Arc definitely got better in ep 19-20. These are my favourite eps!! Ivy and Roy’s oozing chemistry. How cute artist is (tho I do not agree to some of his actions). And how funny the eps turned out. Perfect!

Some Roy appreciation for the betrayers out there, look at what you are missing out on!! @13infamyss @mayhemf @ayaan

6
30

    😭😭😭😭😭😢 the writers betrayed us. They made us watch Roy fish kiss Jenny.

    Ok. Gonna watch 19 onwards :)) for the love of Roy!

    2
    2

    HAHAHA Betrayers indeed. Don’t worry Stagie. You have me for company 😛

    1
    1

    Is this worth watching – or is Roy alone worth the watching?

    1
    3

      I would actually recommend. But to note on two things:
      1. Don’t support OTP so early if not you are in for disappointment
      2. Their business model jumps a lot, but I’m attributing this to how a startup functions

      With the casts, it’s actually solid acting there so I would recommend to go in for a light watch with little expectations

      1
      0

      My take on the show:
      — It’s a very very well produced show. Lots of money seems to have gone into it. Unlike the usual tw-drama fare.
      — The actors are excellent, and proving their worth even with a questionable storyline. The ensemble gels really well together.
      — The music is super.
      — The art direction is beautiful.
      — I have issues with the storyline / plot, which is makjang-ish, and also very unrealistic. A lot of noble idiocy and outright stupidity. However, the story is *very fast paced*. It feels like several 16-ep kdramas packed into one.
      — It had a very strong opening, but lost direction early.
      — But but but, I feel it has come back to how it started with eps 19/20 (out of a total of 24).

      If all these qualifiers make you want to watch, I’d recommend. I was annoyed in between, but stuck with it, and made my peace, and am now enjoying it.

      3
      1

        Good to hear this one has high production value – one aspect that TW drama could do better. And strong opening but meandering in the middle is also a common issue too but worth it if pulling through in the end.

        1
        0

      Also to answer your question on Roy – sorry I missed that earlier – he has limited screen time, the three women take centrestage. But when he’s on screen, he does a good job. He gets to show some range, which made me happy. It’s taken me a while but I’ve come to realise he’s a really fine actor, in terms of skill, and not just how he looks 😂 (which is enough to convince most people to watch, of course ).

      1
      1

        Roy has grown into a very fine actor and not just a gorgeous face. His turn in the movie Dear Ex as a scruffy gay guy who lost his lover and somehow helped out his lover’s widow and son was an award-worthy performance. I’m looking forward to checking out his latest movie When A Man Falls in Love which is breaking box office record in TW currently. The movie’s BTS showing how he couldn’t stop crying long after the camera stopped really piques my interest.

        2
        2

          Oooh! I have to watch Dear Ex. It’s on my list for a while. I’m also eyeing on his new movie! I’ve had similar conversations with another beanie who reads Chinese and is actively looking for spoilers since it just aired. We usually talk on Discord since we have a server. Would you like to join? Pickle and I talk about Arc every week too

          1
          3

          Actually, Dear Ex was what sold me on Roy’s acting. I was so so so impressed. Even though some of the folks I chatted with about this drama didn’t like it as much. I thought it was a good film, and stellar acting by Roy.

          I’ve watched trailers for A Man in Love. It’s going to be a tearjerker, so I’m a little wary. I’m worried this will be too violent and emotional for my liking.

          1
          5

            A Man In Love is going to be sad, ive read some parts here and there but not the ending, Jrr knows tho, ive basically provided her that info. Based on a Korean Movie i think

            2
            0

            I love Dear Ex to bit and other TW indie art movies a lot. While I don’t understand the TW / Hokkien dialect, there’s a warm earthiness to it that I find enchanting.

            2
            0

            @epyc2010 Ooh I’d love recommendations, if you are so inclined! I don’t understand any of these languages, of course, but I seem to have acquired a soft spot for anything Taiwanese, cinema or drama. I feel that their shows have so much more heart than Korean or – of course – mainland Chinese dramas. And because their budgets are so low, the acting really shines, because there are no other distractions, like makeup, or costumes, or fancy sets, or stuff like that. You get to see some fabulous talent as a result.

            1
            0

            I typed a rather long post but it went to the dither…

            My two fav from the last few years are quite dark, both shot in black and white – black comedy about people in the margin, ie those in the bottom 1%, with superbly set up plot, sublime directing and acting. They are:
            Godspeed – https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godspeed_(film)
            The Great Buddha+ – https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Buddha%2B

            You could start with Godspeed. If it’s your thing, you can watch The Great Buddha + (in which the violence and sex go up a notch higher). I watched both several times and appreciate more each time – pretty much laughing and crying with those characters.

            If these are too dark, then A Sun about a middle class family would be more universally appreciated – see this Variety commentary, https://variety.com/2021/film/columns/discover-taiwan-oscar-submission-a-sun-on-netflix-1234925749/

            Both The Great Buddha+ and A Sun are TW’s submissions for Oscar.

            1
            0

            Thanks for the recs @epyc2010 I already had The Great Buddha+ and A Sun on my list. Adding Godspeed as well! I’ve also been wanting to watch Little Big Women. Shame about DB eating up your comment :/

            1
            0

    Roy my love. Gimme a drama that won’t give me blue balls. I need a Marry Me-like drama sans the makjang that happened at the end. And that’s when I’ll come back to you. You look very beautiful tho.

    3
    2