The Better Sister: Elizabeth Banks & Jessica Biel new series on Prime is a must-watch for murder mystery fans

There is something gently entrancing about the latest offering in Amazon's catalog of gruesome tales, The Better Sister, featuring Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks as estranged sisters bearing trauma— and secrets— spanning decades.

Like most thrillers, it starts with a murder, a fractured family, and the possibility of several unanswered questions. Yet, within one episode, it becomes apparent this is not a mere whodunit centered around Adam’s murder— rather, what his death holds in store for the survivors to unravel.

The show is based on Alafair Burke's book of the same name, and it centers around Chloe (Jessica Biel), a glamorous magazine editor, who seems to lead a life that is perfectly in order, and her sister Nicky ( Elizabeth Banks ), who is a recovering addict and more of a wildfire in human form. The chaos her past created is what drove them apart for years.

The brutal murder of Chloe’s husband, Adam, changes the course of everything for them, and puts them at the crossroads of pain, distrust, and a shared child, forcing them to face their fractured lives head on. What unfolds is a powerful portrayal of the collision of sibling rivalry with addiction, motherhood, and the facades we adopt to endure.

As the mystery intensifies, so does the emotional depth. Flashbacks provide more context to Adam's character (played by the ever dependable Corey Stoll) showcasing just how tightly woven the sisters’ lives have always been.

Their shared history, their guilt, their resentments becomes more compelling than the murder in question. This is what makes The Better Sister so effective, it tricks you into believing you are watching a crime drama only to hand you an intricate human story about family, forgiveness, and the cost of keeping things buried.

Elizabeth Banks and Jessica Biel make The Better Sister unmissable

At its core, The Better Sister succeeds because of its performances. Elizabeth Banks and Jessica Biel do not merely embody characters; they become those characters. Sure, they have amazing chemistry, yet it is their differences that add emotional intensity to the show.

Nicky’s personality is radical; she is unpredictable, messy, and open. Chloe, on the other hand, is measured, composed, and, as we find out, terrified of losing control. Together, they create the emotional anchor of the series, which showcases the tension, affection, and discomfort present in every single scene where the two buzz as recursions of the same china frame.

Elizabeth Banks truly shines as Nicky, and this performance may be one of her most nuanced yet. Nicky is far from the wisecracking, snappy roles we have come to identify Banks with; she is raw, pulls no punches, and is genuinely trying to do better. The show does not paint her redemption arc with broad strokes, but rather allows her to unravel slowly in a way that feels agonizingly realistic and achingly authentic.

Biel provides the opposing character with her performance as Chloe, where she merges restraint and quiet turmoil into a woman who seemingly has it all, but whose secrets threaten to tear down the facade of her meticulously controlled world.

The supporting cast is no less impressive. Stoll plays a character that, to most, may come off as unsympathetic, but he brings empathy to the role. As a no-nonsense detective, Kim Dickens brings much needed grit and unpredictability to the role of Nancy Guidry and by extension to the show.

And as Ethan, the sisters’ son, Maxwell Acee Donovan provides a grounded emotional presence that ties everything together. In this cast, every character matters, and each adds another layer to the mystery.

However, apart from the performers, The Better Sister is unique in that it doesn't simply pursue the excitement. It earns it. It allows things to breathe when it must, sometimes bringing to the fore grief.

Trending

It grapples with complex issues of sorrow, motherhood, and the fundamental question of whether people are capable of real change. By doing so, it becomes much more than a ‘whodunnit’—it becomes a ‘why they did it,’ and more crucially, ‘what happens after.’

For those who appreciate rich narratives featuring complex female protagonists as well as non-cookie cutter thrillers, The Better Sister will not be yet another title to add to your streaming clutter. Instead, it is a must watch.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback