Lie Huo Jun Xiao

"Arsenal Military Academy" is a remarkable Chinese drama that seamlessly blends romance, patriotism, and historical intrigue to create a captivating narrative that keeps viewers hooked from start to finish. With its well-developed characters, strong performances, and compelling storyline, this series deserves every bit of its 9/10 rating.

Set against the backdrop of China's turbulent Republican era, "Arsenal Military Academy" transports audiences to a time of political upheaval, espionage, and resistance against foreign powers. The story follows the resilient and tenacious Xie Xiang, played brilliantly by Bai Lu, who disguises herself as a male cadet to attend the prestigious Arsenal Military Academy. Her journey of becoming a soldier with a mission adds depth and layers to her character, making her an incredibly relatable and admirable protagonist.

Within the confines of the academy, Xie Xiang forms close bonds with a group of young male recruits, each with their unique personalities. Among them is the rich, hot-headed and affluent Gu Yan Zheng, portrayed with depth by Xu Kai, and the soft-spoken and introverted Shen Jun San, portrayed with quiet charm by Li Cheng-Pin. However, both Gu Yan Zheng and Shen Jun San find themselves entangled in a complex web of emotions, both harboring feelings for the enigmatic Xie Xiang.

The chemistry between Xie Xiang and the enigmatic Gu Yan Zheng, is undeniably electric. Their blossoming romance, while complicated by the fact that Xie Xiang is masquerading as a man, is beautifully depicted and adds an extra layer of tension and intrigue to the plot. Their love story is filled with touching moments that will tug at your heartstrings.

The supporting cast, including the lovable and hilarious group of cadets, each with their unique quirks and backgrounds, adds a perfect balance of humor and camaraderie to the show. The camaraderie among these characters is one of the highlights of the drama, showcasing the importance of friendship and teamwork in times of adversity.

Furthermore, "Arsenal Military Academy" does an outstanding job of weaving historical events and real-life figures into its fictional narrative. This historical authenticity adds depth and weight to the storyline, making it both educational and entertaining. The attention to detail in the sets, costumes, and military tactics is commendable.

The drama's pacing is on point, with a perfect balance of action-packed sequences and quieter, character-driven moments. The suspenseful plot twists and cliffhangers at the end of each episode will leave you eagerly anticipating the next instalment.

In conclusion, "Arsenal Military Academy" is a superbly crafted drama that manages to strike the perfect balance between romance, patriotism, and historical drama. With its engaging characters, brilliant performances, and a well-executed plot, it's a must-watch for fans of the genre. Whether you're drawn to the romance, the action, or the historical backdrop, this drama has something to offer everyone. I wholeheartedly give it a solid 9/10 stars and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a compelling and emotionally resonant series.

Best chinese drama i have ever seen..this is an emotion.. I couldn't get out of this for many days ..in my mind the scenes played for two weeks..i love this drama from the core of my heart..the casts are very talented.. The actors are very very talented.. I love the chemistry between Xu kai and Bai lu..they are best.. Xu kai's acting rocks..and Bai lu is a very strong actress.. I feel grateful to watch this.. But why it is so underrated?..people should watch this masterpiece.. In this drama you can find everything comedy,soft and deep love,romance,thrill,adventure,patriotism,a beautiful friend circle and so on.. Sometimes you will laugh loudly and sometimes you will cry out..

Thanks for giving us such a masterpiece drama..

Really this is the best cdrama 💚💚

Good wishes for bailu and xu kai💜 Xu kai looks like kinda young Leonardo d Caprio here.

Watching Arsenal Military Academy is a feast for your eyes. The cinematography, action scenes, film sets and costumes are on point. I wasn't eager to watch this drama, because I thought it would be patriotic, nationalistic, but fortunately, it wasn't.

Story

True to its title this series tells the adventures of young cadets who are training, bonding, finding their life purpose. Some interesting characters are introduced in several subplots. There's this girl (Bai Lu) who's grieving about her deceased brother. She decides to impersonate him at the academy. There are two young celebs, a rich heir (Xu Kai) and an actress (Wu Jia Yi) who both take too many risks just to escape their pampered life. The rich boy enlists himself for the academy. Among their high society friends are two brothers, who are leading a business imperium together, but also get more involved in the resistance against Japanese aggression. The younger brother (Toby Lee) goes to the Academy to sharpen his war skills. There he gets a surprise visit from a Sino-Japanese girl he knew from high school. She went to live abroad, but somehow she has returned for mysterious reasons.

Their story is set at the time of the Sino-Japanese aggression, but it all seems more like a fantasy tale, full of glamour, action and music. Characters get away with cross dressing, stunt riding on motor cycles, single handed shoot outs with complete combat armies, escapes from Japanese police cells in just a few minutes. It's all very entertaining.

Cast

This time, the second leads steal the show in stead of the leading couple that made me watch this drama in the first place. Bai Lu and Xu Kai are legendary together in The Legends (2019) but don't expect a rerun of their chemistry here. However, as stand-alone character they are both attractive. Xu Kai is tall, sexy and cute as ever. Bai Lu is even better as a male cadet than as a girl. The best romance scene goes to Hong Yao as the eldest Shen brother who deeply loves Qu Man Ting ( Wu Jia Yi) He's able to recognize this seemingly superficial actress as a strong and capable partner in life, long before she knows it herself. Toby Lee has the role of the younger Shen brother, a lone wolf full of dark brooding energy. It fits him like a glove.

Production

The fight scenes and special effects are well done. The soundtrack is nice and pays tribute to the story except for the modern intro-theme. Also there are a lot of details that can't be seen in one glance, so I will rewatch this series.

Overall

This drama has tags for friendship, teamwork, and romance but these aren't the main themes. Arsenal Military Academy is Chinese steampunk at its best, with action, intelligent characters, and glamour, all-in-one.

Absolutely enthralling, romantic, stirring, suspenseful, scary, thrilling drama. Set before the start of WW2, in a fictional town near the Arsenal Military Academy (AMA). Although the settings may be fictional, the drama sets forth the tensions that existed between the Japanese and Chinese before WW2. But what makes this drama so compelling is the human interactions.

Xu Kai as Gu Yanzgen is magnificent, I love all his dramas, but this one is the best. He goes from a lackadaisical wealthy playboy to a committed soldier, lover, patriot. You will be cheering him on.

Bai Lu plays the beloved sister Yie Xiang, who lost her brother too soon. He wanted to attend AMA but died. She decides to takes his place and masquerade as a cadet. She does a phenomenal job, but when it's time to take a shower, dress, etc., with her roommate Xu Kai sometimes in attendance, it's problematic. They have a silent agreement and Xu Kai falls in love.

There are many more dramatic relationships, frightening encounters, funny episodes, but it is always super entertaining.

All of the actors are fantastic! From our lovers, the students, teachers, evil Japanese platters, etc. There are so many gripping, funny, romantic, frightening episodes. Just watch this drama. During the last 5 episodes, I did not leave my seat.

So far the best Chinese drama I've watched. Hits all the bases and then some. Phenomenal. Breathtaking. Romantic. Edge of your seat. Funny. Scary. Makes you think about why some people hate and see the worst and others love.

Very Underrated! A must watch! You will not get disappointed.