I have never been so personally offended by a fictional beach. The Better Sister season 1 finale ended with Jake Rodriguez's body washing ashore, and I stared at my screen like a betrayed houseplant. Look, I am a professional viewer. I know thrillers need victims. But Jake? The guy was a lawyer, which is already a dangerous profession on television, and he still managed to be the season's most surprising casualty. I need season 2 now, not just because I want answers, but because I want Gentry Group to face some consequences.
The show, based on Alafair Burke's novel, follows sisters Chloe and Nicky after Adam—Nicky's ex and Chloe's current husband—is murdered. Ethan, the son/stepson caught in the middle, has to navigate grief while the adults around him behave like they're in a soap opera sponsored by secrets. The series spends its first season twisting the story in different directions from the book. Nicky relapses and attends AA meetings, some plotlines get more attention than others, and Gentry Group, the shadowy organization Adam was representing and spying on, gets a darker spotlight. Honestly, the group sounds less like a company and more like a villain origin story with a LinkedIn page.
By the finale, we learn Nicky was actually behind Adam's murder. She frames Bill Braddock by tying him to Gentry Group, which is a very convenient way to make the motive stick. It was clever, messy, and completely on brand for this family. But the real twist is not just who killed Adam. The real twist is who ended up dead after the mystery seemed solved. That would be Jake Rodriguez, and I am still not over it.
Jake is an attorney at Adam's firm and supposedly the loyal best friend. Surprise, surprise: he and Chloe were having a secret relationship before Adam's murder. He was also heavily involved with Gentry Group. Bribery? Yes. Human trafficking? Unfortunately, yes. Jake knew all the dark secrets, and he was quietly feeding information to the FBI before Braddock's arrest. In the novel, Jake survives to the end. On screen, he does not. The show essentially looked at the book and said, "We appreciate you, but this character needs to wash up on a beach for dramatic purposes." I respect the audacity, even if I am grieving.
Now let's talk about season 2, because the show clearly wants one. The Better Sister is a standalone novel. Burke has not announced a sequel. That should be a problem, but it really isn't. Jake's death gives the Prime Video series an original engine. A follow-up could focus on the aftermath of his murder while digging deeper into Gentry Group. We already know the organization is dangerous, but killing a lawyer who talked to the FBI suggests they have a zero-tolerance policy for chatty employees. That is great material for another season.
Chloe is not safe either. She was helping the FBI with their investigation into Gentry Group. Earlier in the series, she handed over files from Adam's work computer. That makes her complicit in trying to take them down. If Gentry Group was bold enough to kill Jake, they probably will not send Chloe a gift basket. Nicky and Ethan could also become targets. The family might think the murder case is closed, but a bigger monster is still breathing. That is a strong setup for season 2.
Here is my very scientific season 1 status report:
| Character | Season 1 Status | My Season 2 Prediction |
|---|---|---|
| Chloe | Alive, but definitely in trouble | Needs witness protection and a vacation |
| Nicky | Alive, framed Braddock | Will somehow make things worse |
| Ethan | Alive, deeply traumatized | Deserves a quiet hobby, like pottery |
| Jake | Very dead | Flashbacks or a very angry ghost |
| Gentry Group | Still mysterious | Final boss energy |
The fallout from Braddock's arrest and Jake's death would be the perfect way for The Better Sister season 2 to happen. Since the show has already changed book fates and expanded storylines, it could continue with a completely original plot. The first season introduced the threats, but it did not resolve them. Braddock may be taking the fall for Adam's murder, but Gentry Group is still out there. They probably know Chloe helped the FBI, and they almost certainly know Jake was leaking information. That is a recipe for another murder mystery, and I am already ready to binge it.
All episodes of The Better Sister are streaming now on Prime Video. As of 2026, I am still waiting for an official renewal announcement, but the finale basically served a second season on a silver platter. Prime Video would have to ignore a dead lawyer, a shadowy organization, and a family in danger. If that happens, I will file a formal complaint with my cat. But seriously, the show has earned another chapter. Jake deserves at least a posthumous investigation.
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