If you’ve just finished The Better Sister, chances are you’re asking: who killed Adam?
Based on Alafair Burke’s novel of the same name, the show sees two estranged sisters, played by Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks, pulled back together by the murder of one’s husband.
The soapy thriller is full of twists and turns but none as gripping as it’s final reveal.
Who Was Adam MacIntosh?
Adam was more than just the murder victim, he was the linchpin connecting two deeply complicated sisters: Chloe (Biel), the high-powered editor with a flawless image, and Nicky (Banks), the estranged, messy-but-sincere recovering addict. Adam was once married to Nicky, then to Chloe, raising Ethan, their teenage son, amid the wreckage.
So, when Adam is found dead in the couple’s Manhattan apartment, the suspect pool is tight but emotionally charged.
Who Killed Adam in The Better Sister?
Early on, suspicion lands squarely on Nicky. She’s unpredictable, recently back in Ethan’s life, and has a complicated history with Adam. But, Chloe isn’t off the hook either. Her carefully curated image starts to crack under pressure, revealing secrets that make her just as likely a culprit.
But, in a shocking finale twist we learn neither sister was responsible for Adam’s death. The culprit, however, was still very close to home. His son Ethan was the one who killed Adam.
The Better Sister Ending, Explained
In the gripping final episode, a flashback shows Ethan in a heated argument with his father. Adam, drunk and angry, pushes too far. Ethan, overwhelmed, reacts with violence—striking Adam in what he believes is self-defense. The result is accidental but irreversible.
Chloe and Nicky discover the aftermath and make a decision: protect Ethan at all costs. They clean up the scene, mislead the police, and in the process, forge a new and painfully complex sisterhood.
In the end, The Better Sister is less about the whodunnit and more about the emotional aftermath, exploring motherhood, guilt, protection, and what happens when family lines blur. Perhaps better than any courtroom reveal ever could be, justice isn’t served in the traditional sense but maybe that’s the point?
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