S01.E04: Persephone

[Snazzy Daisy]

Quote

The chaos Devon left behind in Buffalo catches up with her.

Simone must decide her own future.

Michaela investigates Peter's phone.

Air Date: May 22, 2025

[Snazzy Daisy]

Edited May 23 by Snazzy Daisy

[Snazzy Daisy]

Michaela Kell is a woman who fell in love with a billionaire and got lost in his world. Anyway, she is still a terrible boss, very controlling.

Ethan thinks he is such a catch, it is hilarious. Dude, you have duckies on your jacket.

One weird thing that doesn’t make sense — Cliff House staff don’t know how to mute their phones while at work. The group text messages are more than annoying. 🤦🏻‍♀️

[thuganomics85]

This was the episode to finally let Bill Camp earn his paycheck, since he got more meaty material compared to the previous episodes of just sitting in a chair and acting through a phone.  Bruce really is not well, but if it's true that he basically abandoned Simone like he did, it's hard to fault her for not wanting anything to do with him.

Glad Simone rejected Ethan's proposal, because he was being a condescending douche throughout everything.  White Knight really was the perfect description for him.  But with him plunging off a literal cliff, I wonder if he'll end up continuing to be a thorn in her side.  If he dies, will some suspect Simone pushed him?

I say this as someone who adores all things Meghann Fay, but it's hilarious that three guys seem to be willing to destroy their lives for Devon of all people.  The sex can't be that good, can it?

Michaela and Peter have a heart to heart, but any progress has now been undone thanks to the Vanity Fair photographer giving her proof of his kiss with Simone.  I would assume she could just use that to file for divorce and void the prenup, but I wouldn't be surprised if she decides to cause more chaos instead.

Onto the finale!

[KittyKat425]

On 5/23/2025 at 11:34 AM, Snazzy Daisy said:

Michaela Kell is a woman who fell in love with a billionaire and got lost in his world. Anyway, she is still a terrible boss, very controlling.

Ethan thinks he is such a catch, it is hilarious. Dude, you have duckies on your jacket.

One weird thing that doesn’t make sense — Cliff House staff don’t know how to mute their phones while at work. The group text messages are more than annoying. 🤦🏻‍♀️

The group staff texts were the best part of the show. Jose would tell Simone to her face that he did not know what she was talking about when she told him to stop doing it while he was sending a text followed by everyones' phone pinging.

[Anela]

Wow, Simone was fucking cruel to her sister. I was liking her in this episode, up until that point. I was glad that she turned down the proposal from that guy. He sounded like he was more in love with himself, than he was with her, when he couldn't believe that she didn't want to marry him. Then his calling her a monster - the douche has broken hearts every Summer. 

Will Michaela now think that Simone was having an affair with her husband? Or just blame him, because he is the one who kissed her, and she left. The photographer could have added that. 

[topanga]

On 5/24/2025 at 2:24 AM, thuganomics85 said:

Bruce really is not well, but if it's true that he basically abandoned Simone like he did, it's hard to fault her for not wanting anything to do with him.

 

On 5/27/2025 at 8:14 PM, Anela said:

Wow, Simone was fucking cruel to her sister. I was liking her in this episode, up until that point.

Both sisters had valid points, but Devon was dead wrong for insisting that Simone needs to reconcile with the man who neglected her so much as a child that she almost died. No one should be forced to do that just because the person is your father. 

But Devon was also right to point out that she took care of Simone and was now taking care of their father, and no one was taking care of her. But that doesn't mean that Simone needed to come home to be with him. Simone offered money, which would go a long way to get Bruce a home health aide or maybe eventually put him in a facility, which he might need one day soon. 

[chaifan]

Wow.  This was a lot in one episode.  It's finally getting to its title, though.  We've seen Michaela as Siren in previous episodes - her cult following, the floral chorus, and possible entrapping Peter.  And now somehow luring Devon to her side, for at least a little bit.  But then maybe Simone Sirened Ethan, which is why he was so smitten by her, and why he's now calling her a monster.  And Devon and the three guys, which was just hilarious, but I'm afraid will have a tragic ending if Raymond actually walks into the ocean and doesn't come back.  The only problem is, Sirens lured men to their deaths, but so far only Ethan is the only one possibly hurt, and Simone certainly didn't lure him to that, she was trying to prevent it.

It was nice to see a soft, human side of Michaela.  While at the same time seeing very different perspectives on Devon and Simone.  As someone said above, they both have valid points.  

I was not expecting the photographer to have a photo of Peter and Simone.  I hope this doesn't end with Michaela framing Simone for Ethan's (possible) death out of spite/revenge.  

Again, I love the staff as really the only sane people in this place.  The chef is great, I love the recurring bit with the smoothies.

I'm wondering if we'll find out what actually happened to Peter's first wife.