Julianne Moore’s character was called either Michaela or Mrs. Kell in Sirens, but Milly Alcock’s Simone was allowed to call her Kiki. The Netflix limited series revolved largely around the dynamic between these two characters, as Simone’s sister, Devon (Meghann Fahy), attempted to pull her away from her job as Michaela’s assistant. Devon felt that there was something off about Simone’s millionaire boss, and was uncomfortable with the bizarre sort of influence Michaela had over the younger girl. The fact that Simone called Michaela Kiki was, really, the very least of it.

During Devon’s time on the Kells’ island in Sirens, she learned a number of strange things about Michaela. It was rumored in town that the woman had murdered her husband Peter’s (Kevin Bacon) first wife. Additionally, Michaela’s behavior with the staff and guests of the island made Devon suspect that her sister’s boss was a cult leader, and that Simone herself was in the deepest. Simone shared Michaela’s gum, slept in her bed, and even sprayed her underwear with lavender mist in Sirens. In truth, however, this was just the sign of a rather strange friendship.

Simone Is The Only Employee Whom Michaela Sees As A Friend

Michaela Is Simone’s Best Friend & Employer

Michaela was immensely formal with the rest of her staff at Cliff House, and they appropriately referred to her as Mrs. Kell or Michaela in turn. Simone, however, was much more than Michaela’s personal assistant. The pair had genuinely become best friends, so Simone was allowed to casually refer to her boss as “Kiki” while no one else did. This friendship is also why Simone went above and beyond in all the different ways that made Devon so uncomfortable. It’s likely that Michaela didn’t initially expect her personal assistant to send sexts for her or share a bed, but the friendship naturally evolved.

All five episodes of Sirens are available to stream in Netflix.

Simone’s friendship with Michaela in Sirens is also why the other staff members in the household despised her. As an employee of the Kells, Simone could easily have been “one of them.” Devon certainly clicked with them, but Simone was seen as a mini-Michaela. She may have been staff, but her behavior and connection with Kiki made her seem more like one of the affluent guests that frequented the place. Of course, regardless of Simone and Michaela’s friendship, the younger woman was still an employee. It’s for this reason that things really fell apart between them in Sirens‘ ending.

Michaela Wasn’t A “Monster,” But Her Relationship With Simone Was Still Crossing A Line

The Blurred Lines Here Created A Massive Problem

Image made by Yeider Chacon Image made by yeider Chacon

Devon saw the dynamic between Simone and Michaela, and she immediately labeled the older woman a monster. She accused her of being a murderer and a cult leader, but none of this was true. We see by the end of Sirens that Michaela is actually a decent person. However, this doesn’t change the fact that the woman’s friendship with her assistant was inappropriate. The pair had left professionalism behind, and with no signs of boundaries anywhere, things quickly got messy in Sirens.

In Sirens, Michaela told Simone that, when it came down to it, she was essentially Peter’s employee. Nothing she had was really hers, and this significantly minimized her identity as an individual. Ironically, this was the same dynamic that existed between Michaela and Simone. They were best friends who loved one another dearly, but Simone was still Michaela’s employee. It only took a word from Michaela for absolutely everything that Simone owned to be taken away, and that’s ultimately what happened in Sirens. Michaela panicked, fired Simone, and the younger girl was suddenly backed into an impossible corner.

Since Simone’s professional and personal lives were one and the same, she simply couldn’t handle being fired in Sirens.

Since Simone’s professional and personal lives were one and the same, she simply couldn’t handle being fired in Sirens. It’s for this reason that she turned on her beloved “Kiki” and usurped her position as Mrs. Kell. Had the boundaries of this professional relationship been more firm, things could have gone very differently in Sirens.