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The Better Sister Review: Jessica Biel And Elizabeth Banks Can't Save This Soulless Slog
The Better Sister Review: Jessica Biel And Elizabeth Banks Can't Save This Soulless Slog

NDTV

timean hour ago

  • Entertainment
  • NDTV

The Better Sister Review: Jessica Biel And Elizabeth Banks Can't Save This Soulless Slog

New Delhi: In the age of streaming saturation, prestige thrillers are no longer the rare treats they once were - they're weeknight dinner. Predictable. Present. A little overcooked. Prime Video's The Better Sister arrives on this buffet line dressed in the trappings of a prestige dish: best-selling source material, glossy production and a double-serving of star power in Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks. On paper, it's a can't-miss: a murder mystery wrapped around a fraught sisterhood, served cold with notes of trauma, betrayal and courtroom theatrics. But while The Better Sister sets its table with the fine china, what it delivers is a strangely underseasoned dish, too complicated to be compelling, too dull to be juicy and too self-serious to land the emotional punches it promises. Adapted from Alafair Burke's novel by Olivia Milch and Regina Corrado, the limited series begins with a classic hook: a woman returns to her chic home to find her husband murdered in the living room. Jessica Biel plays Chloe Taylor, a poised magazine editor with an Instagrammable life, a glamorous job, a luxury Hamptons house, a Manhattan penthouse, a powerful husband and a teenage son she's raised as her own. That son, Ethan, is technically her nephew - the biological child of her estranged sister Nicky, played by Elizabeth Banks. Years ago, Nicky spiralled into addiction and instability, and Chloe stepped in, eventually marrying Nicky's ex-husband, Adam (Corey Stoll) and raising Ethan in a neatly pressed world of order and success. But when Adam is found dead and the investigation begins, the sins of the past begin to ooze back to the surface, bringing the sisters into a reluctant reunion filled with shared guilt, lingering resentment and deeply buried secrets. It's a setup with all the right ingredients: fraying sisterhood, a whodunit with psychological undercurrents, a murder mystery that threatens to tear apart a carefully curated facade. The problem is that The Better Sister rarely knows what to do with its narrative wealth. It introduces compelling tensions - sibling rivalry, motherhood, the intersections of gender and ambition - but squanders them in a meandering structure that prioritises red herrings and ghostly visions over genuine character exploration. The show flirts with the supernatural in odd ways, bringing in spectral visits from deceased characters, including the sisters' domineering father and Chloe's dead husband, but these attempts at emotional depth feel more like disjointed distractions than illuminating metaphors. Biel and Banks are, to their credit, doing the work. Biel's Chloe is clipped and composed, almost too restrained to connect with. Banks, as the chaotic and brittle Nicky, is more dynamic, often stealing scenes with her wild-eyed humour and unfiltered presence. Their performances suggest a rich backstory that the writing only hints at. When they finally begin to share meaningful screen time, deep into the series, the show briefly flares to life. Their scenes together are messy, charged, and layered. They offer a glimpse of what The Better Sister might have been if it had leaned harder into the fractured intimacy at its core instead of layering on plot twists like ill-fitting accessories. Much of the narrative is spent chasing threads that ultimately unravel into nothing. Was Adam involved in shady legal dealings? Is Ethan, awkward and troubled, truly capable of patricide? Is someone in Chloe's professional orbit trying to sabotage her? These questions pile up with little suspense and even less payoff. The show becomes entangled in its own labyrinthine storytelling, particularly in the final three episodes, which pivot into a legal thriller so implausible it feels like a parody. The courtroom scenes are bafflingly staged, more interested in contrived monologues than legal realism. And by the time the "twist" arrives, it lands not with a gasp, but with a shrug - less because it's predictable, and more because the show has failed to earn our investment. Tonally, The Better Sister is muddled. It never quite commits to the moody gravitas of a psychological drama, nor does it embrace the pulpy thrill of a domestic noir. There are attempts at dark humour, mostly via Banks' sardonic delivery, but these moments sit awkwardly beside the show's more self-serious ambitions. The show also dabbles in visual symbolism, particularly with Ethan's medieval knight obsession (yes, really), which feels like it should mean something - anything - but never quite does. Much like the show itself, it gestures at depth without grounding it. In the current streaming ecosystem, The Better Sister joins a curious trend of sister-centric thrillers that have premiered in quick succession - Peacock's Long Bright River, Netflix's Sirens and now this. All three follow estranged siblings forced back into each other's lives by external trauma and all three attempt to dissect the "good sister/bad sister" binary that so often defines women on screen. But while Sirens leaned into stylistic excess and Long Bright River found emotional resonance in its quiet grief, The Better Sister is the most confused of the trio. It reaches for commentary on gender roles, motherhood, addiction, ambition, and identity, but never weaves them into a cohesive narrative tapestry. Its most important moments, like a scene in which Chloe and Nicky finally admit the damage they've done to each other, are fleeting, buried under the weight of unnecessary subplots and overwritten flashbacks. There is a version of this story that works: one that tightens the narrative, trims the excess and centres the thorny bond between Chloe and Nicky. As it stands, The Better Sister is a cautionary tale about how too much story can bury the soul of a show. It's not the worst entry in the streaming mystery genre, but it's certainly not the best. If you're desperate for something to play in the background while folding laundry, it may suffice. But if you're looking for a gripping exploration of sisterhood and suspense, you're better off rewatching Bad Sisters, Defending Jacob or even The Sinner - shows that understood that the best thrillers don't just ask who did it, but why we care.

Weekend Binge: From Hera Pheri To Welcome - 70 Shades Of Paresh Rawal
Weekend Binge: From Hera Pheri To Welcome - 70 Shades Of Paresh Rawal

NDTV

timean hour ago

  • Entertainment
  • NDTV

Weekend Binge: From Hera Pheri To Welcome - 70 Shades Of Paresh Rawal

New Delhi: You must have been living under a rock if you have not heard about the recent drama between Paresh Rawal and Akshay Kumar over the much-anticipated Hera Pheri 3. After Paresh Rawal revealed that he will no longer be part of the third instalment of the iconic comedy franchise, Akshay Kumar sued the veteran actor for ₹25 crore. But today, as the legendary actor turns 70, let us set the drama aside and celebrate his incredible contribution to Indian cinema. Here is a special weekend watchlist dedicated to Paresh Rawal: 1. OMG: Oh My God! – JioHotstar As the sceptical atheist Kanji Lalji Mehta, Paresh Rawal shines in this thought-provoking satirical drama about blind faith and religion. The blockbuster also features Akshay Kumar in a pivotal role. 2. Hera Pheri series – Prime Video The franchise, which includes Hera Pheri and Phir Hera Pheri, is a cult comedy ride where Paresh Rawal's iconic Babu Bhaiya steals the show with his wit, timing and unforgettable one-liners. He is the heart, soul and hilarious confusion of the whole chaos! 3. Table No. 21 – Zee5 A gripping thriller where Paresh Rawal plays a game master with a dark twist. The Aditya Datt directorial touches upon the social issue of ragging. 4. Andaz Apna Apna – Prime Video A cult classic where he plays a double role – Teja and Ram Gopal Bajaj. His scenes with Crime Master Gogo (Shakti Kapoor) are comedy gold. 5. Chachi 420 – YouTube There is hardly any 90s kid who has not watched this cinema gem. In the project headlined by Kamal Haasan, Paresh Rawal plays the suspicious and quirky landlord. 6. Chup Chup Ke – Prime Video Yes, the same movie where Shahid Kapoor pretends to be mute and deaf. Paresh Rawal is seen as Gundya, the caring yet comical fisherman. His chemistry with Rajpal Yadav is one of the highlights of this romantic comedy. 7. Golmaal: Fun Unlimited – Prime Video As the blind and ever-confused Somnath Bhardwaj, Paresh Rawal had audiences in splits with his flawless delivery and situational comedy. Ajay Devgn, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor and Sharman Joshi play key roles in the Rohit Shetty directorial. 7. URI: The Surgical Strike – Zee5 In the project led by Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal portrays Govind Bhardwaj, a character inspired by Ajit Doval, the National Security Advisor. Re-watch this film because when Vicky Kaushal asks, 'How is the josh?', we all will reply, 'High sir!' 8. Hera Pheri series – Prime Video The franchise, which includes Hera Pheri and Phir Hera Pheri, is a cult comedy ride where Paresh Rawal's iconic Babu Bhaiya steals the show with his wit, timing and unforgettable one-liners. He is the heart, soul and hilarious confusion of the whole chaos! 9. Nayak: The Real Hero – Prime Video Don't call yourself a Bollywood fan if you have not watched this classic featuring Anil Kapoor, Rani Mukerji and Paresh Rawal. We all remember how, as a corrupt politician, Paresh Rawal said, 'Apun ka ek hi funda hai — public ko thenga dikhana!' "Control Uday, control!" said Paresh Rawal (in the role of Dr Ghunghroo), and we all were left in splits. The 2007 film also features Akshay Kumar, Anil Kapoor and Nana Patekar.

The Better Sister ending explained: The shocking truth behind Adam's murder in Jessica Biel's thriller
The Better Sister ending explained: The shocking truth behind Adam's murder in Jessica Biel's thriller

Time of India

time3 hours ago

  • Entertainment
  • Time of India

The Better Sister ending explained: The shocking truth behind Adam's murder in Jessica Biel's thriller

When you dive into Prime Video's The Better Sister, get ready for a rollercoaster of drama, deceit, and one seriously tangled family web. The eight-episode thriller starring Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks hooks you with a gripping plot, two estranged sisters, Chloe and Nicky, reunited by the murder of Chloe's husband, Adam, who just so happens to be Nicky's ex and the father of her son Ethan. Talk about complicated family dinners. The Better Sister ending explained At first glance, Ethan looks like the prime suspect. Arrested and put on trial, the teen carries the weight of suspicion, his DNA on Adam's body, no less. But things are never that simple in this thriller. Turns out, Ethan witnessed Adam abusing Chloe and, in a panic, tried to cover for her by messing up the crime scene to make it look like a robbery. So, no, Ethan did not kill his dad, but he certainly played a dramatic part. The plot thickens when Chloe takes the stand, revealing the dark secret of Adam's abusive nature. She even drags Jake, Adam's friend and her secret lover, into the mess, painting him as a possible culprit. Jake's falling out with the law firm and insider knowledge about shady dealings adds more fuel to the fire, shifting suspicion away from Ethan. The Better Sister twist Then, we get a huge twist: Adam framed Nicky in the past to strip her of custody of Ethan by drugging her and making her look like an unfit mother. Nicky's tragic backstory and fight for her son add emotional depth that hits hard. I'm starting The Better Sister and the first point I'd like to make is that Jess Biel's back makes me want to put down my chips and have an apple or something. Jesus Christ. The climax? A showdown where Nicky confronts Adam after learning about the abuse. In a physical altercation, she stabs him fatally. The sisters then hatch a plan to pin Adam's murder on Bill, a crooked law firm partner with plenty of shady secrets, a perfect scapegoat. But the drama is not over. Jake's mysterious death on the beach in the finale leaves viewers with unanswered questions: was it suicide or foul play? The Better Sister is a taut, emotional ride where nothing is as it seems, and family ties are tested to the breaking point.

GOOD BOY star Park Bo Gum reveals his ideal type, find out if you fit surprise description
GOOD BOY star Park Bo Gum reveals his ideal type, find out if you fit surprise description

Pink Villa

time3 hours ago

  • Entertainment
  • Pink Villa

GOOD BOY star Park Bo Gum reveals his ideal type, find out if you fit surprise description

The personal lives of celebrities, particularly their dating experiences, are among the most sought-after topics by fans. In a recent interview, Park Bo Gum candidly shared his preferences regarding the ideal type of woman. He revealed what traits he would love for his partner to have, as reported by K-media outlet News1 on May 30. The actor's statement depicted his warm and sweet side as he valued inward goodness over physical appearance. Park Bo Gum's ideal type Actor Park Bo Gum is known as one of the gentlemen of the Korean entertainment industry and that side of him flashed once again during his appearance in the May 29th episode of YouTube channel Naraesik, along with GOOD BOY co-star Lee Sang Yi and Heo Sung Tae. The cast members engaged in light-hearted talks with the hosts, and in one segment the conversation turned towards their romantic preferences. During then, Park Bo Gum said to host Park Na Rae, "I hope you meet a good person. Someone who really loves you, Na Rae sunbae (senior)." He made everyone smile with his heartfelt words. Regarding his own ideal type, he mentioned that he would like his partner to be friend-like, who would be kind, loving and proficient. He said, "I want to meet someone who is like a friend." He further added, "Someone who is really good at what they do, loves their family, and has a lot of love in their heart." Check out the full episode here: Park Bo Gum's revelation showcased his romantic and sentimental side, highlighting his appreciation for meaningful relationships and values like kindness, family, and personal growth. It implied that he looked for someone who would be able to balance work and life well. His words received positive reactions from the people present there, which was only fitting. Finally, the one who is the ideal type of a lot of women, revealed what his preference was like, and fans couldn't be any happier. He is currently all set for the release of his new youth action drama GOOD BOY, also starring Kim So Hyun. It will drop on May 31 on Prime Video.

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