National Sisters Day: Sisters in Pop Culture That We Love

Happy National Sisters Day! Sisterly bonds are a thing of beauty. They’re often complicated and layered but deeply loving. You’ll never find people more loyal than sisters — blood and otherwise. Here’s a bit of history behind the relatively young holiday:

National Sisters Day was founded in 1996 by Tricia Eleogram and Stacey Lowrey of Tennessee. It takes place on the first Sunday in August every year. While the holiday is only 27 years old, sisters have been celebrated for far longer than that. To honor the messy and wonderful relationships between sisters, here are our favorite sisters in pop culture, specifically fantasy and sci-fi. 

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Buffy and Dawn – Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Despite having only been onscreen together for three seasons, Buffy and Dawn Summers went through the wringer. Their mother dies in season 5 (“The Body” is unarguably one of Buffy the Vampire Slayer‘s best episodes). Then, Buffy dies at the end of season 5, only to be resurrected in season 6. Oh, and Buffy might harbor memories of Dawn pre-2000, but the latter actually materialized as a human in 2000. She’s the human form of a Key that the Slayer is meant to protect with her life. So, there’s that. 

All that aside, Buffy and Dawn love each other unconditionally. Buffy has laid down her life for Dawn, and Dawn loves her sister so much that she moved Heaven and Earth to revive her. Their bond transcends the supernatural. 

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Gamora and Nebula – Guardians of the Galaxy

Gamora and Nebula’s convoluted, nuanced relationship is vital to the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy. It’s most deeply explored in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Both are daughters of Thanos; they spent their childhood embroiled in a rivalry stoked by The Mad Titan himself. Nebula even tried to kill her sister as their rivalry extended into adulthood. 

However, after delving into their shared trauma and loathing — which masked their love for each other — Gamora and Nebula buried the hatchet, emerging from decades of conflict as a closer pair. Of course, Thanos sacrifices Gamora in Avengers: Infinity War and the new past version of her isn’t as connected to Nebula, but I’m glad we had a few movies that dove into their bond. 

No sisterly relationship is perfect, and Gamora and Nebula’s dynamic is proof positive of that. 

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Wynonna and Waverly – Wynonna Earp

Wynonna and Waverly Earp’s relationship feels inspired by Buffy and Dawn, but that doesn’t diminish its potency. Purgatory’s favorite sisters didn’t start the series in the best place, but boy, they ended it stronger than ever. They’re two peas in a pod despite their night and day personalities — Wynonna’s a dark whirlwind of sarcasm and gunslinging, while Waverly’s a bright light with infectiously upbeat energy. 

Their relationship is the heart of Wynonna Earp. Wynonna fights tooth and nail to protect Waverly. Similarly, Waverly stands by Wynonna through some tough times. But they wouldn’t have it any other way. We love one Angel and her Champion. 

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Tahani and Kamilah – The Good Place

You might be wondering why I included Tahani and Kamilah Al-Jamil, a sister pairing that spent most of their time on The Good Place in a, ahem, not good place. Tahani was envious of Kamilah, who was the wunderkind of their family, and clearly their parents’ favorite. In response to that jealousy, Tahani endeavored to work harder than her younger sister. She even raised $60 billion for a non-profit organization. 

However, Tahani’s envy becomes the literal death of her. Thankfully, after Tahani is brought back to life in season 3, she and Kamilah share an emotional reconciliation, with the sisters presenting a united front against their parents. To me, it’s all about the journey of getting to that place of love and forgiveness. While their arc is undoubtedly rocky, Tahani and Kamilah eventually find peace. 

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Sansa and Arya – Game of Thrones

We don’t get much shared screen time for Sansa and Arya Stark. Nevertheless, they make quite the sisterly duo. House Stark wins big in Game of Thrones, with Sansa and Arya coming out on top. Considering where they are at the start of the series, that’s an impressive feat. Their individual journeys see them reuniting in season 7 from an entirely different place, one of respect and love. They even join forces to save the realm from the oncoming White Walker threat.

As I said, I’m a big fan of character growth and how that impacts a sibling dynamic. Sansa and Arya’s relationship evolves beautifully along with them. Even though they part ways in the series finale to embark on their own adventures, I’m sure they carry their newfound reverence for each other with them. 

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The Halliwell Sisters – Charmed

The Charmed Ones know a thing or two about sisterly dynamics. Charmed starts with The Power of Three: Prue, Piper, and Phoebe. However, after Prue’s passing in May 2001, Paige Matthews, the Halliwells’ long-lost half-sister, comes into the fold to fulfill The Power of Three prophecy. Said prophecy only works when they’re all together, operating in tandem as witches, meaning their bond as sisters must be impregnable. 

Thankfully, it is. The Halliwells (and Matthews) grow closer than ever while incessantly saving the world from demons. They complement each other well as four vibrantly different personalities with varying powers. It’s a blast watching their relationship and all-too-relatable sibling banter unfold onscreen. 

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Abbie and Jenny – Sleepy Hollow

Abbie and Jenny Mills boast their fair share of childhood trauma, from their encounter with a demon in the woods and their mom’s incarceration to Jenny being sent to a mental institution. Oh, and Jenny was occasionally possessed by a demon called Ancitif. You’d think their bond was doomed from the start. However, as with all the troubled sister dynamics on this list, Jenny and Abbie inevitably mend fences. Jenny sacrifices everything to keep Abbie safe and vice versa. 

Despite their personality differences, once the Mills sisters overcome their decades-long conflict, they become a formidable demon-hunting team, repeatedly saving Sleepy Hollow (and the planet). Is there anything more binding than taking out supernatural threats? 

Unfortunately, Abbie sacrifices herself to save the world by stepping into Pandora’s box. But her complicated, wholeheartedly human, and loving relationship with her sister is a staple of Sleepy Hollow. 

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The Sanderson Sisters – Hocus Pocus

Amok! Amok! Amok! Winifred, Mary, and Sarah Sanderson, AKA the Sanderson sisters, go way back. Like, 1600s way back. These witches were hanged in Salem in 1693 and inadvertently resurrected 300 years later by teenager Max Dennison after he lit the Black Flame Candle (though Binx did warn him against it). Teens, am I right? The witchy trio must feed on children to remain youthful and live beyond Halloween night. In true hero versus villain fashion, the Sanderson sisters lose that fight, with Max and his friends reigning victorious. 

In Hocus Pocus 2, the sisters are resurrected again in 2022 via the Black Flame Candle. However, the film ends this time with the witches turning to dust.

Sure, the Sandersons are villains, but that doesn’t render their bond unimportant. They constantly bicker, and their relationship at times seems devoid of love, but Hocus Pocus 2 proves their loyalty to each other and the depth of their affection for each other. 

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Who are your favorite sisters in pop culture? How would you rank the sisters on our list? Join the conversation at Sideshow Social Network, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!