Best-selling author Alafair Burke sees her 2019 novel The Better Sister come to the small screen from Prime Video. The series’ directors include Leslie Hope, Stephanie Laing, Dawn Wilkinson, Craig Gillespie, and Azarel Jacobs. The writing staff comprises Olivia Milch, Regina Corrado, Brittany Dushame, and Lauren Stremmel.
Jessica Biel delivers her most mature performance by portraying Chloe, who manages a media powerhouse and faces her life crashing down when her husband Adam (Corey Stoll) turns up dead. Her estranged sister Nicky — a beautifully frayed Elizabeth Banks — re-enters the picture not as a suspect but as something much more complicated: Nicky reflects Chloe’s drive while bringing their complicated history back to the surface.
The supporting cast includes impressive performances from Maxwell Acee Donovan, who plays Ethan, the son of Chloe and Adam. Kim Dickens portrays Nancy, a detective investigating the murder. Matthew Modine and Lorraine Toussaint play essential roles as Chloe’s mentors, while Gloria Reuben appears as a defense attorney. The supporting cast’s performances are commendable and significantly enhance the overall quality of the production.
This series isn’t just a whodunit. This narrative presents a “who are we” exploration through a multi-dimensional character study embedded in a murder investigation. The connection between Chloe and Nicky forms the genuine emotional core of the series. Their reunion isn’t convenient or clean. It’s jagged, painful, and authentically raw. The drama reaches new heights when these two life-worn women who have hurt each other repeatedly approach a painful truth together.
The performances shine with nuance. Biel delivers a compelling portrayal of a woman whose icy determination stems from long-standing forced perfection. Banks portrays Nicky with a weary resolve that resonates with Black aunties and cousins because she embodies the relatable struggle of someone who fights not to be the screw-up people support.
The series progresses with assured pacing and avoids lingering too long. Every episode reveals additional aspects of this family’s past, which include betrayal and addiction, while ambition and ongoing custody battles from years ago continue to have repercussions. Trauma extends beyond memory to saturate environments and manifest physically alongside recognizable faces.
The show’s finale wraps up the plot too neatly, which feels inconsistent with its typical exploration of complex moral dilemmas. In contrast, “The Better Sister” is a captivating thriller, thanks to its richly developed characters who possess depth and authenticity.
Final Grade: B+
“The Better Sister” premieres on Prime Video today.
“Blood Ties and Broken Truths: “The Better Sisterr Delivers a Engaging Family Drama
From his early days in the family group Wings of Faith, Mr. Gill was born to make music. However, as R&B fans know, Johnny Gill’s initial release with Atlantic Records failed to make a significant impact when it first came out. The 1983 self-titled debut showed a strong voice struggling to adapt to a studio that couldn’t properly utilize its power.
My introduction to Myron was with the song “Sistas” on the “Eddie” soundtrack in the summer of 1996. Before setting up his solo album, Myron would write classics for Mya and Dru Hill. “Destiny” was written by Myron and Tyrice Jones, and the latter was also producing. Set to a sample of Herbie Hancock’s “Come Running to Me”, the song explores how fate governs the formation of connections between people meant to exist from the beginning.
Music producers transitioning to a solo album is common in the music industry. For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I want to revisit Sean Garrett’s solo debut, “Turbo 919,” released in 2008.