The Better Sister Episode 3 recap: Ethan is denied bail

Episode 3 of The Better Sister continues unravelling Ethan’s murder case. It delves deeper into the tense dynamic between the two sisters, Chloe and Nicky, as well as their conflicting approaches to protecting Ethan. Episode 3 portrays that Ethan has been denied bail. Despite Chloe's efforts to pressure his lawyer, Ethan is held without bail due to his past behaviour for possessing weed and bringing a gun to school.

On the other hand, Adam’s final meeting with the Gentry Group was unauthorised, and his sleazy boss, Bill Braddock, suspects he was trying to leave the firm and poach the client. Read on for the full recap of The Better Sister episode 3.

Here is what happened in The Better Sister episode 3

Episode 3 dropped on May 29, 2025, and delves further into why Ethan is denied bail. Ethan further tells his lawyer, Michelle, that he brought the gun to school not to use it, but to get it out of the house. A flashback with Adam and Jake shows Adam verbally abusing Ethan, revealing why Ethan may have felt unsafe around him, especially if Adam had access to a weapon.

Nicky intervenes with his investigation and crosses some serious lines, protecting her son. She deletes texts from a burner phone between Ethan and his sketchy friend Kevin, who may be a key alibi. She also cleans a knife found in Chloe’s glove compartment — a knife that matches the stab wounds found on the murder victim, Adam Macintosh, Chloe's husband, and Ethan’s stepfather. Meanwhile, Chloe is no longer passively reacting but starts taking control. Chloe pushes Ethan's legal team, particularly Michaelle, for more aggressive action.

The episode also suggested that Gentry Group has dark secrets that need to be protected at any cost. Bill sends Jake to retrieve confidential documents from Adam's home before the police do.

Chloe and Nicky are avoiding discussion of their abusive father in episode 3 of The Better Sisters.

Their abusive father's presence especially haunts Nicky. In a surreal, Wes Anderson-esque scene, smoke drifts through her car, and a shot reveals her phantom father in the back seat — a visual metaphor for how deeply his abuse lingers. In a flashback, we see that Nicky couldn't kill a wounded rabbit on a childhood hunting trip, while it was Chloe who had to do it. Later that night, Nicky overhears their father calling her useless to their mother, who says nothing. His cruelty is portrayed as casual and normalised, making it even more unsettling.

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In addition, Chloe sneaks off from the summer house to hook up with Jake, Adam’s coworker and frenemy, in episode 3 of The Better Sister.

Therefore, we can say that Jessica Biel is clearly the show’s anchor — a reliable presence capable of subtle intensity and emotional control. Corey Stoll continues to be charming, and Detectives Guidry and Bowen are a refreshing twist on procedural clichés.

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