Sirens’ showrunner, Molly Smith Metzler, has explained how she established the series’ dramatic ending and how it may be interpreted by viewers. The Netflix series, Sirens, follows Devon DeWitt (Meghann Fahy), a young woman searching for her younger sister, Simone (Milly Alcock), who disappeared after accepting a job to work as a personal assistant to Michaela Kell (Julianne Moore), a philanthropist and millionaire. Devon’s search for her sister leads her to Michaela’s family mansion, where she soon becomes concerned about Simone’s relationship with her boss. Devon’s investigation eventually leads to dramatic decisions for everybody by Sirens‘ ending.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Metzler explains her inspiration for the series, how she approached writing the ending, and how she wanted to take viewers by surprise with its conclusion. Metzler reveals that she was inspired by Greek mythology and explores “Why are the sirens monsters?” while also stating that the ending of the series shows that not everything is what it seems. “This is a show that goes to an uncomfortable place” says Metzler, “and I think asks you to question the assumptions you made and why you made them.” Check out Metzler’s comments below:

Writing towards that ending was something we did with great care. I didn’t want anyone to see it coming. But then when it comes, I wanted it to feel inevitable. What I love about the ending is that it asks the audience to decide how to feel about it. We went through all the different takes of Simone on the cliff at the end, and the one we chose for the final cut has a little bit of a Mona Lisa smile. Her face is a little opaque. We chose that one because I think there’s a version where she won, she’s a siren and hear her roar.

And there’s a version that this is bittersweet and painful. I think how the audience interprets it says a lot about how they feel, probably about who she is and who you are, and what home is to you, and what you would do in that circumstance? I think she needs to survive, and that’s what she does to survive.

What Molly Smith Metzler’s Comments Mean For Sirens’ Ending

She Wanted To Make Viewers Question Their Own Morality

Metzler’s comments represent the surprising twist on Sirens‘ ending, and Simone’s decisions throughout the series. Sirens is a series that is centered on the theme of choice and how both good and bad decisions can affect people’s lives. In Simone’s case, she chooses to accept the job working for Michaela, which eventually leads to her moving to Michaela’s grand estate and having an affair with her husband, Peter (Kevin Bacon). Simone’s choices are influenced by her past trauma and her desire for a new life, as emphasized by Metzler in further comments:

I can’t ask you to feel a certain way about what Simone does. All I can ask you is to try to understand it, because if you were in her shoes, and that ferry is leaving to take you back to certain trauma and destitute, what would you do? That’s what I hope people are talking about. I hope this is a debate people are having.

Through Sirens‘ ending where Simone stands on the cliff, staring out into the distance, Metzler wanted viewers to reflect on their own decisions in life. She wants viewers to understand that there will be times when the choices made will have a positive impact on our lives, but at the same time, there will be negative results in the decisions that we make. Simone is now set for a life of wealth and luxury, but, having seen firsthand the true realities of Peter’s marriage to Michaela, knows that her future may not be as fulfilling as she envisioned.

Our Take On Simone’s Mona Lisa Smile Ending In Sirens

She Has To Live With Her Decisions For The Rest Of Her Life

Simone is shown to be a complex character throughout Sirens, and her desperation to leave behind her past leads her to make decisions that forever affect her future. She has finally gotten what she wants: a new life with Michaela’s husband, Peter, and her position as the lady of the mansion, but everything comes at a cost. Simone’s Mona Lisa smile hints at her understanding that her future is now uncertain, and she can no longer rely on her sister to save her. Whether Sirens season 2 happens, Simone has to live with her choices.