Takers Have no Limit, so Givers Must be Wise, "Roses and Ivy" Tells Us

Biodun Stephen is in her element with this intimate story of two sisters and the ties that bind them.

“Roses and Ivy” is a four-episode miniseries directed by Biodun Stephen. It is currently streaming on Prime Video. Like, Share, and Subscribe.

A devoted sister's unconventional sacrifice to help her sibling have a child unravels their once-unshakable bond, leaving behind a trail of pain, shattered loyalty, and lost love. To understand how these sisters arrived at such a tragic end, we must journey back to their beginnings—a tale of deep familial love, sacrifice, and betrayal are some of the things you’ll find at the other end of Biodun Stephen’s Roses and Ivy.

Evelyn (Munachi Abii) and Roselyn (Uche Montana) have a bond that began with the death of their mother while birthing the latter. The two sisters grow up to become inseparable. The elder sister Evelyn stepped up to support their father in raising Roselyn, pouring her love and care into building a secure life for her younger sibling. But life had other plans.

Their father’s health deteriorates after a stroke, leaving Evelyn to shoulder even more of the family’s burdens. Adding to her struggles, Lanre Shabba (Taye Arimoro), Evelyn’s close friend and emotional anchor, announces a sudden move to the UK for his studies. Evelyn is left heartbroken by his departure, but she soldiers on.

After years of trying, both sisters finally gain admission to the university, but even those early moments of chesting life’s struggles hurled her way, and Evelyn’s love for her younger sister doesn't wane. Despite her constant failures in spite of her brilliance and Roselyn getting everything she’s ever wanted on a platter without putting in half as much of her effort, nothing can come between these sisters’ love until… you guessed it, a man. And not any man, Lanre Shabba.

A seemingly small act of kindness—Evelyn stepping in to take Roselyn’s exam when she’s too hungover—sets the stage for everything to unravel. This single decision places Roselyn in Evelyn’s spot at a restaurant meeting, where she reconnects with Lanre, now an accomplished and attractive man. The seeds of resentment are sown when Roselyn returns, elated to announce that Lanre has taken an interest in her and not even spared a thought to ask after his supposed childhood friend. Evelyn’s heartache is palpable, as future Roselyn tells us through a voiceover: it was the same look in her eyes when Lanre first left for the UK.

As Lanre and Roselyn’s romance blossoms into marriage, Evelyn continues to be the pillar of their family, even as cracks begin to show. The death of their father and Roselyn’s struggles with infertility bring the narrative into harrowing territory.

L-R: Roselyn, Lanre, and Evelyn

The performances are a standout. The younger actresses playing Evelyn and Roselyn deserve praise, particularly in scenes brimming with emotional depth. The moment young Evelyn learns about Lanre’s move to the UK is deeply moving and masterfully acted. Their older counterparts sustain this emotional weight, with Uche Montana as Roselyn and Munachi Abii as Evelyn delivering captivating performances.

The chemistry between the sisters is a highlight, reflecting the beauty and complexity of their relationship. Taye Arimoro, as Lanre, also brings gravitas, particularly in moments of intense emotional conflict, such as when he confronts Roselyn about surrogacy and adoption in episode three.

The series truly comes alive in its exploration of infertility and the toll it takes on relationships. Biodun Stephen’s direction captures these moments with a rawness that is both painful and deeply empathetic. Roselyn’s desperation to conceive becomes the driving force behind the narrative’s most shocking twist: asking Evelyn to serve as a surrogate by sleeping with her husband.

This proposal opens Pandora’s box. Evelyn agrees reluctantly, but what begins as a sacrifice spirals into an affair that ignites years of buried resentment. Evelyn’s years of selflessness morph into unapologetic indulgence as she claims the one thing she has always wanted—Lanre. Her transformation is shocking yet believable, a testament to both the strength of the writing and Abii’s layered performance.

Meanwhile, Roselyn’s actions, driven by entitlement and desperation, lead her down a path of self-destruction. The tragedy that unfolds is inevitable and devastating: Evelyn loses the child, Roselyn goes missing after a car accident, and Lanre is left a broken man, haunted by his mother’s ridicule and his own guilt.

At just four episodes, Roses and Ivy is a tightly written miniseries. Each episode feels purposeful, advancing the story with precision and care. Biodun Stephen’s storytelling shines, seamlessly weaving relatable moments like repeated JAMB attempts and missing exam results into a narrative of profound emotional depth.

The series does a remarkable job of immersing viewers, even when the characters make questionable choices. The pacing is spot-on, pulling us into the world and keeping us hooked through every twist and turn.

Life cracks the funniest jokes, and those who take have no limits, so givers must be wise—this is perhaps the biggest takeaway from Roses and Ivy. Evelyn’s years of giving freely, without boundaries, left her vulnerable to being used and discarded. Roselyn’s entitlement knew no bounds, culminating in her shocking suggestion and the unraveling of their lives.

The ending, while poignant, feels slightly unbalanced. Roselyn’s survival and newfound happiness as a mother of twins come across as a reward, despite her role in the fallout. Evelyn, who bore the brunt of sacrifice, betrayal, and heartbreak, is left to bear the brunt of the fallout with little to no compensation. Perhaps that’s the message: for givers to set boundaries, lest they be drained completely. Still, a more nuanced wrap-up for Evelyn would have been satisfying.

Roses and Ivy is one of Biodun Stephen’s stronger productions in recent years, blending solid writing, powerful performances, and a tightly crafted narrative. While its implausible moments may make you roll your eyes, the emotional beats will stay with you long after the credits roll. Stream it on Prime Video.

---

Screenplay by: Abimbola Akinrinbola and Biodun Stephen

Directed by: Biodun Stephen

Starring: Munachi Abii, Uche Montana, Taye Arimoro, Jaiye Kuti, Kalu Ikeagwu