Chloe Taylor, editor-in-chief of The Real Thing magazine, and her husband Adam Macintosh, a partner at a prestigious Manhattan law firm, live a life of luxury in a penthouse overlooking Central Park, with a second home in the Hamptons. Their teenage son, Ethan, is a quiet, troubled boy who has recently been acting out. One night, while at their Hamptons home, Chloe returns from an event to find Adam stabbed to death in their living room, lying in a pool of blood. She immediately calls the police, who arrive and begin their investigation.

The police quickly focus on Ethan as a suspect when his DNA is found under Adam's fingernails, suggesting a struggle. Ethan is arrested and charged with his father's murder. The police also contact Chloe's estranged older sister, Nicky Macintosh, because she is Ethan's biological mother. Chloe and Nicky have been estranged for years, with Chloe believing Nicky is an unreliable alcoholic who lost custody of Ethan after a near-drowning incident when Ethan was a baby. Chloe is resistant to involving Nicky, fearing she will only make the situation worse, but the police insist Ethan needs his biological mother present.

Nicky, now sober and living in Ohio, arrives in New York. She is shocked and devastated by Adam's death and by Ethan's arrest. She and Chloe are forced to interact, their old resentments and rivalries resurfacing. Nicky is determined to help Ethan, while Chloe is torn between protecting her son and maintaining her carefully constructed life. The sisters begin to investigate Adam's life, hoping to find evidence that could exonerate Ethan.

As the investigation progresses, Chloe and Nicky discover that Adam was involved in shady dealings at his law firm, including possible connections to a human trafficking ring. They also learn that Adam had been receiving threats, possibly related to Chloe's work at the feminist magazine. The police, led by Detective Nancy Guidry, continue to focus on Ethan, but Chloe and Nicky become increasingly convinced that someone else is responsible for Adam's murder.

Chloe confides in Jake Rodriguez, an attorney at Adam's firm and her secret lover, about her suspicions. Jake is supportive but warns her to be careful. Meanwhile, Nicky reconnects with her past, attending AA meetings and meeting a new love interest, Ken. The sisters' investigation leads them to Bill Braddock, a founding partner at Adam's firm, who appears to be involved in the trafficking ring and may have had a motive to silence Adam.

Ethan, in custody, reveals to Nicky that Adam had been physically abusive toward Chloe. This revelation shocks Nicky, who had no idea about the abuse. Feeling a surge of protective anger, Nicky decides to confront Adam's killer herself. She drives from Ohio back to the Hamptons, deliberately leaving her phone behind to avoid being tracked. She breaks into the house, intending to find evidence, but is discovered by Adam's killer--who turns out to be someone targeting Chloe, not Adam. A physical confrontation ensues, and Nicky, acting in self-defense, kills the assailant with a knife. She flees the scene, leaving the weapon behind, and returns to Ohio to establish an alibi.

Nicky, wracked with guilt and fear, eventually confesses the truth to Chloe. The sisters, now united by their shared secret and their desire to protect Ethan, decide to frame Bill Braddock for Adam's murder. They plant the murder weapon--the knife Chloe had hidden--in Braddock's office and gather evidence of his involvement in the trafficking ring. They present this evidence to the police, who arrest Braddock. The charges against Ethan are dropped, and he is released from custody.

Chloe and Nicky use the magazine to expose misconduct by Detective Guidry, who had mishandled Ethan's case, leading to her removal from the investigation. With the immediate danger past, the sisters begin to rebuild their relationship. They decide to co-parent Ethan, providing him with stability and support. Chloe and Nicky also collaborate on writing a book about their experiences, finding a new purpose together. The series ends with the family beginning to heal, the truth about Adam's death and their own past finally out in the open.

The ending of The Better Sister reveals that Nicky killed Adam in self-defense to protect her sister Chloe. Only Nicky, Chloe, and Ethan know the truth, and after the murder is covered up by framing another villain, the three sisters are reunited, closing the story on their complicated family drama.

The final scenes of The Better Sister unfold with a flashback to the night of Adam's murder. Nicky is seen sitting in her car outside Adam's house, watching him enter. She then approaches the door and rings the bell. Inside, she confronts Adam, demanding to see Chloe. The two argue heatedly, with Adam threatening to call the police. Nicky challenges him, saying she will tell the police about his abuse of Chloe and that Ethan knows too. Adam, enraged, grabs Nicky and a physical fight ensues. He pushes her against the wall and begins to strangle her. In a desperate act, Nicky pulls out a pocket knife and stabs Adam, who falls to the floor. Nicky flees the house immediately after.

The narrative then shifts to Ethan's perspective. After being acquitted of Adam's murder due to lack of concrete evidence, Ethan returns home and reviews police records about the night he was taken from Nicky as a baby. Contrary to what he was told--that he nearly drowned--there were no signs of water inhalation. Instead, the records reveal Nicky had Xanax, Ambien, and alcohol in her system. A flashback shows Adam crushing pills and mixing them into a drink for Nicky, indicating he had drugged her to manipulate custody arrangements. Nicky later confirms she had discovered this truth through legal help.

Ethan also reveals to Nicky that he witnessed Adam push Chloe violently on the rooftop while trying to take a selfie. This was not the first time Adam had hurt Chloe. After learning this, Nicky secretly drives to confront Adam, leaving her phone behind to avoid being tracked. The confrontation leads to the stabbing incident.

After the murder, Nicky confesses everything to Chloe. Together, they decide to frame Bill Braddock, a villain involved in a human trafficking ring, by planting the murder weapon in his office and exposing his crimes. Braddock is arrested, diverting suspicion from Nicky. Meanwhile, Chloe and Nicky use their magazine platform to expose misconduct by the detective who mishandled Ethan's case, leading to her removal from the investigation.

The series closes with the three--Nicky, Chloe, and Ethan--reunited, sharing the secret of Adam's death. The story ends without the public or police knowing the full truth, leaving the sisters bonded by their shared experience and the sacrifices they made to protect each other.

Yes, in the 2025 TV show The Better Sister, two characters die:

1. Adam
2. Who: Adam, Nicky's ex-husband and father of her child.

3. Circumstances: Adam was abusive, physically lashing out at Chloe and had previously spiked Chloe's drink to cause a near-fatal incident at the pool. Nicky, upon learning that Adam had started abusing Chloe as well, confronted him. During an argument that escalated, Nicky stabbed Adam in self-defense, killing him. This happened in the later episodes of the series (Episode 7). Chloe then helped cover up the murder to protect Nicky and Ethan (Adam and Nicky's son). The case was officially closed by framing Adam as a whistleblower killed due to company-related illegal activities, with Bill jailed to divert suspicion from the sisters.

4. Jake

5. Who: Jake, Chloe's lover.
6. Circumstances: Jake is shown dead in the final seconds of the series on a beach. The exact cause and circumstances of his death are left ambiguous and unexplained within the show, serving as a cliffhanger and potential setup for a second season. Jake was involved in a larger FBI investigation related to the Gentry Group, a powerful multinational company tied to the series' broader conflict. His death underscores the wider violence and danger beyond the family drama.

No other character deaths are detailed in the available information.

Yes, The Better Sister (2025) does have a post-credit scene. After the intense season finale where Nicky admits to killing Adam to protect Chloe, the final scene shows the two sisters, Nicky and Chloe, sitting together on a beach. They have a heartfelt conversation about their past and trauma, and as they fall asleep near a fire, the camera pans up to reveal the younger versions of themselves--two little girls--looking back at them and hugging each other. This poignant moment symbolizes their healing and reconciliation.

Ethan's biological mother is Nicky, Chloe's estranged sister, who is also Adam's ex-wife.

Adam Macintosh is found stabbed to death in the Hamptons home, which triggers the central mystery of the show.

Ethan is arrested because his DNA is found under Adam's fingernails, making him the prime suspect.

Chloe views Nicky as an addict and a negative influence, especially when police involve Nicky after Adam's murder due to her being Ethan's biological mother.

Adam's murder uncovers long-hidden family secrets, including the truth about Ethan's parentage and the strained relationships between Chloe, Nicky, and Adam.

The TV show The Better Sister (2025) is a drama thriller that involves mature themes such as addiction, family conflict, and a brutal murder. It is not considered family-friendly for children or sensitive viewers due to the presence of potentially upsetting content.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting scenes may include:

• Depictions of addiction struggles, as one sister battles substance abuse.
• Violence related to a brutal murder, which is central to the plot.
• Emotional family conflict and tension, including estrangement and difficult interpersonal dynamics.
• Themes of grief, loss, and trauma that arise from the murder and family secrets.

The show's tone and subject matter are geared toward adult audiences, given the thriller and mystery elements involving crime and complex family issues. It is advisable for parents or sensitive viewers to be cautious, as the series contains intense emotional and dramatic scenes that may not be suitable for children or those sensitive to violence and family strife.