From “Your Friends and Neighbors” to “Yellowstone”: What TV Siblings Say About Real Life
This week, I found myself pulled into the Apple TV series Your Friends and Neighbors. I just finished episode three of season 1— which is where it leaves off for now — and while the entire show is layered and compelling, one relationship stood out: the sibling bond between Jon Hamm’s character and his sister, played by Janet McTeer.
Their connection is subtle but powerful. There’s an unspoken love between them — protective, understanding, and deeply loyal. It’s the kind of sibling dynamic that feels rare these days, at least on screen. And it made me think about how siblings are portrayed in TV and how that compares to real life.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, I couldn’t help but think of Yellowstone — specifically, the complicated and often toxic relationship between Beth and her brother Jamie. That bond is laced with betrayal, resentment, and emotional warfare. It’s dramatic, yes, but it also reflects the unfortunate truth that not all sibling relationships are loving or even salvageable.
And then, there’s real life — the messier, more nuanced middle ground. Some people grow up with siblings who are their built-in best friends. Others grow up in the same house but feel like strangers. Personally? I’ve often felt like the latter. Truthfully, if someone told me my siblings and I weren’t actually related, I wouldn’t bat an eye. The emotional distance has always been there, and over time, I’ve stopped trying to bridge it.
But it makes you think — how much of who we are is shaped by those early sibling dynamics? Whether we grow up with someone who supports us like a second parent, or someone who constantly competes or wounds us, those relationships (or the absence of them) leave a lasting imprint.
So today, I’m reflecting on how siblings influence our emotional wiring. Maybe you have a bond that feels unbreakable. Or maybe you’re still grieving the relationship you wish you had. Wherever you fall on the spectrum, it’s okay. Not all families are picture-perfect — and not all bonds are defined by blood.
Let me know your thoughts — do TV sibling relationships ever remind you of your own? Or make you wish for something different?