‘Siren’ Season 2, Episode 4 ‘Oil & Water’ Recap: Learning

Once the Siren reestablishes her authority, her pack of mermaids has a new challenge: fitting in. They may be a family, but keeping them hungry and in one place makes them a lot to handle. Because of this, their helpers decide to change things up. Meanwhile, two vengeful cross paths and find themselves in agreement.

In this week’s episode of Siren, Ben Pownall (Alex Roe), Maddie Bishop (Fola Evan-Akingbola) and Ryn (Eline Powell) decide to change the mermaids’ living conditions. Meanwhile, Helen Hawkins (Rena Owen) reveals their family ancestry to Rick Marsden (Brendan Fletcher). Elsewhere, Xander McClure (Ian Verdun) meets the disgraced Katrina (Aylya Marzolf).

Feel to Believe

Helen thought that she was going to have her usual day. As she opened her shop, she stopped to greet who she thought was her first customer, turning out to be Rick. The two have a seemingly awkward conversation at first since Rick was quite comfortable yet. Helen manages to get to him by showing him her arm rash, identical to the one Rick has. Also, she gives him a remedy that is not only effective but is also a family heirloom.

As the day ended, Rick returned, stunned at the results he experienced. The remedy helped convince him to come back to learn more about their family. Helen slowly revealed the true nature of their family, which sounded ridiculous to Rick. However, Helen proves him wrong by bringing Eliza (Georgia Waters) in the shop, letting her sense Rick’s mermaid blood and at the same time, letting Rick sense her, too.

Vengeance

Katrina had to leave the pack. After losing her pride and honor, staying was no longer an option to her. However, Katrina’s wounds have not fully healed yet. Katrina decides to hide at the docks just as Xander does his rounds. It did not take Xander long to find Katrina. She was not precisely covert; making noise as she tried to limp through her pain, leaving a blood trail behind her. When Katrina passes out, Xander patches her up and keeps her in his ship’s hull.

It took a while before Katrina calmed down when she regained consciousness, but Xander had all the time he needed, so that did not matter. Xander wanted his father’s killer dead, and he wished to kill him himself. Katrina’s random appearance brought his best chance at revenge. To convince Katrina, Xander proposes a deal: if she helped him get to the killer, he would help her get rid of their ocean’s disruptors, and this was all Katrina needed to hear.

Living Conditions

Ben, Ryn, and Maddie knew that the Sirens could not stand being stuck in the Marine Observatory’s stockroom, waiting for food to arrive. After they feed, the trio set out to find and fix the Sirens’ new home. Once the mermaids receive their new identities, the trio helps them settle in, then goes about their designated tasks. Ben went to his house with Levi (Sedal Threatt Jr.) to teach him how to blend in while Maddie returned to pack her things since she is moving in with the Sirens.

David Bukach/Freeform

Surprisingly, Levi learns and blends in quite well. He may not talk as good as Ryn does, but he picks up after the human behavior like a first-time foreigner. Levi even interacts with people at the local bar. When Ryn and Maddie arrive, all seemed well. However, Levi’s interactions at the bar led to him having a drunk rival over Paula (Clare Filipow), a flirty bar patron. Tensions rise, and punches get thrown, but they make it out of the bar in one piece.

After a hearty meal in one of Bristol Cove’s restaurants, Ben drives the mermaids to their new home. Meanwhile, Maddie returns to her house to check on her mom, Susan Bishop (Garcelle Beauvais). Finding her under the influence of drugs, Maddie leaves the house, upset. She arrives just as Ben and Ryn put the mermaids to sleep. The trio shares a comforting hug and exchanges a series of kisses with each other, taking their minds off of the troubles they dealt with that day.

‘Siren’ Season 2, Episode 4 ‘Oil & Water’ Final Verdict

Finally, we get to see the Sirens out in the world, interacting with the humans in plain sight. The Levi plot excellently presented human and mermaid interaction. Also, the season’s main conflict starts to develop as Xander and Katrina’s partnership begins, although this was predictable. Finally, Ben, Maddie, and Ryn leave the barriers of sexual tension and embrace what they feel. We may see more focus on this in the coming episodes since the first season teased much of this idea.

Siren continues Thursday, February 21st with ‘Primal Instincts’ at 8/9c on Freeform.