Catch “The Better Sister” Now: Review, Stream, Download

Jessica Biel has made a mark in the crime thriller genre before. She first gained acclaim with “The Sinner” in 2017, showcasing an impressive performance, followed by the equally engaging “Candy” in 2022. Now, with “The Better Sister,” Prime Video presents its latest limited series, centering on two estranged siblings, Chloe (Biel) and Nicky (Elizabeth Banks), who must come together following a murder that disrupts their lives. Based on Alafair Burke’s novel, this adaptation struggles under the weight of its source material, leaving Biel confined to a formula that feels monotonous, resembling a lengthy book you want to abandon.

Chloe is depicted as a rigid professional. Her sharply styled bob rivals the most striking wigs worn by Nicole Kidman, and she commands authority in her magazine workplace. However, beyond this polished exterior, Chloe’s personal life is deteriorating. Her marriage is on shaky ground, and escalating threats against her and her company loom. One fateful night, she comes home to find her husband, Adam (Corey Stoll), lifeless on their living room floor.

However, the murder of Chloe’s husband isn’t the most shocking twist revealed in the series’ premiere. It’s soon discovered that Nicky, Chloe’s sister, is Adam’s ex-wife and the biological mother of their son, Ethan (Maxwell Acee Donovan). Recently recovered from addiction, Nicky comes off as brash and flawed in ways Chloe does not seem able to be. It becomes apparent that one sister is bound to their past, while the other seeks to break free from it, a conflict that escalates throughout the series.

While this surprising development is a valuable concept, the series doesn’t manage to achieve the engaging heights typical of its genre. Watching the sisters’ arguments and revert to their childhood personas is entertaining, yet the overarching mystery lacks innovation, feeling clichéd and unexciting. The visuals are stark and gray, mirroring a storyline that fails to captivate. It seems that the once-great miniseries landscape has passed, leaving newer shows like “The Better Sister” struggling to reach the benchmarks set by classics like “Sharp Objects” and “Mare of Easttown.” What could have once felt innovative now comes off as stale and formulaic after repeated exposure to similar narratives.

At its most compelling moments, the series delves into the burdens of childhood traumas. Nicky offers a lens of empathy regarding the scars that have persisted into her adult life and how these have contributed to her downfall. She expresses thoughts that seem borrowed from a more profound narrative, hinting at a better story buried within the series’ convoluted structure. Nicky perceives herself as “the part of [her] sister that she rejects,” yet rather than exploring the complexities of their contrasting perspectives on their upbringing, the series chooses to cling to its predictable framework.

A character like Nicky requires a depth that this series fails to deliver. Unfortunately, the overall performances are rigid, almost as if the actors themselves are fatigued by the mundane tale. The standout is Kim Dickens, who portrays Detective Nancy Guidry. Her sharp wit and cleverness provide a refreshing contrast that feels out of place in this context. Eager to solve the case by assigning blame rather than pursuing true justice for Adam, Dickens brings much-needed vigor, making her absence prominent and the quality noticeably drop whenever she is not on screen.

Thriller series, whether short or lengthy, are a staple on television each year. With their prevalence, it is essential for them to offer something unique to engage viewers and justify their existence. “The Better Sister” fails on both fronts, prompting contemplation on whether committing 8 hours to this unfolding narrative is worth the investment. Ultimately, it presents as an uninspired series based on a bestselling book that likely would have fared better if left on bookstore shelves.

All episodes were screened for review.