The Audacity OfThis Plot

Remember that stage in life when we thought we knew everything, made questionable decisions with absolute confidence, got ourselves into trouble, fell for people, argued with friends, and somehow believed we could figure everything out along the way?

That’s the feeling Arsenal Military Academy brought back to me.

At first, the title might make you think this is all about military training, discipline, and soldiers preparing for battle. And yes, those are important parts of the story. But watching it felt a little like going back to school—or college—where classmates compete, tease one another, get into trouble, form friendships, discover their strengths, and slowly learn where they belong. The only difference? Their extracurricular activities can be seriously dangerous.

Beneath the uniforms, military drills, and conflicts is a story about growing up: making mistakes, learning from them, discovering what truly matters, and realizing that becoming an adult is not always as simple as we imagined.

THE CHARACTERS ARE THE REAL ATTRACTION

What makes this drama enjoyable is watching its characters grow. They come from different backgrounds and have different personalities, but each has something to learn.

Gu Yanzhen — At first, he comes across as a spoiled, mischievous rich kid who seems to treat everything as a game. But there's more to him than that. He's intelligent, resourceful, and has a good sense of right and wrong. As the story progresses, we see him become more responsible, courageous, and patriotic without losing the personality that makes him entertaining. He reminds us that growing up doesn't necessarily mean losing the fun parts of ourselves.

Xie Xiang — Definitely not a damsel in distress. She has her own convictions, courage, and capabilities. She can hold her ground and even save the boys when the situation calls for it. Her determination to prove herself is a big part of her journey, and she shows that strength isn't defined by gender.

Shen Junshan — The composed, disciplined, and principled counterpart to Yanzhen. While their personalities differ, they gradually learn to understand and work with each other. One brings structure, the other brings chaos—and somehow, it works.

Qu Manting — She's got that cool, confident, and spirited personality that makes her stand out. She's bold, outspoken, and carries herself like someone who doesn't need anyone's permission to be herself. But beneath that lively exterior is a rather sad story. She never really knew the truth about her own life, yet what I find interesting about her is that she chose not to pry too deeply. She understood that people sometimes bury their past for a reason, and she respected that rather than forcing answers out of them. There's something quietly touching about that. For someone who appears so carefree and strong, there's an unspoken sadness in her story that makes her character more than just the glamorous, spirited woman we first see.

Huang Song — Now, this guy deserves a special mention. His stammer practically made me stammer while reading the subtitles. HAHAHA! Whenever it was his turn to speak, I swear my brain automatically added the pauses.

But jokes aside, Huang Song is one of the most sincere and lovable characters. He's humble, kind, and pure of heart. He doesn't need to be loud, clever, or impressive to leave an impression. Sometimes, the people who make the least noise are the ones who touch us the most. He's precious, and honestly, I'm running out of words to describe how much I appreciate him. He deserves all the love. 🥹

WENZHONG DESERVES HIS OWN PARAGRAPH!

Li Wenzhong! What a journey this guy had.

Initially, he seemed sneaky, troublesome, self-serving, and probably the least dependable person in the group. There were moments when I wondered, "Was he there to train or just to give everyone a headache?"

But that's what made his development interesting. Little by little, he learned to trust, care, and love. He began fighting for something beyond himself, and his relationship with An Wen revealed a softer side that wasn't immediately obvious.

He wasn't always respectful, but he learned to appreciate her. And seeing that change made their relationship worth following.

However, his ending? Oh, I have complaints.

Going alone against armed Japanese soldiers with nothing but his fists and martial arts? Seriously, Wenzhong? Were you planning to use your ninja moves? Where's your gun? Your knife? Your backup? LOL.

I understand that he had his reasons, but I still wish the writers had handled his death differently. He had finally become someone who valued his comrades and the future they could have had. I wanted him to enjoy that theater date with An Wen. I wanted him to have more happiness after everything he had been through. And if he had to face danger, I would have preferred seeing him fight alongside his team during the ambush or final raid rather than going on a solo revenge mission.

Wenzhong, you finally became a hero, but you still made the dumbest decision of your life. YOU SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT A GUN, YOU IDIOT! LOL.

Perhaps that's part of growing up, too—realizing that even when people change for the better, they can still make decisions that leave us wishing they had chosen differently.

ROMANCE: NOT EVERYONE GETS THE PERSON THEY WANT

Love is another part of growing up, and this drama gives us different kinds of it. Some feelings are returned, while others aren't. Some relationships develop through playful moments, while others are built on quiet sacrifices.

Yanzhen and Xie Xiang have chemistry, and their interactions are entertaining to watch. Shen Tingbai's quieter, more selfless love for Qu Manting also deserves appreciation. Knowing that Manting's bold and carefree personality hides a sad story and unanswered questions about her own past adds another layer to their relationship. And Huo Xiaoyu and Guo Shuting have a relationship worth remembering.

There are meaningful romantic moments and enough closure to understand where things stand. Still, I felt the romance could have been given a little more room. More kissing, or at least a few more attempted kisses, wouldn't have hurt! Come on, writers. Give us something!

Because let's be honest: growing up also means experiencing crushes, heartbreak, awkward romantic moments, and those feelings we sometimes don't know what to do with.

WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER?

Aside from Wenzhong's death and the rather restrained romance, I would have loved more time for certain relationships to develop and more emotional payoff in some parts of the story.

Still, I appreciate that the drama gave its major characters and storylines a sense of closure. I wasn't left wondering what happened to everyone, and the ending felt complete enough to let me say goodbye to their journey.

FINAL VERDICT: IS IT WORTH WATCHING?

Absolutely!

Despite being a 2019 drama, Arsenal Military Academy still has plenty to offer. What stayed with me wasn't just the military setting, the conflicts, or the romance. It was the characters and the way they changed through friendship, rivalry, mistakes, love, loss, and responsibility.

In a way, watching them felt like revisiting a younger version of ourselves—the version that could be stubborn, foolish, impulsive, overly confident, hopelessly romantic, or simply unsure of what the future held. We may laugh at some of their decisions, get frustrated with others, and sometimes wish we could step into the screen and tell them what to do. But isn't that part of the experience of growing up?