Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mermaid tale is violent, suspenseful, and thrilling drama.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Siren
What's the Story?
SIREN opens as the coastal town of Bristol Cove, Washington, hosts its annual Mermaid Days celebration, recalling the berg's legendary past with the mythical creatures. Suddenly history becomes all too real as a mysterious newcomer named Ryn (Eline Powell) proves the legends true and stirs up trouble in the normally sleepy little town. As marine biologist Ben (Alex Roe) tries to piece together Ryn's story, old secrets surrounding his family's legacy and the town's are revealed, and a battle for the ocean begins.
Is It Any Good?
Suspenseful and foreboding, this series is a thrilling jaunt into a far less sanitized version of mermaid lore than what's usually presented. The scares are real, the secrets tantalizing, and the impending doom palpable as the story unfolds. Add a sidebar government conspiracy and some men-in-black types determined to keep the truth from the average population, and you get tension and anticipation in just about every scene.
Siren's course is uncharted and full of surprises, which is great for mature audiences but not so much for tweens and impressionable younger kids. There's the possibility of violence at every turn, and sinister and mysterious figures lurk all around. At the same time, there's also the instinct of loyalty that drives Ryn's movements, linking her experience with the general human one and making her a sympathetic character, despite her predatory nature.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the role of loyalty in Siren. Where does Ryn's loyalty lie? Ben's? Maddie's? How do you find that loyalty changes when pressure (money, fear, friends, etc.) is applied to it? What loyalties refuse to change for you?
Do stories like this one change the way you think about legends? To what degree are most stories -- even the fictional ones -- rooted in fact? Do you think we'll ever know all the answers to questions like whether mermaids exist? Is there fun in not knowing?
Which characters do you see displaying role model behavior? Are you drawn to those characters or to the less upstanding ones? Are ulterior motives always a bad thing?
TV Details
- Premiere date : March 29, 2018
- Cast : Alex Roe , Eline Powell , Rena Owen
- Network : Freeform
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Fantasy , Animals ( Ocean Creatures )
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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