Arsenal Military Academy

History, Loyalty, and Love – A Hidden Gem You Need to Watch!

Review:
"Arsenal Military Academy" is that drama that hits you in the feels while also keeping you on the edge of your seat. Set against the backdrop of China’s early Republican era, the story follows Xie Xiang, a brave young woman who disguises herself as a man to attend a military academy. BAM! The moment Xie Xiang walks into the academy, it’s clear she’s a force to be reckoned with. Bai Lu’s portrayal of her is fantastic; she exudes strength and intelligence while keeping her vulnerability intact. Xie Xiang is everything you want in a female lead—fierce, determined, and unapologetically bold. Her journey of discovering her limits and strengths kept me glued to the screen.

Then there's Gu Yanzhen (played by Xu Kai), the classic ‘cool on the outside, soft on the inside’ character. His evolution throughout the series had me yelling at my screen, especially when he went from being this emotionally distant figure to someone who could finally embrace his feelings. The pitter-patter of their developing relationship was beautifully done, full of moments where you see them understanding each other more deeply. Their chemistry—though subtle—had fireworks by the end.

The historical setting was perfectly woven into the narrative. It wasn’t just about the academy or the romance; it was about navigating the chaotic world they lived in. I felt the thrum of tension and danger in the air, as the characters grappled with loyalty, identity, and national pride. It wasn’t just about fighting battles; it was about fighting for what you believe in, and that was so compelling.

One thing I really appreciated was the dynamics between the friends at the academy. The bond formed between the cadets was tested time and again, and whoosh, their loyalty to one another was heartwarming to see. The camaraderie was everything, and it popped in a way that made me care just as much about their individual struggles as I did about the main love story.

However, there were parts where I felt some secondary characters got the short end of the stick. For example, I would have liked to see more of the second-lead romance, which could have added another layer of emotional complexity.

Final Thoughts:
"Arsenal Military Academy" is not just a historical romance—it’s an emotional rollercoaster. It’s one of those shows where you’ll find yourself bawling in one episode and then cheering for the characters in the next. The romance, the friendships, and the growth of the characters make it one of those dramas that stick with you long after it ends. Definitely worth watching for anyone who loves a good balance of action, history, and a solid love story.

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Initially, I was looking for drama with a light and funny story. However, many sites recommend this story. From the trailer, AMA is actually a story that I liked in college because I like stories that involve fighting scenes.
In fact, this drama was completely beyond my expectations. The stories in the academy are funny and the chemistry of each character is very good. I just found out that the two main actress and actor in this drama have played in other dramas before. Although in this drama there are almost no romantic scenes, but each character is really interesting. The storyline doesn't stretch and the OST is very good. If you are a fan of You're Beautiful (korean drama), you will most likely like this drama. You can call this drama You're Beautiful in a military setting.

Nb: Is it only me who see Xu Kai very similar to Cha Eunwoo ????

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I know this drama since last year, but i keep pending to watch it because usually i dont like less romance drama, and i prefer modern drama.and now after i watched it, i fell in love with this drama and the leads, both of them xu kai and bai lu.
I knew bai lu from her modern drama lucky's 1st love. And this is 1st time i watch xu kai's drama. And they are so amazing. They have a very good chemistry.
I little bit dissapointed about the ending, the ending story about gu yan zhen and xie xiang just like that. But overall the story is good. I burst into tears when huang song died.
My favorite character is gu yan zhen (of course), he looks childish, but he will do anything and sacrifice to protect xie xiang.
Because of gu yan zhen, i like xu kai.
Because of AMA, gu yan zhen+xie xiang. I ship xu kai-bai lu. So i watched the legends
I really wish they will work together again as couple...

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Awesome chemistry between actors

The story is set around the early 1900s and revolved around a military school and lives of their students and instructors etc.

Main character is a lady who cross-dressed as a boy to attend the school in the name of her dead brother. 2 fellow students fell for her and no surprise, she eventually ended up with the character who is somewhat a playboy and immature. Personally I find the character of the 1st male lead irritating and irresponsible. It is also because of his impulsive nature that caused numerous issues and eventually the death of a close friend.

The 2nd male lead in comparison is a gentleman and man of righteous character. Was disappointed that the female lead did not fall for him and it was quite boring for me to watch after. I skipped through all the parts with the 1st male lead and female lead after, hahaha.

This drama is full of action and entertaining to watch. It also has history component in it and allows for viewers to understand alittle about what happened after the fall of the Qing Dynasty etc. Definitely worth watching!

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Must Watch

Not sure where to start since there are so many impressive elements to address for this drama series. Having known Bai Lu was an extremely talented actress already, I came in with high expectations. I wasn't prepared for the amazing cinematography, acting, and storyline the series had to offer. The characters were portrayed so well by the actors, so big big big props to them. I haven't seen a drama that enticed me as much in a while so Arsenal Military Academy really was a breath of fresh air. The set depicted China in the early 1900s extremely well I was pleasantly surprised by the architecture and fashion style. Ngl, I shed a few tears in some scenes but honestly, the audience had it coming...In conclusion, super great and one of a kind film. I've fallen for all of the cast especially Xu Kai and Bai Lu <3

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Second Favorite drama after The Untamed

I don’t usually write review..it is my second review writing..and the first was the untamed...
It has become my second next fav drama after untamed..literally become Xukai fan after watching it..this drama will take only few minutes to make you laugh, cry, angry and fall in love with all the cast.. the best thing is that you will eventually love all the love triangles..they acted so well that you will end up praying, O God they might be a couple..thn you will realize no..they aren't main..
even the songs are strong enough to pierce your ♥
some deaths will left you being sad... but the end is pleasing enough.
The friendship in the drama was outstanding and too touchy..the feelings, expression and the way of avenging the friend was superb....the tactics of defeating the enemies was unpredictable..and unbelievable.
Actor:
After this one, i finished every drama of Xukai and can't get over him...such a brilliant actor. You will be surprised how he switches his role from being naughty to a responsible brave guy.
Other than main role:
As I said, you will undoubtedly love all the cast.. but I need to say, after the main characters, you just can't ignore the character Qu Manting...Brilliant..Even if there were not the main character's love story, this character will make you love the drama..she just killed me by laughing
Rewatch:
I rewatched it for 3 times in a row...maybe the number will increase if i miss him..i loved it

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What a handsome squad!

Wholesome drama, great acting, great storyline, great villain and a really mischievious Xu Kai!
What more could a drama asked for??

While we were served with so many good woman-pretend-to-be-man drama like the legendary hanazakarino kimitachie (both Japanese- Horikita Maki and Taiwanese ver -Ella Chen), to the beautiful you (kor- park shinhye) and sunkyunkwan scandal (kor- park minyoung), NOBODY, I REPEAT, NOBODY DOING IT LIKE BAI LU!

From the swag, and the way Xie Liangchen carry herself, you would think she is truly a man. Just you know, a little bit shorter and smaller. The way her voice tone also perfect for the character. It give an appearance of a calm but principle man. Even when she became Xie Xiang, it doesn't look ridiculous.

Xu kai oh xu kai. When I wrote this, I have just finished The Legends and I wholeheartedly like Xu Kai better in this. Guy can act, I give him that. He made the show entertaining. Although sometimes he can get annoying, especially when it comes to teasing Liangchen. His facial expression and gesture is to die for, (ya know when he winked???)

Worthy mentioned about this drama is the roller coaster unrequited love.

Gu Yanzhen > Xie Xiang
Shen Junshan > Xie Xiang
Shen Tingbai > Qu Manting
Qu Manting > Gu Yanzhen
Huang Song > Xie Xiang

Half through this drama, I was wondering if the pairing ever got together and luckily, they did! In a manner that just flow naturally, it felt like they just come back to where they belong.

Storyline:
The reason why it wasn't a ten because this damn storyline on the first half of the series. While I venture into the drama knowing who the main CP is, even I got confused of the Shen Junshan-Xie Xiang and Gu Yanzhen-Qu Manting. They seems to have more screentime and moment with the 2nd lead than with each other. At one time, I swore I felt guilty rooting for Qu Manting and Gu Yanzhen.

I'm not someone who like slowburn but suprisingly, I can deal with this one voluntarily. I didn't even skipped or fast forward. It just that the drama kinda failed to tell us exactly how Xie Xiang ended up discovering her love for Gu Yanzhen. I mean, what was the specific moment?
I know she never really like Shen Junshan like that. We all see that she only like him for reminding of her brother. But half of the drama, I did wonder if Xie Xiang/Liangchen is going to fall for our male lead or not. And when she decided she is, I just couldn't pin point why. Like YOU FIND THAT GUY ABSOLUTELY ANNOYING BEFORE AND NOW YOU LIKE HIM?? WHY?

Anyway, as a period drama enthusiast, I find this drama very good and worth remembering. The costume is great, the idea of patriotism is superb. You had people of all walk of life fighting for their country whether its the military soldier, bussinessman, students, or secret society. It is a good reminder on what it was like during that time. And I appreciate that a lot.

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Not too bad and worth a watch

LIKE

Shen Ting Bai's undying love for Qu Man Ting - they went a long way back. Man Ting probably loved Ting Bai but was disgusted by her own families hence the ups and downs in their relationship

Xie Xiang, Shen Jun Shan and Gu Yan Zhen's complicated situation caused multiple hilarious moments

Loved the 1930s to 40s settings with beautiful costumes and it's always war times that unite people together

DISLIKE

Li Wen Zhong's annoying character though he changed after that

Pity for Jin Xian Rong who lived her life miserably

MUSIC

Nice but not my fav

REWATCH VALUE

Five for now

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One of the best cdramas ever

I was avoiding Arsenal Military Academy for a long time because the theme really doesn't speak to me, but decided to give it a try due to high ratings and XuKai playing one of the leading roles. And boy, I'm so glad I did! It's really one of the best series in terms of plot, production, and well-written characters that make the series so good. It's really all about people, relationships, emotions, and complicated choices they have to make due to their own reasons, beliefs, or life situations.

○Amazing acting○

First, I have to say that acting is truly superb in the series, From the slightly tired and discouraged army veterans and teachers in the academy (who still do their job out of duty) to passionate youths, who are all about taking action, even if it means sacrificing themselves for the greater good. I'm not a fan of this type of patriotism as I believe all life is precious and one shouldn't just throw it away, but in this world, there is a place for everything, and the series made everything very believable, and everyone's reasoning worked too well. You start really feeling what each character is all about, so their actions just made sense.

○Loveable characters○

☼ XuKai's Gu Yanzheng goes from a troublesome teen to an equally troublesome military student, but we see his growth and passion, and how manly he becomes, without ever losing his identity. His playful and mischievous side is always amazing to watch, and the way he expresses his love for Xie Liancheng is both funny and heart-warming. He's not afraid to be himself no matter what he does, even when acting like a kid.

☼ Xie Liangchen, portrayed by BaiLu, is figuring out what really matters in life after her brother's death and even goes so far as to take his identity, trying to understand him better (and as a result, to understand herself). I don't think living someone else's life is a good idea, but while doing so, one can discover a lot about themselves - and that was the path she chose. She became stronger and turned into a great fighter just because she wanted to - so she could help others and protect her friends. She's definitely not the usual girly type of girl, I guess that's why she and Gu Yanzheng clicked so well together.

☼Shen Junshan stole the spotlight many times and their love triangle with Xie Liangchen and Gu Yanzheng was really believable as all the male leads were great at portraying complex emotions. Xie Liancheng really needed to get to know herself better to understand what she wanted and whom she liked. Shen Junshan is a more reserved type, but very manly, gentle, and protective. I just feel he was more of a traditional guy and Xie Liancheng was definitely not a traditional girl, according to the choices she made in life, that's why she was drawn more to Gu Yanzheng (well, and there's also love that works in mysterious ways:)

☼I also adore Qu Manting - she's brave, open, and free to do whatever she wants no matter what other people think. For a woman back in the day I can't imagine that was easy, especially without the support of the family. In many aspects, she acted like a spoilt child and demanded love and attention from other people, but she was also fearless and I could see that she and Gu Yanzheng really had a lot in common and could become a power-couple if it was real life and not a scripted performance. They both were always open about their feelings for each other and other people, they said what was on their minds and acted passionately on a whim, which sometimes led to dreadful consequences. People like that aren't afraid to live (or to die) and they do everything to the maximum of their capabilities. That's why their love is also fiery, passionate, and grand. Qu Manting wasn't afraid to make grand gestures for Gu Yanzheng (her saving him from the wedding was a total blast, it was really one of the best episodes ever with their fake relationship, although her love was quite genuine), just like Gu Yanzheng wasn't afraid to do grand gestures for Xie Liancheng (him playing the piano in the candlelight right inside the military academy was just beyond stunning, attention-seeking, but also genuine). I also feel that Qu Manting was avoiding Shen TingBai for a long time because he could actually make her happy, but in a different way, with fewer fireworks and fiery emotions. For some reason she was avoiding him, going for Gu Yanzheng who was obviously in love with someone else. In the end, though, I guess she realized that love can be different as there are different kinds of relationships (that don't always have to explode in your face all the time).

☼The story of Huo Xiaoyu, who is far more than just a bartender owner, and Guo Shuting, was tragic and amazing in many aspects. I don't want to spoil it, but so many characters in the story are inter-connected and their past and present, all is written beautifully in the plot.

Anyway, all these love triangles made for a very captivating watch with lots of truly funny moments. Given the theme of the series, I was surprised at just how many cute and fluffy scenes this drama has, especially with the theme of cross-dressing. Naturally, Gu Yanzheng was openly acting like a man fully in love, not caring that his love interest looked like a guy to everyone else. This is one of the most endearing aspects of his character, and also the reason for a handful of hilarious scenes. It's a pity the director had to cut lots of romantic moments, but even without the kissing scenes, all the romances in the series are beyond enjoyable (but do watch a few cut scenes on YouTube, they are too precious).

○The atmosphere○

All the costumes, osts, and scene decorations deserve an honorable mention, too. The production was amazing and very life-like, and I especially loved everyone's styles. Gu Yanzheng was like a cool military-esque male model dressing in style every time. He was really something else, also because he came from the upper class and could probably spend more money on stylish outfits. Qu Manting's dresses were attention-grabbing and worthy of a star singer. You could always tell by her outfits she wasn't just an ordinary woman - she had a presence and wanted to grab attention with her looks as well. Huo Xiaoyu exuded charm and elegance whenever she was dressing up - she just had a special aura about her, and the designers made her look even more stunning.

○Conclusion○

This drama is just too good in many aspects. I recommend watching it even if you're not a fan of the military genre - it is so much more than that. With brilliant acting, stunning scenes, lots of love and drama, this is definitely one of the best series about human relationships and life in general.

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I loves every single character n cant stop crying over the last few episodes... it still hurts.

I loved both Bai Lu n Xu Kai chemistry, its so strong n loving it. Such a cute couple. Xu Kai is such a snobbish rich man son with political power n his rebellious character is so funny, his love towards Bai Lu were so open n funny yet so sweet at the same time.

I liked how other characthers so well, their circle of friends are so fun... loves the rich girl character too. She's strong, demanding yet very real. She's who she is. I just loves all even those who played as villain.

I wished the ending could have all of them enjoying their happy hour time together...

Highly Recommended!

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