I simply binged Sirens, the most recent Netflix gem starring Julianne Moore, Meghann Fahy, and Milly Alcock, and I’ve obtained to say: this present is an fascinating, hilarious, and generally uncomfortable take a look at messy human habits and character dynamics. It’s like Succession and Greek mythology had a child.
Set on an unique island property over one lengthy, scorching Labor Day weekend, Sirens spins a darkly comedic story of sophistication, energy, and the methods we’ll twist ourselves into knots to belong. On the heart of all of it are the DeWitt sisters, Devon and Simone, caught up in Michaela Kell’s world of luxurious, manipulation, and…raptor preservation.
As a Myers-Briggs® practitioner, I couldn’t assist however clock the categories swirling on this simmering pot of drama. Let’s begin with the one on the heart of all of it: Simone DeWitt.
The Myers-Briggs® Character Forms of the Sirens Characters
Simone DeWitt: ESTJ
Simone’s the one you’d need operating your start-up or organizing your marriage ceremony—or, on this case, managing the day by day chaos of an island mansion that’s virtually a personality itself. She’s an ESTJ, and you may see it in each decisive flick of her eyes.
ESTJs are the organizers of the world—pragmatic, structured, and aggressive. Simone’s no exception. She’s detail-oriented and whip-smart, fast to take cost when issues get messy. From the primary second she steps onto the scene as Michaela Kell’s live-in assistant, she’s the one ensuring every part’s operating easily (or no less than seems to be prefer it’s operating easily).
However right here’s the place issues get fascinating—and actual. Whereas Simone’s busy enjoying the a part of the right assistant, she’s additionally hustling onerous to outrun the ghosts of her previous. ESTJs, for all their sensible prowess, may be fairly ruthless about ignoring emotions they deem “unproductive.” Simone’s inferior Fi (Introverted Feeling) is peeking out in all of the methods she’d fairly not acknowledge. She’s polished and exact, however there’s a susceptible undercurrent she retains locked up tighter than the Cliff Home wine cellar.
It’s a traditional ESTJ transfer: preserve the world so as, even when it means neglecting your personal emotional mess.
For those who’ve ever labored with an ESTJ, precisely what I imply. They’re those who all the time appear to have a plan (and a backup plan) however may want somewhat coaxing to truly discuss what’s occurring inside.
Michaela “Kiki” Kell: INFJ
Let’s discuss Michaela, the island’s queen and a imaginative and prescient in Lilly Pulitzer, performed with otherworldly grace by Julianne Moore. She’s ethereal and mysterious, a girl who can stroll right into a room and immediately grow to be the solar everybody else orbits round.
INFJs have a knack for creating an environment. They’re intuitive and deeply attuned to the emotional panorama round them. Michaela’s philanthropy and activism are greater than social posturing—they’re the seen indicators of her profound conviction that she’s right here to make the world a greater place.
However INFJs can even get swept up in their very own visions. Michaela appears to know everybody’s secret goals and fears—typically earlier than they do. There’s a mystical high quality to the way in which she attracts individuals in, and the present isn’t actually clear whether or not she really does or doesn’t have supernatural powers. What I can say is that INFJs can sense undercurrents, spot the cracks in somebody’s masks, and use that perception to both heal or manipulate. Michaela does somewhat of each.
Michaela’s relationship with Simone teeters between mentorship and management, care and obsession. She’s obtained the empathic high quality of the INFJ blended with the unhealthy INFJ’s want for management and perfection. Every thing should align together with her imaginative and prescient, however she will additionally manipulate and faux so as to create that imaginative and prescient as effectively.
Whereas Michaela has depth, perception, and a mysterious aura because of her dominant Introverted Instinct, she additionally loves the posh and energy that her place provides her. Sorts with inferior Extraverted Sensing (INFJs and INTJs) are usually very affected by stunning sights, textures, and decadence, even when they don’t admit it or really feel prefer it’s “shallow.”
I cherished that Michael showcased a number of the mild and darkish sides of the INFJ. The empathy, the perception, and the fervour to enhance the world mixed with some manipulation, selfishness, and wish for management as effectively.
Devon DeWitt: ESFP
After which there’s Devon. She’s the form of character who looks like a punch to the intestine and a heat hug suddenly—a messy, actual human with an ESFP soul.
ESFPs are all about maintaining it actual. They’re charismatic, down-to-earth, adaptable, and all the time able to chase an excellent time. However Devon’s the cautionary story of what occurs when that boundless power has nowhere wholesome to land. She’s caught in Buffalo, taking good care of her father, and attempting to outrun her personal demons with each cigarette she lights and each sarcastic one-liner she tosses out.
The ESFP’s dominant perform, Se (Extraverted Sensing), is all concerning the right here and now, and Devon lives there… somewhat too onerous. She’s reactive and impulsive and overwhelmed by accountability.
ESFPs don’t need to be caught. They need to be happy. They need journey, exploration, pleasure, and which means. However Devon is caught in a life that looks like a entice. Day by day she takes care of her alcoholic father; a person who’s riddled by Alzheimer’s and continuously forgets who she even is. On high of that, she by no means completed school, she works at a job she hates, and she will’t appear to see how wonderful she really is. It’s a nightmare for an ESFP. However she retains serving as a result of her coronary heart tells her it’s the appropriate factor to do.
Devon’s devotion to her sister Simone is uncooked and unyielding, even when it hurts. That’s the ESFP’s auxiliary Fi (Introverted Feeling) speaking: deeply private values, an ethical compass that’s felt within the intestine, not the top.
As an ESFP, Devon additionally has no persistence for the pretense and ritual of the Kell social elite. She says it how it’s at no matter quantity she pleases. This makes her a thorn in Simone’s facet as a result of Simone has longed to belong on this elite group, to really feel “particular,” supplied for, and secure for therefore lengthy. However Devon can’t faux, she will’t act like what’s taking place is regular, she sees unusual or inconsistent habits and feels compelled to name it out. However she does it as a result of she genuinely cares…generally an excessive amount of.
Devon is the messy hero of this story, the one who’ll danger every part for the individuals she loves—even when it means breaking her personal coronary heart a thousand occasions within the course of.
Peter Kell: ISTP
Peter Kell isn’t your typical socialite husband. Positive, he’s obtained the cash, the affect, and the power to fill a room with that easy old-money charisma. However he’s additionally an ISTP—personal, sensible, and all the time somewhat bit aside from the gang.
ISTPs are the unique quiet rebels. They’re unbiased and resourceful, all the time in the hunt for a problem value their time. And Peter? He’s made a life out of being a person who’s onerous to pin down. Whereas Michaela’s busy saving raptors and managing relationships, Peter’s out fishing or Quahogging, sleeves rolled up and content material to work together with his palms. He’s the kind who’d fairly be out on the water with the solar on his face than making well mannered dialog with island royalty.
There’s a relaxed to him that’s unmistakable—the easygoing persistence of somebody who’s discovered to belief his personal instincts. And that’s the ISTP’s bread and butter: pragmatic and adaptable, with a bent to maintain their ideas shut and their playing cards even nearer.
However he’s not only a laid-back observer. Peter’s obtained a wry, virtually mischievous facet that breaks the strain in any room. Michaela could have outlawed carbs in her kingdom of inexperienced juices and microgreens, however Peter had everybody smuggling in loaves prefer it was Prohibition-era gin. That’s the ISTP’s Se (Extraverted Sensing) at play—dwelling within the second, poking on the guidelines simply sufficient to maintain issues fascinating.
One other factor I really like about Peter is that he exhibits us how ISTPs grow to be extra emotionally cognizant as they age. Most ISTPs preserve their feelings locked down, however Peter’s been round lengthy sufficient to know that emotions matter—even when he’d fairly not discuss them. You see it in his quiet devotion to his household, in the way in which he worries concerning the distance rising between him and his youngsters, in the way in which he simply navigates social conditions at his mansion.
In my years working with character varieties, I’ve seen how ISTPs come into their very own as they age—much less caught up within the chase, extra tuned in to what really issues. Peter’s the right instance: an older ISTP who’s discovered his candy spot between independence and connection, journey and residential. That stated…there are nonetheless some murky secrets and techniques that appear to loom on the finish of Sirens and he could not actually be all that he appears…however you’ll have to look at it to seek out out.
Jose: ISFJ
Jose is the island’s quiet fixed, the man who is aware of each inch of the property and everybody’s enterprise—with out ever making it about himself. He’s the quintessential ISFJ: humble, hardworking, and completely rock strong.
ISFJs are the quiet caretakers of the world. They may not seize the highlight, however they’re the glue holding every part collectively. Jose’s been Peter’s right-hand man for many years, a gradual presence who sees every part however by no means lets it slip. That’s traditional ISFJ territory: vigilant and observant, however all the time with a heat, approachable edge.
He’s additionally the confidante—the one the workers gossips with, the one who is aware of the place all of the our bodies (metaphorically talking) are buried. ISFJs have an uncanny knack for making individuals really feel seen and secure. Jose is perhaps managing safety, however he’s additionally managing egos, maintaining the peace in a world that’s one spilled martini away from imploding.
Ethan Corbin III: ExTP (May Be ESTP or ENTP, However Let’s Speak About That)
Ethan Corbin III is the social butterfly of the present, all the time prepared with a quip or a cocktail, and simply as prepared to fade when issues get too actual.
I’ll be sincere: I’m nonetheless debating whether or not Ethan’s an ESTP or an ENTP. Sadly, I don’t suppose sufficient particulars got within the present for me to actually say which kind suits him greatest.
Both approach, Ethan’s an ExTP at coronary heart—quick-witted, endlessly curious, and all the time sniffing out the subsequent alternative to dive in or run away. In Sirens, he’s the man who owns a yacht captain (and a blazer embroidered with duckies—due to course he does).
Ethan is a grasp of banter, however he’s additionally somebody who desires to really feel issues together with his entire physique (and doubtless yours, if we’re being sincere). He appears charming, curious, fun-loving, but additionally manipulative and shallow.
In Sirens, we see Ethan stumble a bit. He’s used to enjoying the sector, however Simone’s gotten underneath his pores and skin. For the primary time, the sport isn’t sufficient. He’s pressured to surprise what it will be like to truly cease operating, to let somebody in previous the jokes and the get together methods.
I’m inclined to suppose that Ethan is an unhealthy ESTP as a result of he appears very centered on the sensory indulgences of life. Nonetheless, one other a part of me additionally doubts it as a result of I really feel like an ESTP would need to pilot their very own boat fairly than hiring another person to do it (no less than each ESTP I do know would need to). I additionally can’t for the lifetime of me think about an ESTP carrying a blazer with duckies on it. However that might simply be my very own private experiences with ESTP and be fully unfounded in accuracy. The reality is, we actually simply don’t get sufficient particulars about Ethan to actually know his kind (but).
What Do You Suppose?
Did you get pleasure from Sirens? Do you agree with my views or disagree? Let me know within the feedback!
Discover out extra about your character kind in my eBooks, Discovering You: Unlocking the Energy of Character Kind, The INFJ – Understanding the Mystic, The ISFJ – Understanding the Protector, and The INFP – Understanding the Dreamer. You can even join with me through Fb, Instagram, or YouTube!
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