Rewatch? It's a must!
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This review may contain spoilers
A drama tackling the seldom told history of China under Japanese influence
This is a drama tackling very serious topics that affected China in 1911-1912. Following the Xinhai Revolution and the end of the Qing Dynasty, there is political and civilian unrest. Hence, as Viki states, this is a drama. Not a comedy. Not a romance. A real drama. And a very good one.(China lost against Japan in 1895, and since then, Japan and Russia gained some influence in China…, for Japan esp. in Manchuria, Mongolia and Shandong , which significantly reduced the Chinese people's trust in the empire, fueling Chinese nationalism. The sentiment was strengthened by the failed political reform, where the desire to form a constitutional monarchy resulted in the establishment of the Prince Qing's Cabinet with the majority being part of the imperial family in May 1911)
The « 21 demands » mentioned was signed between 1915 and 1916. It would result in a long-lasting animosity nationwide towards Japan. (Resulting in boycott etc)
That is the context of the drama.
It isn’t clearly told at the beginning, but I believe foreign viewers will gain in appreciation of the drama if they know that before starting to view it.
Because of that, the drama does show violence, and deaths.
Very smartly, the underlying dark tone is counterbalanced, as the drama follows the events and topics of importance at that time through a group of military students in their daily lives at a military academy, bringing some light and funny moments, esp. since they introduced a FL disguised as a man as part of the military students…
For me, the drama starts showing its true Colors and intentions starting ep. 15. From then on, it is very well paced.
The production and cast are outstanding. The storyline very well thought.
Special shout-out to Xu Kai who brings life to a welcome witty and shining character, very smart and caring under the presence of being carefree, self boasting and mischievous,…(he proves his versatility with this drama, displaying the wide range of emotions and expressions required by his character and his growth along the drama)
My second shout-out to the 2nd main FL playing the role of the singer/actress, awesome Wu Jia Yi, who stole the show in an unrequited love with Xu Kai.
I normally love Bai Lu (esp. in « one and only », « forever and ever », in which she’s just perfect. Here, she’s good but not the star of the show, wincing a bit too heavily at Xu Kai. I would have loved a bit more subtlety in her acting expressions in these moments, Also I am not fond of the indecisiveness of her character pertaining to her love interest between the 2 ML. She makes XK’s character suffer and I surprised myself thinking at some point that she doesn’t deserve his love… the good thing is that it happened in the very episode where she ultimately realised her true feelings (ep. 38)
Because the love stories are all unrequited during majority of the drama, however lovely it is often tackled, for those seeking first and foremost a fully blossomed romance drama, this is not for you.
Spoiler: Xu Kai’s love for the FL remains unrequited almost until the end (watching him falling in love and expressing his love is nonetheless a real treat. You will root for him)…. All other love stories are also unrequited during the majority of the drama. Because this is first and foremost a historical drama that chose to alleviate its darkness by balancing it with lighter moments, I get it that Fully blossomed romance would have been out of place. We however get good closures in the end, as two couples mixed in unrequited love go to their « right » partner in my opinion (they were too blind and immature to see and understand during the majority of the drama however …)
A great watch.
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The female lead made one of the more convincing males in this story which added to the realism of it, instead of finding the story bizarre and outlandish I found myself loving how strong she was in and out of school! Not to mention how quickly I found myself attached to the other characters, all of whom were portrayed by great actors who all had amazing chemistry.
All in all I'd say this is one of the best dramas of 2019 and you'd be missing out to not give it a go!
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Republican-era Mulan
Welcome to the Republican-era Mulan. Arsenal Military Academy is a gem. Seriously. Usually c-dramas drag on forever (ie, the Legend of Fei...), but not this one.TL;DR Brotherhood, action, realistic depiction of female trying to disguise as a guy, strong leads, good character development.
Why I like AMA:
1. Brotherhood--Xie Xiang/Liangchen and her relationships with her classmates is such a brother bond. They treat her like one of them and she treats them like her brothers. If you watched Mulan 2020 and was disappointed in Mulan's relationship with her crew, Bai Lu's performance shows what should've happened.
2. Action--the suspense and action is plentiful. Although not realistic (especially cleaning a loaded gun ??? maybe I'm just being critical) it is entertaining to watch a girl fight equally alongside men and deal the same damage.
3. Realistic depiction of females--The FL Xie Liangchen could pass for a feminine guy or a tomboy. Although Xie Liangchen was strong compared to the other girls, in the academy, she struggles to keep up with her male classmates. She deals with humility for being "weak," but it only encourages her to work hard to pass physical tests. In shooting she excels. She deals with periods, with loss, and emotions, but she's a REAL, STRONG GIRL and PICKS HERSELF UP. Girl got grit.
4. Strong Leads--Hands down, Bai Lu played Xie Liangchen so well. Liangchen is tough, emotionally and physically, and can go from polite female to tough guy within minutes (depending on how fast she can change clothes lol). She endures hardships but overcomes them. The ML, Gu Yanzhen (Xu Kai), is a playboy and likes to do what he wants. He's rich and from a powerful family, and he doesn't mind losing face. Although he seems to not care, he has his priorities to which he is loyal.
5. Development--as the drama progresses, the characters mature. Gu Yanzhen learns the reality and cost of fighting for what you believe in. Xie Liangchen realizes that secrets become sticky. Shen Junshen (Li Cheng Bin) learns that power can corrupt and people change. Even annoying characters learn what it means to put others before yourself.
Summary: Arsenal Military Academy is about a girl named Xie Xiang (Bai Lu) whose brother attends a military academy. He dies before his graduation, so she joins the academy when it reopens to honor her brother and country. She takes her brother's name (Xie Liangchen) and disguises herself as a boy. At the academy, she makes friends (or enemies) with her classmates and they go through a lot together. Life for her gets difficult as she struggles to keep her hidden identity. If she is discovered...
Verdict: Watch this Republic-era Mulan. Do it! You won't regret it!
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This review may contain spoilers
This is my first movie of Xu kai and Bai Lu! loved the acting. At times it felt though female is kick ass character she is still sissy. It was more like she just came to AMA without giving much thought about she will be day and night sharing her space with guys. For e.g. when there was a shower scene and she who is too short was still hiding and feeling shy which was hard to understand. Also female lead came across as she wanted to please everyone. She is going on dates with HS and SJS at the same time and she knows she has no interest in either of them why mislead them??? couldn't understand. Towards the end when she made her decision that she likes our ML i liked her resolution and she standing by him. Also it was refreshing to see what a ML always don't have to be standoffish and serious. It's okay to be silly and impulsive too. That was breaking the pattern of all powerful ML's. Over all a good watch. Was this review helpful to you?
Really viewable for those who are interested in Chinas history of the early 20th century
Although (of course) this series comes along as love story with nearly everything we can expect from a Chinese drama series, this one is different. For me with less (to no) knowledge of the history Chinas that led to e.g. the revolution, the timeline in 1915 with the political complex situation, the relationship to Japan etc. brought me to learn a bit more about it.The storyline is of course dramatic with all we can expect to see. From bloody warlords, samurais, the brave hero's of the play, royals and important families you have nearly everything; love, fight, tears, comedy, adrenaline and adventure. Embedded in the look of the beginning of the 20th. century (i guess we see designs of the 1920th).
Is a 48-series worth the time to follow the story? Yes. I am currently at no. 40, but really enjoying it.
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There were a lot of chatacters but they all had amazing potential in a war and politically tensed context.
The first part of the drama, bascially the first 20 episodes were really light and fun, and the chemistry between the leads was amazing and hilarious.
The cross dressing part was also much more realistic here than in any other drama ive seen.
The second part of the drama focuses on the war context with a very patriotic propaganda which i would have been fine with if the plot actually had a focus.
I felt like the drama was teared in bits and pieces with a little bit of romance mainly embodied through the love triangle that i found incredibly annoying,
the scattered events only showing that chinsese are good and japanese are bad,
and the side storyline of each character which kinda got lost in the sauce.
I couldnt get through the entire drama, the scattered narative with only patriotism as focused outline of the story bored me. Which is super sad cause the two main leads did an amazing job and their personal dilemma and will to protect their loved ones facing a war context could have been an amazing development from light to dark times in the drama.
I think its still worth watching for the actors performance and chemistry, but i got frustrated when i lost interest.
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This review may contain spoilers
Main Male Lead doesnt have role / contribute to the storyline even after halfway through the drama
Im quite frustrated with the drama actually. im halfway through the drama but main male lead doesnt have many important role in the story and rarely or didnt participate in any major plotline compare to his fellow main lead, except he only there as a love interest to female lead and involve in romance or fun part of the story, which by then is not that many scenes. This is a military drama and need seriousness, the character can have this immature vibes, however it depends on the story to inject depth to this type of character slowly. Look, Ive seen Xu kai in the legends, and here he potrays an opposite character, so i know he is a talented actor that can express his character excellently. But the drama didnt justify him enough to develop the depth of his character or involve him in the story. The drama didnt utilize this talented actor yet promoted him/this character as the main lead / couple alongside main female lead. For example, there are many times/scenes that 2nd male lead saved female lead or have that serious moment while main male lead didnt know that his love interest is in trouble. 2nd male lead have dominant upper role halfway through the drama that sometimes i think 2nd male lead should be the main couple because his involvement with female lead looks more realistic in life, compare to the main male lead whom have random involvement with her at times and always playful and immature without having serious outlook on his character (scene which can spark enough interest to female lead because female lead has more complicated side that needs reliable male lead- its not very realistic in a military drama to have male lead that always joke around and didnt get serious enough). Thats why i think viewer can't feel stronger chemistry between main couple compares with 2nd male lead and main female lead whom developed enough chemistry to spark viewer interest for this couple.For me, main male lead character can be playful, quirky, immature but usually this type of character (even in rom-com) have serious side about him that others dont know. They can develop this side slowly and put some serious scene and inject maturity into the character so that he can be put in major plotline. Halfway through the drama and yet this male lead was left behind in any major plotline (like he doesnt know that female lead is investigating something or troubled with something while the other 3 main lead and villain including support role already in the mainstream plot, like wth happen with the story that he was left behind at the important part that all the characters / his peers have start getting involved yet he still not knowing anything - and sometimes i feel like he doesnt care for it). His character is like this support role that people only comes for fun part and takes for a joke but doesnt want to get him involve in most part of their life. Sometimes i feel this character doesnt even qualify to be made 2nd male lead in this drama. Wth that during the mission main male lead can still play around and the important point is he doesnt contribute anything to the storyline's progress. You see main lead can still be playful and immature but reliable, but he is playful but unreliable at the same time. He always jokes around and doesnt take things seriously. I think if they put any character or the main male lead died, it didnt affect the story at all. To be fair, the main male lead actually felt more compatible with 2nd female lead in terms of chemistry because he have more serious scene and depth with her, though im hoping his character get more serious from time to time. Of course there are few scene that fluttered your heart and give second look at main male lead, but somehow its not enough to develop this character to be taken seriously and to be relied upon. This is not the fault of actor or the acting/performance, rather that this character didnt have enough serious scene and intimate moment to develop the character for the audience/viewer.
I mean look, its halfway through the story, this supposed to be near or at the climax part of the drama. At this point, the drama should have shown us the viewer what to look forward on every character for the rest of the plot. If you (the production) want to have strong love rival in the drama, at least give both love interest (or any character at all) same chance to develop their chemistry. But for me this is not love triangle or anything, they do the opposite - they strengtened the 2nd male lead character and story towards female lead, but abandoned the main male lead character development at all. Not even that, the main male lead (for me) doesnt have enough strong point to be called the main lead. Because the drama doesnt show that he is reliable or can be relied upon when he needs to.
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The female lead, incompetent and thoughtless, but very brave and tries hard is a character I'd rather not see again. I kept having to stop and take a deep breath at how many times she did the obvious wrong or careless thing and often ended up needing rescuing. It's the type of thing where she announces a life or death secret right where everyone can hear, where she jumps in and ends up ruining the mission instead of going and getting help as she was asked to do etc. etc.
I am a big fan of rescue scenes. A man sacrificing himself or something he wants most for the woman he loves is one of my top romantic tropes - but not this way.
The love triangle was great, the backdrop of WWI an important reminder of tumultuous and violent times and what it means to try and make a difference. The costumes, makeup, sets and historical items and/or replicas were incredibly well done.
It's a shame, but I'm dropping.
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A MASTER PIECE
ONE OF THE BEST C DRAMASIt's a master piece every thing is ultimate first time I saw BAILU fighting in this drama she did a great job as well as male lead no romantic purely a political and military oriented drama and the OST it's master piece. bullets snipers I Love it.
SONGS
THE POISON I love this song 🥰😊😊
other 3 they ALSO good
I saved it is my local music library
OVERALL ITS FUN TO WATCH AND KEEPS YOU CONNECTED TO IT AND A WELL BALANCED ACTIONS AND PLOTS AND EVENING IS GOOD
AT THE END A ❤️ TO BAI LU
BYE BYE 👋👋
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Good story, Great cast, lotsa death and Little-to-no Romance
Started this after The Legends cuz I loved the on-screen chemistry between Xu Kai & Bai Lu.I binge-watched up until the last few episodes & then needed a break cuz they did one of my fav characters dirty. It's a show w/heavy pro- Chinese/anti-Japanese propaganda since it was set in the early 1900s, lots of military-style operations & plot-developed events that developed pretty decently, plotting & back-stabbing & power struggle, great natural comrade-chemistry w/a bit of love-sick pursuit tossed in alongside it and really strong female characters. Our main girl is NOT the strongest character, even. There are actually two other more mature FLs who nail the different ways of being a bad-ass lady boss. The men are attractive in addition to XK & I think I have a new crush on the chairman in glasses. (That one sure snuck up on me; dang!)
Sadly, even though the chemistry was simply adorable between the leads, there was little romance. I say this because I will be 100% up-front about the fact that I watch dramas for the romance but if a story is good & the characters are good, I'll stay to watch even if my original intention isn't fulfilled. :) A good story is a good story. :) For those in disagreement, I will say he DID romance her as he was pursuing her, sure, but they cut out all the kiss scenes & even though he helped her & protected her as a mature man might, I never got the grown-up-guy-in-love vibe from him. Yes, their chemistry was super cute. But he was like a little puppy, wanting to chase her round and give her licks to show he liked her and get attention from her. It was cute but it went nowhere during the show, mostly due to editing & other plot developments. I did enjoy the way he teased her, though. OML. It was just too long of a show since a) I usually don't care for military dramas and b) I wasn't satisfied with the way they eventually got together BUT I finished it because all the other characters were GREAT. I mean, really great. The story started to lag in the last 1/3 (typical) but then things progressed quickly at the end, as the cadets teamed up to take care of business. Satisfying explosions, people die who should die & it's all wrapped up neatly in a bow.
Opening credits song is pretty cool & some other decent OSTs help but I would not watch this again. I didn't skip much, though, which is really sayin' somethin'...
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This review may contain spoilers
Aside from the visual candy. the overall storyline was interesting to watch. It typically focuses on a military training, patriotism, love triangles and friendship. Barely any typical romance or skinship. The cast did a wonderful job, they're all great actors.
However there were a few things that irked me.
Gu Yan Zheng played by Xu Kai. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to watch this drama because I finished The Legends where Xu Kai and Bai Lu were also main leads. I was also a fan of Xu Kai, however, I really dislike his character here. I've never disliked a main lead so much to the point I don't want him as lead. Why? His character's personality is very irritating, immature and annoying. He doesn't care much about the consequences of his actions at all. He's basically blinded by love. He also annoys the female lead like a 10 year boy crushing on a girl. Its ridiculous. Sure, they're cute but I rather have Xie Xiang with Jun Shan than Gu Yan Zheng. Aside from his irritable personality, I really love his hair styling here; even the clothes from this era looks marvelous on him! When Gu Yan Zheng is serious, he gets serious and is able to kill people with accuracy. His skills are top notch despite his laziness and goofiness. I admit sometimes I like his character when he's goofy but there were times when I really think he needs to stop. haha
As for Xie Xiang played by Bai Lu, her character was interesting. It was funny to watch her run back and forth as herself and as her "brother." I like that she somehow reminds me of Mulan, she may be weaker than the other military comrades, however she has the speed to knock you out! There was even a mission she managed to handle all on her own! BRAVE and STRONG woman! I like that she's able to fight back with men and not be your typical weak, timid, female lead.
She's not the only girl who showcased how strong she is. :)
The cinematography is beautiful. I don't usually like this era because of the war talk gets boring but I love the clothes, the old, rustic buildings, the cars and even the home decor! Although there were some scenes I notice were filmed with a green screen which was a bit disappointing. haha I guess its to be expected.
I recommend this drama if you like military hot guys, watch girls whoop ass, and love between friends.
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