The Better Sister Goes a Step Beyond

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Warning: This discussion contains plot details from the Prime Video miniseries titled “The Better Sister“. The entire series, consisting of eight episodes, was released on May 29.

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve noticed a recurring theme in today’s female-driven crime dramas – they often seem to imply that women can get away with almost anything, from domestic abuse to romantic manipulation. In such stories, unscrupulous men are usually the ones who suffer the consequences, and feminism emerges victorious. However, “The Better Sister” starts off following this familiar path but then takes a shocking twist in its final act. Instead of wrapping up neatly with a satisfying resolution for the protagonist, it leaves one woman shattered under the relentless pressure of its plot, demonstrating an unexpected ruthlessness that sets it apart from its peers and even surpasses its original source material. And let me tell you, watching Kim Dickens portray a cold-hearted villain is nothing short of a luxurious treat!

From “Deadwood” to “Gone Girl”, “Sons of Anarchy” to “Briarpatch”, “Treme” to “Friday Night Lights”, Merritt Wever has consistently demonstrated an ability to portray characters that are both soft and hard, embodying soothing gentleness as well as no-nonsense authority. In the new series “The Better Sister”, based on Alafair Burke’s 2019 novel of the same name, Wever’s talent is showcased brilliantly. As veteran detective Nancy Guidry, she plays a character with a past history of bending rules and a current partner who can’t keep up with her intuition. In this role, Wever gives Guidry a unique feminine touch, skillfully navigating the emotional dynamics between the sisters and subtly exploring their roles as mothers. The character is more complex in this TV adaptation compared to her counterpart Jennifer Guidry from the miniseries’ source material. The unexpected twist at the end of “The Better Sister”, which places Guidry as a crucial piece in the sisters’ downfall, is one of the most captivating aspects of the series.

The narrative opens by showcasing Chloe’s apparent perfection: She is the stylish, attractive editor-in-chief of a controversial women’s magazine who frequently discusses society’s issues with men; her demeanor is as sharp and assertive as her short bob. However, things are not always what they seem, particularly when Chloe’s husband, a prominent lawyer named Adam (Corey Stoll), is found dead in their Hamptons beach house. The series, titled “The Better Sister“, carefully unveils the truth about Chloe’s life, offering a shocking revelation in each episode that not only shatters her polished image but also challenges her own identity and leaves viewers eagerly anticipating the next twist.

In a surprising twist, Chloe’s supposed stepson Ethan (Maxwell Acee Donovan) is actually her biological nephew, as it turns out that Adam was previously married to Nicky. The complicated relationship between Chloe and Nicky had been strained initially due to Chloe overlooking their father’s abuse towards Nicky in their childhood, and became even more complex when she concealed her blossoming romance with Adam from the family. As for her close bond with Adam’s colleague Jake (Gabriel Sloyer), one might suspect that there’s more to their friendship than meets the eye!

As The Better Sister delves into Chloe’s layers of deceit and brings her closer to Nicky, investigators Guidry and Matt Bowen (Bobby Naderi) grow increasingly suspicious of them and their issues with Adam. However, the investigation seems to point towards Ethan as the prime suspect in his father’s murder, which brings the once-estranged sisters even nearer together as they strive to defend him, whom they both view as their son.

Co-executive producers Olivia Milch and Regina Corrado skillfully incorporate elements common to the genre, such as traumatic flashbacks, spectral figures from the past, casually revealed betrayals, many of which are adapted from Burke’s book. Notably, Olivia is the daughter of David Milch, the creator of Deadwood, and her collaboration with Dickens and Corrado, both alumni of her father’s series, creates a satisfying full-circle moment. However, the novel has a certain shallowness, focusing primarily on Chloe’s first-person perspective and only peripherally delving into the investigation surrounding Adam’s death. To expand the story and make it suitable for eight hour-long episodes, Milch, Corrado, their creative team (which includes Craig Gillespie, a director known for portraying troubled and challenging women in United States of Tara, I, Tonya, and Pam & Tommy), enriched the narrative by developing characters. For instance, Banks is given a love interest played by Paul Sparks and a subplot involving a support group; the FBI is depicted as antagonistic, bullying Chloe into disclosing confidential information about Adam’s work with a shady real-estate developer. The series also features standout performances from Lorraine Toussaint as Chloe’s opportunistic publisher and mentor Catherine, and Michael Harney (another Deadwood alum) as Arty, Chloe’s gruff-voiced, covetous doorman. There’s no scene that escapes the influence of these talented actors.

Among all characters, Dickens as Guidry stands out the most. In Burke’s novel, Guidry is a competent police officer but lacks charm. She becomes involved in Ethan’s case due to tension between him and Adam, dislikes her partner Bowen for his typical misogyny, and later changes her opinion about Ethan’s innocence when she learns that Adam was collaborating with the FBI and his law firm was probing deeper. This leaves Guidry uncertain if someone related to Adam’s profession could have murdered him, as there is no concrete evidence linking Ethan to the crime.

In a chapter from Guidry’s viewpoint, Burke writes, “If she had seen the whole picture at first, maybe that kid wouldn’t have been arrested.” She adds, “If she were on that jury, she knew how she’d vote.” In the end, Guidry accepts some of Adam’s concealed files from Chloe.

In actuality, Nicky killed Adam for abusing Chloe, as he did when they were married. Chloe is aiding in covering up her sister’s crime by framing Adam’s boss Bill Braddock for his murder. Guidry gets ensnared in the trap, resulting in Bill’s arrest, and the detective concludes the story as a mere pawn of the sisters with questionable ethics.

The character played by Dickens is not your typical one-dimensional jerk, but rather a complex figure who’s hard to like yet intriguing. In the series, Guidry, portrayed by Dickens, often acts aggressively and disregards warnings about her behavior. However, she’s forced to undergo a psychiatric evaluation to keep her job.

In an intriguing monologue, Dickens delivers lines that make you question if any cop can truly be good. Guidry admits that years ago, she mistakenly assumed a Black man was a suspect they were chasing, cornered him, was beaten, and then participated in the attack when other officers arrived. The man wasn’t the pedophile they were seeking, and he now lives in a care facility, paralyzed. Guidry visits him occasionally as a form of penance.

This scene is filled with ambiguity. Guidry calls the man an “asshole” for nearly killing her, refers to herself as a “bitch” for her harsh treatment of him, offers to pay for his dental care, and all these actions are delivered by Dickens with obvious defensiveness.

In an alternate scenario for this series, Guidry would discover that her past traumas resonate strongly with the Taylor sisters, leading her to perceive them as united against men, with female solidarity overpowering all other disparities. However, this doesn’t occur in “The Better Sister.” Instead, a plot twist distinct from the book unfolds in the final episode titled “They’re in Their World.” Here, Guidry uncovers that Nicky is responsible for Adam’s death and manipulated an alibi by leaving her phone behind in Ohio. Simultaneously, Nicky discovers that Guidry assaulted an innocent Black man, an incident that was covered up. By the time Guidry returns to New York with evidence against Nicky, a media leak of Guidry’s misdeeds tarnishes her reputation and forces her into an indefinite leave. Unlike in the book, Guidry does not trust Chloe’s accusations against Bill, instead leaving the story uncertain about her moral stance. In the final scene, Guidry is seen in a bar, witnessing Bowen arrest Bill as a suspect in Adam’s murder and under investigation for multiple cases, positioning Bowen as the determined officer and rendering Guidry irrelevant.

Previously in the series, during her psychological assessment, Nan expressed, “I don’t wish to repeat past mistakes.” However, in “The Better Sister,” some mistakes are more easily overlooked or forgiven than others. For instance, Nicky killing Adam can be tolerated. Chloe’s infidelity and concealing Nicky’s addiction to take Ethan from her in the past is forgivable. Ethan’s online harassment was simply boys behaving badly, while his abandoning his injured father was seen as protecting his mothers. Guidry’s abuse of power, on the other hand, makes her actions unforgivable. The way the Taylor sisters bring down another woman to absolve their own wrongdoings is a refreshing twist in this genre, which often portrays a more tranquil form of feminism. The bitterness with which Guidry says to Bowen, “Good for you, getting it all wrong – idiot,” shows her at her lowest point and “The Better Sister” at its peak storytelling.

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2025-05-30 00:56