Editorials 
Pros:
- the chemistry with the cast is undeniable. Even the 2nd lead has great chemistry with Bai Lu (lead girl)
- action-packed
- great acting from everyone, especially the main antagonist and Xu Kai (just in scenes where he’s not phoning it in)
- great main and supporting characters
- for the ladies and the gays, the amount of good looking men in this series is just unreasonable. Even their extras are oozing with looks and sex appeal. It’s like they put all the good looking men in mainland china and added them to this show.
Cons:
- it can get quite dragging considering the amount of episodes.
- the development for some characters are not that much, but some development for other characters are quite good.
- ending for me is quite rushed which I think could have been improved if they did not drag a few episodes before. This is I think is one of my biggest disappointments of this drama. A lot of characters just didn’t appear in the ending anymore. And the lead couple’s ending was just too rushed.
General points:
- if you’re looking for a lot of romance like similar shows like Love in the Moonlight, you will be a bit disappointed. While it is marked as romantic, and the lead couple are known to be paired always, it is taking a bit of a backseat to the plot (which is about the Japanese encroachment, and the danger that it’s causing in Shuyuan)
- it’s about 30% true romance, about 20% comedic romance that isn’t really romantic, and from buildup of the love triangle. But do not expect any abundance of romantic displays like other dramas. 50% of it is about character exploration for other cast members, and of course the main plot.
- great acting from the cast. The only thing disappointing is Bai Lu’s lack of effort to be manly. She’s so obvious sometimes, which is unrealistic.
- do not take it seriously. That’s the main rule. This is not to be compared to other dramas that pride themselves with top-notch plots and storylines. It’s still a romance/comedy/action type of drama but a lot of fantasy to it (like Bai Lu passing as a man). It also has a few plot holes and stupid subplots like a lot of typical dramas of this caliber.
It is still enjoyable and is one of those dramas that is a feel-good watch. There will be deaths, and they’re going to hurt. But overall, it’s still a light drama For me. The action is icing on the cake.
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So beautiful gender bender drama.
Best drama i have ever seen of this genre..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.. 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..Was this review helpful to you?
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Should you watch it? YES!
The drama is just fun (like chaotic comedy, though not stomach twisting comedy) and then it gets thrilling. There is good amount of fun every now and then, I didn’t find a single boring episode. Once fun part progresses, the thrilling war/fight starts, people fall apart, some die, and in the end they succeed in protecting each other. I have to say, by the end, you’ll have the patriotic energy surging in you.=> This is one of the first drama I have seen where the production team actually put an effort to show Female Lead disguised as a man convincing. Like YES!!!! I love it!!! This is how it is done.
=> Planning to watch this drama? Then try to take it slow, maybe like 1–2 episodes per day. This isn’t a drama you can binge watch in couple days. So, take your time and enjoy it. It has a lot of fun moments and I think watching such a drama for a long time will definitely bring you daily-joy.
=> The Chemistry of Main Leads
Initially, ML and FL have a hate-love relationship. They keep bickering and fighting. They are so chaotic and it is very fun. And they find comfort and friendship in this chaotic relationship they have. Later this chaotic friendship turns into love between two people who are busy protecting their nation and loved ones.
If you want romance, no, this is not a romance drama. Of course there is romantic story building as a by product. But the max you’ll get is a hug. There is no kiss scenes in this drama.
Read more of my in depth review and rant here: https://medium.com/@qingye18/arsenal-military-academy-a-2019-c-drama-set-in-1911-0893c0cf19e9?sharedUserId=qingye18
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This drama is a masterpiece.
I love the story overall. I watched it for about seven times already and I still enjoy it. I love the characters really especially on how Bai Lu fits the role. The flow of the story never disappoints me. I highly recommend this drama to anyone who loves rom-com, yet the drama is more on the mixed genre; action, romance, comedy, thrill, and adventure. More KaiLu drama please.I love the story overall. I watched it for about seven times already and I still enjoy it. I love the characters really especially on how Bai Lu fits the role. The flow of the story never disappoints me. I highly recommend this drama to anyone who loves rom-com, yet the drama is more on the mixed genre; action, romance, comedy, thrill, and adventure. More KaiLu drama please.
I love the story overall. I watched it for about seven times already and I still enjoy it. I love the characters really especially on how Bai Lu fits the role. The flow of the story never disappoints me. I highly recommend this drama to anyone who loves rom-com, yet the drama is more on the mixed genre; action, romance, comedy, thrill, and adventure. More KaiLu drama please.
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This review may contain spoilers
Courage, Love, and Loyalty in Uniform
Title: A Perfect Blend of Courage, Friendship, Love and SacrificeArsenal Military Academy is one of those rare dramas that truly has everything — heart, humour, action, friendship, and love — all wrapped around a powerful story of courage and sacrifice.
The drama follows a young woman who disguises herself as a man to join the military academy in memory of her late brother, who was killed before he could begin his training. What begins as an act of loyalty becomes a journey of self-discovery, bravery, and a deeper understanding of love — for her country, her comrades, and herself.
The story is beautifully written, filled with excitement, emotional depth, and a perfect balance between moments of tension and humour. The chemistry between Xu Kai and Bai Lu is electric, from their playful teasing and rivalry to their quieter, heartfelt moments. Every character has their own purpose and shines in their own way, from loyal friends to fierce rivals, creating a cast that feels genuine and memorable.
The cinematography is stunning, the pacing keeps you invested, and every scene feels carefully crafted. The OST is another highlight — catchy, emotional, and perfectly matched to the mood of each moment, making the songs stay with you long after the final episode.
Rewatchable? Absolutely, without hesitation — 100%!
Arsenal Military Academy is the kind of drama that stays with you. Inspiring, touching, entertaining and unforgettable.
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Bai Lu Is The Star of The Drama
This is the first Republican drama that I have watched. I absolutely loved it. Xu Kai seemed to be born to play the role of Gu Yanzhen. The casting was amazing. I loved the personality of the 2ML more. I felt his character was more stable for the FL. Sorry, I loved the FL with the 2ML more. The cinematography was really nice. Bai Lu gave it her all. I loved how her character was portrayed. She was the star of the drama for me.Was this review helpful to you?
Awesome amazing will rewatch a million times
I originally watched AMA after watching the legends. However I was a little hesitant because I hadn’t ever watched something like this before. My doubts quickly disappeared. This drama is so good. If it’s not my favourite it is definitely one of my top 5.Xu Kai and Bai Lu did an amazing job I absolutely loved both their characters. All the side plots and side characters were interesting too, I rarely found myself bored with them. Occasionally I was a bit disinterested but that was mainly when the main plot was really roaring.
I have now watched AMA twice in the span of less than two months, both times I binged it. Even on the second viewing I couldn’t stop myself from watching.
Overall it’s a great show with action, a great plot, interesting characters, and a romance I can get behind.
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a little touching scene
the storyline was not so bad. I used to be familiar with military dramas in western movies involving women. They were usually nurses or female soldiers. In this drama, getting a female trainee in the dormitory for men could be impossible. First of all, a women would be through the physical checkup. I don't think Chinese military is that sloppy or careless. Though I feel very sorry for Chinese people over the invasion of the Japanese army, depicting our army looks rather too rough. Of course, I like the male lead , but I felt he showed off too much there. His friend's relationship with the flower shop owner was quite touching. Their scene was a minor thing. But, in another site, I found another woman has the same idea as me. Also, the soundtrack for passing by the tomb by her was short but unforgettable. I loved the background scenery such as streets, towns, or the regular pub.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This is definitely the best Chinese drama I've ever watched. I didn't even expect this from Chinese cinema. The quality is great, the action is great, the acting is great, the plot is great. Of course, some of the characters' actions were questionable, but you can turn a blind eye to that. Well, it is also unclear whether some things, fashion in the drama are included in the context of that time (in terms of whether they wore such clothes then, whether such cameras already existed then (I was just trying to find information about China at that time, so for me everything that was in the drama is doubtful). Throughout the entire viewing, I was really enjoying the acting. Each character, not only the main ones, but also the secondary ones, touched my soul, made me love them and worry about them. I was so worried about these seven students and the people who helped them. And ... oh, this Xu Kai, despite the fact that the drama is quite tense, he really relieved the situation and gave the opportunity to relax a little (I am simply delighted with his acting, in each drama he is different, which shows his level of skill), however, despite this ... the last episodes were extremely difficult and sad ... Of course, in the end there is a happy ending, but it is sad to tears that he is not happy for everyone... it breaks my heart so much... After watching it, I was left with a heavy, but very kind burden on my soul. I regret that I had previously passed this drama by, but I am also glad that I watched it now (because, perhaps, I would not have appreciated it so much before). Definitely worth watching. Was this review helpful to you?
Review on this Drama if you dropped it from the first episode
When i first saw or watched this drama back in 2020 i dropped it from the first episode because i didnt like the characters but now ive been admiring Xu Kai's acting and looks, i planned to watch it again and it was good and not bad as i thought. This drama has romance if you like romance but it comes as a support of the story so i guess thats why it wasnt in the genre or in the tags of this drama. The characters and roles were all funny. And like any other dramas if theres a happy and joyful scene, a tragic scene comes in. Some of your favorite characters may die and some may not.I like the villains role. Its a girl and theres not many Girl Villains in dramas. but this one played out so well. Now i really really really like girl villains because i think they are all misunderstood and this one showed ot really well. Although we might not know what her plan really was or why she did all of those things but i think she was a puppet of the japanese.
I think this is it for my review. I hope you find this review helpful and you enjoy the drama
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i like acting.
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