Summary:
- The Better Sister reveals Nicky as Adam’s real killer in the finale.
- Ethan is acquitted after a complex trial, despite early suspicions.
- Chloe and Nicky reconcile after years of estrangement.
Who Is the Killer in The Better Sister?
The central question of The Better Sister is who killed Adam Taylor, a successful lawyer found murdered in his Hamptons home. Throughout the series, suspicion falls on multiple characters, especially Ethan, the teenage son of Adam and his ex-wife Nicky. Ethan’s DNA is found at the scene, and damning Reddit posts linked to him suggest a motive. However, the finale reveals a different truth.
In Episode 8, Nicky confesses to Chloe that she was the one who killed Adam. After hearing from Ethan that Adam had been physically abusing Chloe, Nicky drives from Ohio to the Hamptons. When she confronts Adam, a violent altercation ensues, during which Nicky fatally stabs him with a pocket knife. This final act of confrontation was not premeditated, but driven by rage and a desire to protect her son and sister.
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Why Was Ethan Initially Blamed for Adam’s Murder?
The initial suspicion toward Ethan stems from his DNA being found under Adam’s fingernails and threatening messages on a Reddit account tied to him. After Ethan’s arrest, it’s also revealed that he had a secret flip phone and was in contact with Nicky behind Chloe and Adam’s backs.
Ethan admits that he wanted Adam gone, and had feared for his mother’s safety. He believed Chloe had killed Adam and tried to make the crime scene look like a break-in to protect her. That’s why his fingerprints and DNA were all over the house. Ethan also didn’t call an ambulance when he realized Adam was still breathing, a choice that weighed heavily on him.
Despite this, his lawyer Michelle Sanders successfully casts doubt on the evidence. She highlights the lack of a murder weapon, absence of blood on Ethan, and no confirmed witness placing him at the crime scene. The jury ultimately finds Ethan not guilty.
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How Does Chloe Learn the Truth About Adam’s Death?
After the trial, Ethan uncovers a police report from the night he was taken from Nicky as a child. Contrary to the story he’d been told—that he nearly drowned due to Nicky’s negligence—the report states there was no evidence of water inhalation, but drugs and alcohol were found in Nicky’s system. A flashback reveals Adam drugged Nicky that night, possibly to gain custody of Ethan.
When Chloe learns this, it reshapes her understanding of Adam and her family’s history. The revelation devastates her, especially as she begins to see how Adam manipulated both her and Nicky over the years.
Later, Nicky admits to Chloe that she killed Adam. She had kept quiet during the trial to protect Ethan, knowing he would be the prime suspect. Detective Nancy Guidry figures out the truth as well, after discovering Nicky spoke about Adam’s death before police officially notified her. However, she is pulled off the case due to unrelated controversies.
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What Happens to Nicky and Chloe in the End?
Despite the dark truth, Chloe decides to protect Nicky. In the final scene, the sisters sit on the beach together, reflecting on their shared past and trauma. They even joke about writing a book about what they’ve been through. Chloe says, “I don’t have any story without you, not worth telling anyway.”
The series ends with the sisters closer than ever, having healed old wounds through the painful process of confronting their past and protecting Ethan.
When Did The Better Sister Release and Where Can You Watch It?
The Better Sister premiered on Amazon Prime Video on May 29, 2025, with all eight episodes available for streaming. The show stars Jessica Biel as Chloe, Elizabeth Banks as Nicky, and Corey Stoll as Adam, directed by I, Tonya’s Craig Gillespie.
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