Parents' Guide to The Sister

TV Hulu Drama 2021
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Common Sense Media Review

Melissa Camacho By Melissa Camacho , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 17+

Uneven thriller has drugs, drinking, smoking, sex, murder.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 17+?

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Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

From Luther creator Neil Cross comes THE SISTER, a British crime thriller about a missing girl and a man tormented by a dark secret. Party goer Elise Fox (Simone Ashley) goes missing, and seven years later Nathan Redman (Russell Tovey) is married to her sister, Holly (Amrita Acharia). But when an old acquaintance named Bob (Bertie Carvel) shows up at their home one rainy evening, Nathan realizes that the secret he's kept from his wife and her family about Elise's death is about to be exposed, and their lives will be destroyed.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

This dark mini-series offers a psychologically disturbing narrative that slowly uncovers the details about Elise's mysterious death, and Nathan's role in it. Flashbacks are used to reveal the events leading up to Nathan and Bob's meeting, allowing viewers to see what led up to that moment and to understand the significance of the later plot twists.

There are some suspense-filled moments, but the overall series feels sluggish, thanks to the deliberately slow pacing of events occurring in real time. Additionally, the disturbing aspects of Nathan's actions, which are central to the story, are never fully explored. As a result, The Sister creates an eerie, but uneven, viewing experience that leaves you feeling more frustrated than creeped out.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Nathan's actions over the years. What is the most troubling? Is there anything that justifies them?

  • What does the ending of the The Sister suggest about Nathan's life going forward? Would you have ended the story this way?

TV Details

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