Sirens’ multiple hallucination scenes explained – and what they really mean

The reality is nebulous in Netflix’s Sirens; Devon’s quest to find her missing sister sets off a chain of events that transports the viewer into a phantasmagorical realm. The character’s elusive perceptions blend and consist of nightmarish imagery, abstract flowing stories, or peculiar context, all suggestive of something supernatural. And as the episodes progress, it becomes clear that everything is surreal for a reason: the characters’ mental distress is being portrayed in a fantastical manner.

The story’s nucleus is Devon (Meghann Fahy), Simone (Milly Alcock), and Michaela (Julianne Moore)—three women dealing with the complexities of rage, guilt, and untold healing.

The story takes a turn for the worse when Devon stumbles upon Simone living under Michaela’s so-called cult-like care. A series of bizarre occurrences stack on top of one another: strange bird window collisions, shadowy presences looming in the backdrop, and characters undergoing sobering illusions that make reality feel unsteady.

The illusions and gaps in reality aren't magic; they represent the pain each character holds. Sirens doesn’t create tension with supernatural gimmicks; it uses emotional truth. Devon's terror and confusion are genuine, but the visions themselves are allegories. These are not devices used to escape reality but rather the fantasy that shows how past traumas shape a woman's perception of reality.

The hallucinations reflect trauma, not magic

What makes Sirens so powerful is it shows inner turmoil as outside chaos. The haunting, disjointed, and eerie bathroom dialogue between Devon and Michaela may appear magical, but the reality is more unsettling. It's Devon, emotionally overwhelmed, dissociating. When she abruptly comes to in a different location, it isn't time travel or manipulation but rather the way trauma splinters her perception of time and memory.

Simone perceives things that do not exist. Her frightening, vivid visions are not supernatural omens or prophecies; they’re desperate pleas. Her decision to remain with Michaela is not a matter of brainwashing but rather being acknowledged in a society that fails to understand her. These surreal facets show how deeply both sisters are unanchored in their minds and how profound emotional isolation is capable of warping reality.

Greek myth meets emotional realism in Sirens

Sirens takes its name from mythology, but rather than showcasing how women with enchanting voices bring men to destruction, it turns the story on its head. Devon and Simone are not beasts or temptresses. Instead, they are burdened and molded by a culture that seeks to demonize women with layers of complexity.

The hallucinations do not pose danger; rather, they illustrate how these women have been conditioned to embrace doubt over instincts, fear over emotions, and silence pain.

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Even Michaela, who is set up at first as a domineering figure, turns out to be yet another person snarled in a web of intricate relationships. From the outside, her life is a glossy show where everything looks pristine—dominant, orderly, tranquil. But the conversations she has expose the deeper fractures: she, too, is a victim of class violence, internalized misogyny, and grief.

Devon’s dawning understanding that Michaela is not a cult leader but rather another deeply scarred woman brings the narrative full circle. The surreal dissipates, and with it all that remains is human.

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