Arsenal Military Academy A 2019 Republican-era youth drama full of passion, produced by Yu Zheng, starring Bai Lu and Xu Kai, aired on iQiyi, 48 episodes in total. Core Plot The female lead Xie Xiang's brother was originally going to enter the Arsenal Military Academy, but died in an accident. To fulfill her brother's dream, Xie Xiang cut her long hair, disguised herself as a man, and enrolled in the academy under her brother's name. At the academy, she becomes roommates with the cynical rich kid Gu Yanzhen. In the early days, the two are bickering rivals who spar every day; she also comes to know the calm, upright patriotic youth Shen Junshan. While hiding her female identity and enduring the grueling military training, she joins forces with her companions to counter the Japanese forces' conspiracies in the country. The youths go from being at odds with one another to comrades fighting side by side. In the end, Xie Xiang returns to her female identity and gets together with Gu Yanzhen, and everyone devotes themselves to the cause of defending the country. Main Characters Xie Xiang (Bai Lu) Brave and tenacious, with a crisp, decisive personality. While disguised as a man, she carefully conceals her gender. Stubborn on the outside but soft-hearted within, she is patriotic and deeply loyal. Gu Yanzhen (Xu Kai) In the early days, he is a frivolous, carefree troublemaker, yet he alone sees through Xie Xiang's disguise early on and silently protects her. Reliable and devoted at critical moments, he is deeply affectionate and protective of his love. Shen Junshan A calm, steady, upright scholar-type cadet with a strong patriotic backbone. He once liked Xie Xiang too, but ultimately chooses to bless the two of them. Qu Manting A popular female star of the Republican era, dazzling and free-spirited, daring to love and hate. Her romance arc pairs her with business tycoon Shen Tingbai, and she is very popular. Oda Xianrong The antagonist, a Japanese businessman with a complicated background, secretly schemes for Japan and drives the conflicts of the whole series. Series Style The first half is lighthearted and funny: dorm life and identity-disguise mishaps create all sorts of comedic blunders; the second half turns heart-wrenching and passionate: war arrives, comrades fall, and they fight foreign enemies, blending friendship, love, and patriotic devotion. Features The Republican-era military uniform looks became a sensation, the ensemble cast is brilliantly portrayed, and the supporting characters are fully developed; the early part is a campus comedy, the later part is wartime resistance, combining sweet romance and fiery passion. The only shortcoming is that some scenes were cut when it premiered, making the pacing of certain plotlines feel somewhat disjointed.
The youths go from being at odds with one another to comrades fighting side by side.