'Netflix drama was deemed pointless but it had me hooked from the start'
I recently watched a Netflix drama that received mixed reviews from viewers, with some deeming it "pointless"; however, I thought it was totally gripping, and would urge others to give it a go
Katie is a Content Editor working across all Reach Plc titles, and she's always on the look out for the next viral story. She joined the company back in 2016 when she started out as a reporter at WalesOnline. Following this, she spent two years at the Daily Star before moving onto work at the social news desk.
Sometimes we all crave something totally different to watch on TV as, even though there's lots of choice, it can be easy to get stuck into a rut of tuning into similar things. This is why I recently decided to watch something a little out of my comfort zone, as I had been putting it off for a little while.
After binging a lot of crime dramas, and completely falling in love with Netflix's Dept Q, I decided I needed to mix things up and try something totally new. On a whim, I opted to watch Sirens, a limited series also on Netflix, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't totally captivated from the start, even though not everyone loved it as much as me.
Personally, I was instantly hooked, as I thought it packed so much into five short episodes, while also exploring important themes. Not to mention, Julianne Moore and Meghann Fayy also star in it, so this made it pretty hard to turn down.
I'm a sucker for a show that focuses on strong female characters, and this was another that instantly drew me in. Despite leaving people divided, I couldn't stop watching.
As soon as I tuned in, I knew I was going to fall in love with Meghann Fahy's character - Devon DeWitt. From the off, we instantly see there are layers to her character, and that she's far from perfect - something I personally think we need to see more of.
She's a few months sober, is caring for her father and she makes a lot of wild and wreckless decisions while trying to find her sister, Simone, who has built a new life for herself away from her family. But, as most of us know, nobody in this world is perfect, and this is what the show (without giving any spoilers away) manages to display so well.
As well as exploring a family's heartbreak and struggle of trying to cope with a diagnosis of early-onset dementia, we get to learn so much about their past and how their lives have moved in different directions. Let's just say the sisters followed very different paths, and have totally different goals and aspirations in life.
Personally, I felt the show explored a sisterly dynamic in a way I have rarely seen portrayed onscreen before. Their relationship is neither good nor bad - but it's fractured - and I found this fascinating to watch.
But, in my opinion, this wasn't the best part of the show. I personally loved how it examined women differently, and how they really are at the heart of the narrative.
I think what interested me the most is that the female characters are all strong, but in their own ways, and they all have their flaws too. They get judged, they judge each other in some ways, but not one is presented "perfectly", and I found this totally refreshing to watch.
Not to mention, the amount they manage to explore within five episodes is truly quite impressive. So many narratives are entwined within the storyline and, though some may feel that the ending isn't what you'd call dramatic, I thought it was both poignant and captivating.
On Rotten Tomatoes, one reviewer wrote: "I'll give Sirens this; it may be a failure, but it's an interesting one." Another also added: "Sirens is a beautiful mess of a series that struggles to justify why it even exists."
Meanwhile, a third offered praise, commenting: "With every episode, Sirens is able to maintain the tension and mystery around the story going, keeping the audience hooked to the screen until its very last frame."
I think this last review helps to sum up how I feel. Though the show may not seem a bit of you on first glance, it really does take you by surprise as there's always an unexpected twist or turn.
If you have a distinct genre you like to stick to, Sirens may not be for you; however, if you're in the mood for something fresh and unique that makes you think of life in different ways, it's defintiely worth giving a go.