made about these characters across the five episodes. Also, you might come out of Sirens thinking about the seductive sirens from Greek mythology. We know so little about them, and yet, they're considered monsters. Why?

What was the biggest challenge in making this?

The biggest challenge was making sure we stayed unique in our vision. This is a huge moment for Nantucket/murder/rich people shows, and while Sirens may be lucky enough to be in conversation with those beloved shows, we didn't want to be derivative. We resisted adding elements or storylines that would feel familiar to audiences. Risky or not, we wanted to look, feel, and sound really distinctive. I find that people struggle to compare our tone to any other show. I take that as a terrific compliment, but it was also our biggest challenge.

What was the development process? How did you the show get made?

I wrote a play called Elemeno Pea a million years ago when I was studying at Juilliard. It's a 90-minute comedy that takes place in one room with five characters (Devon, Simone, Michaela, Ethan, and Jose). When I first started writing for television, the play became my calling-card writing sample, so people often ask me about it. One such person was Jinny Howe from Netflix. She remembered the play from her tenure at John Wells Productions (where I worked, for many years, on Shameless). After Jinny and I did Maid together, she said hey would you ever adapt Elemeno Pea? And I said, maybe? And now it's 2025 and we're about to drop.

What inspired you to become a storyteller?

My family is very creative (and hilarious) so I think it was in my DNA to enjoy telling stories. People say comedic timing cannot be taught, but I learned a lot sitting between my brother and sister in the backseat of the Subaru.

What’s the best and worst advice you've received?

Best: "Don't take too many notes. You probably got it right the first time." -- my late mentor, Chris Durang

Best: "Relax. Your show won't be the worst thing on Netflix." -- my friend, Marco

Worst: "You can't be funny and sad in the same show." YES YOU CAN!

What advice do you have for other female creatives?

I have one big piece of advice for showrunners: address problems the moment they arise, especially on set. The health of your set is like a balloon; it can be punctured very easily. One bad egg or mean-spirited comment can turn the whole operation upside down. (Same with writers rooms, actually.) We ask artists to come to work and crack themselves open with vulnerability. They deserve a creative environment that is buttoned-up, positive, and 100% safe. The moment you get the slightest sense that something is off or someone is off, you're right. Get them off your set. Don't worry about being called a bitch. You already were.

Name your favorite woman directed film or TV show and why.

Everything directed by Jane Campion. Her vision is lyrical and breathtaking, but never at the cost of story.

Feel free to share anything else you would like people to know about this series.

Here's a fun bit of trivia: the music in Sirens features singing. It's a gorgeous female voice. Guess who it is? [hint: MF]

Logline: Devon thinks her sister Simone has a really creepy relationship with her new boss, the enigmatic socialite Michaela Kell. Michaela’s cult-ish life of luxury is like a drug to Simone, and Devon has decided it’s time for an intervention, but she has no idea what a formidable opponent Michaela will be. Told over the course of one explosive weekend at The Kells’ lavish beach estate, Sirens is an incisive, sexy, and darkly funny exploration of women, power, and class.