The Better Sister on Prime Video: everything you need to know about the new series
Sisters are often automatically best friends. Wonderful, of course, but when the relationship runs a bit less smoothly, it can be quite difficult. In Prime Video's upcoming thriller ‘The Better Sister’, this becomes painfully clear. The crime series follows two estranged sisters who are forced to see each other again due to a murder in their family. Their complicated bond from the past still proves to be unresolved.
The Better Sister: family secrets and murder
Sisters Chloe (Jessica Biel) and Nicky (Elizabeth Banks) have barely been in contact for years. The two are true opposites. Chloe's life seems perfect; she is a prominent media manager and lives with her husband Adam (Corey Stoll) and their son Ethan (Maxwell Acee Donovan). Nicky has it a bit less together, struggling with her addiction and trying to get her life on track. The sisters are forced to see each other again when Adam is brutally murdered. murdered. Detectives Nancy (Kim Dickens) and Matt (Bobby Naderi) start an investigation; they dive into the complicated family history of the sisters, who now also have to face their secrets from the past. When even Ethan is seen as a suspect, the situation seems to escalate completely.
The book behind the series The Better Sister
For fans of thriller novels, the story of ‘The Better Sister’ may seem familiar. The series is based on the successful book by Alafair Burke from 2019. Burke had complete faith in showrunners Olivia Milch and Regina Corrado and handed the story over to them to turn it into a series. And she is, fortunately for the creators, very happy with the end result. “At every stage, I was amazed by the creativity and talent that went into this project. They used the breathing room of a television series to develop both the plot and the characters, without losing the essence of the book.” Burke is also complimentary about lead actors Biel and Banks; they perfectly portray the complex sister relationship according to her. The writer can’t wait for the series to finally come out, and we completely agree.
How Jessica Biel transformed for her role in The Better Sister
In May 2024, Jessica Biel surprised us all when she posted a video on her Instagram showing off her new haircut. Her long locks were traded for a sleek bob. At the time, it seemed like she just wanted a new look, but we now know that she underwent this transformation specifically for ‘The Better Sister’. The plan was actually for Biel to wear a wig during filming, but the actress decided to cut her hair for real. It was a change she had wanted to make for a while, but with this role, she felt truly ready. It also helped her get even more into the character of Chloe. “Her hair is a kind of manifestation of the need for organization, the need to maintain control over her life, so that kind of public image just seemed like the right way to go. I felt liberated by it, and I felt it really did the right thing for who Chloe really is.”
The intensive preparation of Elizabeth Banks
Elizabeth Banks also took her preparation for the role seriously. Unlike Biel, she let her hair grow long and messy, exactly what fits her character Nicky. That wasn't the only thing the actress did to immerse herself as much as possible. She attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and spoke with Al-Anon, an American self-help organization for family and friends of alcoholics. “I have friends family who participate in that program and who really benefit from it. And I felt a responsibility to represent it fully.”
High expectations for The Better Sister
Thanks to the previous success of the book, the expectations for the series are quite high. It is even seen as one of the most promising titles of the year. This is also due to the cast. In addition to Biel and Banks, several experienced actors play a role. Corey Stoll, who plays Adam, was previously seen in ‘House of Cards’ and ‘Ratched’ with Sarah Paulson. ‘Stranger Things’ fans will also spot a familiar face, Dr. Martin Brenner, aka actor Matthew Modine, is also part of this cast. Kim Dickens is also no stranger on Prime, she was previously one of the regular characters in ‘Fear the Walking Dead’.
A mysterious story told by a good cast sounds like a recipe for success. Just a little longer and we can see if that is indeed the case. ‘The Better Sister’ will be available on Prime Video starting May 29.
Image: Prime Video. Credit: Jojo Whilden/Prime
