Arsenal Military Academy (2019)

PERFECT! EXCELLENT! SUPERB!

EVERYTHING IS PERFECT!

*Contain some spoilers*

Seriously this is the best Cdrama I have ever watched. I want to show my respect to the writer and the director of this drama~ The storyline is AMAZING! There is no plot hole, no cliche, and always full of surprise. Every episode has its own charming and important scene. Although this is about military drama surprisingly it has a lot of humorous scenes. The political scenes always are kept short and continued with them doing missions afterward so there is no boring part at all (no skipping). And to be honest from the beginning till the end of the episodes, I kept on praising the writer for the storyline. Always give what I want and sometimes much better than I have expected. The director also did a good job especially in the scene of fighting and war.

Next, I want to salute all the casts including the main leads and also the supporting casts. Thank you so much to the director for casting all of them. They all play their role perfectly. They are all visuals too! And I really love how the main leads play their characters. The best thing in this drama is the writer made the ML, Gu Yan Zhen has characteristics of childish, immature yet brave, can fight, and also has leadership. His childish character seriously made the drama is so funny. He is good at giving different types of expression. His smile, his smirk, his wink, and his mischievous look are all so cute! Despite him being childish but he also can lead the team whenever they have missions. He is a really dependable ML. Anyway, thanks to the writer for these characteristics for the ML, and of course Xu Kai is the best and the most suitable actor for this role > <. He is so handsome in this drama, i really love his hairstyle! Every time he appears, my mouth couldn't stop saying he is cute and handsome~~

Besides ML, I also want to praise the FL, Xie Xang for her perfect acting as a man. She is doing a great job in portraying the man character especially when she is in the military academy. The writer made the FL as a tough girl who can deal with the bad person and can fight. Although she has a physical weakness but this doesn't stop her from doing her best and eventually become among the best in her classmates. Plus, I love all the scenes when the ML and FL bickering with each other. Their chemistry is no joke. They are so cute and funny ^ ^. Bai Lu's acting as FL is so perfect as sometimes I see her as a man because of her character as well as her hairstyle. So handsome > <

I like some other characters too. Huang Song, Xie Lianchen's best friend is so cute but I am shocked by his fighting scene. He looks so manly there > < Shen Jun Shen, Ji Jin, Yan Lin, and Xiao Jun and many more also makes this drama complete.

#Some things I dislike about the drama (but cannot beat the good things about this drama):

I hate the love triangle !!!! Especially between Gu Yan Zhen and Qu Man Ting. I seriously don't like Qu Man Ting character. OMG, she is so annoying! At first, I can withstand her liking Gu Yan Zhen. Well, we cannot control our feeling. But after Gu Yan Zhen rejects her so many times but she still being clingy to him is what I hate the most. Can you just please accept your fate?? He is already in love with someone else so please stop! Arghh I hate the writer for making their scenes become annoying. Sorry to say but every time Qu Man Ting appears, it kills my mood > <

Next is about the romance between the ML and FL. I think supposedly because their chemistry is so good so why not make more romance scenes especially when after they got together. I barely see their romance/chemistry after they become a couple compared to the beginning scene where there are much cuter and fluffy scenes between them. It might be because the story is more focused on the war in the second half of the story. But I think there should be 2 or 3 more episodes added to the drama as the last 5 episodes seem like a little bit rushing where there are no episodes showing the love between the ML and the FL.

There is also some part of scenes where it is not well explained/not shown/not really complete. For example, they didn't show how Xie Xang as a girl has passed the health examination to enter the military academy. And there are a few more similar scenes like this but no so many.

Overall, this drama leaves a big impression on me. I never expected this drama would be this good. I promise to watch it again next time because it's worth my time! I will surely recommend this drama to my friends so you guys don't hesitate to watch because you will not regret ^ ^

Thank you for reading~
*Pardon my English (it's my 2nd language)

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i really liked the summary when i read it
i thought : yesssss .... this is going to be different
then, i got shocked ... this is going nowhere

literally for me it was like standing in the middle of no where
many many many things were totally illogical
the romance didn't take it's place well
even the FL didn't tell the ML till the end she loved him :\
there were lots of side stories which could be brilliant if they took a good space and place
but it was totally political and historical and i felt the romance just to fill the drama


the writer was talking about a specific period in china .. OKAAAAAAAAAY -_-
i got the idea that this period was hematic and full of traitors
but he made me feel like I went into a dark tunnel and he left me there
what happened next ?? sure chine got out of that all sh** so why you left us there and killed most of the team i loved why, you loony meniac ??? >_<

and the most provoking woman for me from the beginning till the end was ( Man ting )
she is a real selfish B**** i hated her
it was really unfair for Ting Bai to stick with such a B**** like her took him for granted and humiliate him at every available moment
really not fair to get back to her after all what she has done
i hated her even much more than ( xian rong )

i was disappointed :(

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Not what I was expecting...

Firstly I have to say: I really loved Gu Yanzhen :D He was my favourite character!
The first half of my review won't contain spoilers, so you can read it, I wrote down where I'm starting to write about spoiling things.

I finished this drama only because lately I just keep dropping and dropping dramas, and I didn't want also to drop this one. The story at the beginning looked good and promising, like we're going to see a woman pretending to be a man and join the army, which was a good starting point, but as the story kept going, the quality just kept dropping.

I would like to start with the story. A lot of things happened, which was meant to be exciting, but too much thing happened, and after a few episodes they closed every storyline, so it felt like nothing really happened at all. There was some plotholes and unnecessary scenes, and for some things we didn't get explanation or the explanation just didn't make sense. After a time it was boring, also because we knew everything, they told us every secret and every situation, which weren't surprising anymore when the main characters learned about them. Since I've watched quite some dramas, I always had the feeling that the creators just could've deal with the scenes somehow else.

Secondly, the characters. The main characters were mostly ok, I loved Gu Yanzhen, Xie Liangchen, Shen Junshan, Huang Song, and also Ji Jin, but for the others, they felt too boring, they were too annoying or I just didn't like them. Especially Qu Manting. I hated that woman. There were also times when the acting looked forced and a little cringy.

But to say something positive, the OST was really good. Sometimes we could hear that they cut together or apart the songs, but most of the OST's were good and I liked to listen them :D

Thirdly, I would like to talk about concrete things about the drama. It's gonna be full of SPOILERS, so don't read it if you didn't watch the show.
- How could Xie Xang pass the medical examination at the first episode? The doctor clearly said she can't pass if she's not going to get undressed, but she magically passes the examination? :D
- The two characters death at the end (I mean Huang Song and Li Wenzhong's deaths) was really unnecessary. I know they wanted it to be sad and emotional, but it felt like they killed Huang Song only for this reason. For Li Wenzhong's death, I couldn't understand at all. Why did he get himself killed? I get it that he felt bad for Huang Song, and he felt like it was his fault, but please, don't kill characters for this reason, it's unnecessary, Li Wenzhong could've done a lot of useful things instead of getting himself killed for nothing! -.-" This is really annoyed me.

Overally, I wanted it to be better, I wanted it to love more. But it is only a 6.5 for me...

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Action! Action! The male lead was so cute and hilarious that you could only love him. Really great story line. If you’re into secret service, covert missions, gun battles and fighting, you’ll love this. The story centers around a female who decides to join a program specifically for men. What I enjoyed most about the series was the action. What I disliked about it is that the female lead appeared to loyal to everyone except the male lead until we get to the end of the series. Although the relationship between the leads was fun, the writers didn’t give time to develop their relationship even though it was about 48 episodes. Overall it’s definitely worth watching but don’t expect romance or any significant chemistry between anyone.

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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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