Arsenal Military Academy (2019): When the Going Gets Tough, Bai Lu Starts Shooting | Retro Drama Talk

Details RATING: (8.5/10) NATIVE TITLE: 烈火军校 – Lièhuǒ jūnxiào YEAR: 2019 EPISODES: 48 DURATION: 45’ DIRECTOR: Hui Kai Dong, Guo Hao< SCREENWRITER: Xiao Xiang Dong Er

Arsenal Military Academy is one of those dramas that, once concluded, leave the feeling of having lived an adventure together with the protagonists. It is a series that manages to entertain, excite and keep you in suspense, transforming a military academy into the stage of a story of growth, friendship and sacrifice, full of twists but also of humanity.

In this review, after the series is over, of the drama Arsenal Military Academy I will analyze the elements that make it a much loved title, especially by those looking for series set in Republican China with a charismatic cast in which a very tough Bai Lu stands out.

Plot

Following the Xinhai Revolution, the Arsenal Military Academy (originally the Raging Fire Military Academy), an institution dedicated to training future officers of the Chinese Republican Army, reopens in Shunyuan, Feng'an Province.

Among the many young people who show up at the recruitment office is Xie Xiang, the daughter of a Beijing professor who decides to pose as her deceased brother Xie Liang Chen to fulfill his dying wish and take his place at the Academy.

Here, the girl befriends a group of cadets from a wide range of backgrounds: the restless Gu Yan Zhen, the thoughtful Shen Gun Shan, the brilliant Ji Jin, the orphan Huang Song, the idealistic Zhu Yan Lin, and the wealthy rich boy Li Wen Zhong, who, after discovering Xie Xiang's true identity, will repeatedly attempt to expose her.

Along with her new classmates, Xie Xiang undergoes rigorous military training and becomes progressively drawn into the conflicts raging in Feng'an Province. Through secret missions, undercover operations, and combat, the cadets find themselves facing the Japanese led by Oda Hiroshi, restorationists loyal to Prince Rong, Revolutionary Party fighters, and corrupt high-ranking officials of the Chinese Republican Army, locked in a struggle for control of the region.

Meanwhile, living together at the Academy leads both Gu Yan Zhen and Shen Gun Shan to develop feelings for Xie Xiang. After discovering her secret, the two begin to openly compete for her affection, sparking a heated love triangle. Further complicating the situation is starlet Qu Manting, who, despite being engaged to Shen Gun Shan's brother, develops a crush on Gu Yan Zhen and even kidnaps him during the party organized for his arranged marriage to General Dong Hui Seng's daughter.

After undertaking numerous missions, being publicly exposed, and narrowly avoiding the death sentence, Xie Xiang finds herself facing a final, decisive battle against Oda Hiroshi's forces, a battle destined to test not only her courage, but also the independence of Feng'an Province and the very future of the Military Academy.

Arsenal Military Academy Drama Review (No Spoliers)

Plot and Narrative Pace

Arsenal Military Academy is an extremely engaging action drama, capable of maintaining attention from start to finish thanks to a well-constructed plot that balances military training, espionage, political intrigue, and personal experiences. The series also addresses historical and political themes of the Republican era, which enrich the story rather than simply providing a backdrop to events.

The narrative moves at a good pace and regularly introduces new obstacles and twists, keeping the viewer's attention. Each narrative arc brings a new challenge for the protagonists and helps develop the relationships between the characters, giving the story a pleasant sense of constant movement. The only element that breaks this fluidity is the frequent use of flashbacks, often used to revisit scenes the viewer has recently seen. While their purpose is to underscore the emotional weight of certain memories, their length and repetitiveness sometimes unnecessarily slow down the narrative.

I particularly appreciated the way the series alternates between very different registers. Action sequences and more dramatic moments are interspersed with lighthearted, comedic scenes that effectively relieve tension without compromising emotional engagement. This balance allows the story to remain lively throughout and contributes to the surprisingly fluid flow of the forty-plus episodes.

At the same time, the story sometimes asks the viewer to accept some strain. On several occasions, the cadets seem to enjoy a freedom of action that is difficult to reconcile with their roles: they undertake extremely dangerous missions without any real supervision, they easily obtain permission to leave the Academy, and they constantly move between the school and the city without logistics ever posing an obstacle. Even less believable is Xie Xiang's handling of his disguise, as he manages to change into a wig and women's clothing several times without anyone noticing his absence or noticing it. These are narrative devices that don't detract from the enjoyment, but they require a certain amount of suspension of disbelief to overcome.

Characters and Love Story

Overall, the characterization is convincing, although some of the characters occasionally exhibit irrational behaviors that left me perplexed. I often felt that their personalities were being bent to the needs of the plot, sacrificing narrative coherence to fuel romantic misunderstandings or create amusing situations. Gu Yan Zhen is the most obvious example of this: despite starting from promising premises, his behavior often oscillates between attitudes consistent with his development and others that are decidedly more forced, giving the impression that the script prioritizes the effectiveness of a single scene over truly organic emotional development.

This weakness emerges even more clearly in the handling of the love triangle. While the dynamics between Xie Xiang, Gu Yan Zhen, and Shen Gun Shan provide some of the funniest moments in the series, their evolution seems uneven, with feelings and decisions that seem to change more according to narrative needs than as a natural consequence of the characters' growth. It's no coincidence that the screenwriters even go so far as to explicitly explain to the viewer why the protagonist ends up falling in love with Gu Yan Zhen rather than Shen Gun Shan: a choice that, in my opinion, reveals how the narrative failed to make this romantic journey fully believable through the events themselves.

More effective, however, is the characterization of the antagonists, which is overall more solid and coherent. It's just a shame that their constant rotation throughout the story ends up weakening its impact, preventing each of them from leaving a truly memorable impression.

Cast

One of the strengths of Arsenal Military Academy is undoubtedly its cast, which overall offers solid and convincing performances. It's largely thanks to the actors that the series manages to maintain a good balance between drama, action, and comedy, without losing credibility even when the script indulges in rather unlikely situations or excessively prolongs certain emotional dynamics. I particularly appreciated the supporting cast, which gives depth and authenticity to the world depicted, preventing the lighter tone from compromising the seriousness of the story.

Among them, I'd like to single out veterans Liu Min (whom I really appreciated this year in The Glory), impeccable in the role of the charismatic trafficker Huo Xiao Yu, a character who manages to be simultaneously elegant, authoritative, and unpredictable, and Shao Bing, extraordinary in the role of instructor Guo Shu Ting. Behind the appearance of a disillusioned man, the actor creates a character rich in nuance, capable of alternating irony, authority, and profound humanity, so much so that he is one of the most memorable figures in the entire series.

Bai Lu once again proves herself to be a guarantee. Her performance is spontaneous and natural in both the dramatic and comic scenes, once again demonstrating her remarkable versatility (an impression reinforced by watching Till The End of the Moon). Her regular, vaguely ephebic features also make her particularly believable as Xie Liang Chen, allowing her to effortlessly transition from moments where she's pretending to be a young cadet to those where Xie Xiang's femininity resurfaces.

Xu Kai delivers a convincing performance, supported by excellent stage presence and undeniable charisma. However, it remains a disappointment to see him once again play an impulsive, rebellious, and undisciplined character, an archetype that often recurs in his career and that ends up limiting the expression of his acting skills, overshadowing the more complex aspects of his acting.

Li Cheng Bin is perfectly at ease in the role of the thoughtful Shen Jun Shan, to which he brings elegance, poise, and great composure. This very choice, however, makes his performance at times seem too restrained, especially in the scenes with Bai Lu, where greater emotional intensity would likely have enhanced the character.

Wu Jia Yi is also very convincing, managing to bring Qu Manting to life as brilliant, capricious, and snobbish without ever turning her into a mere caricature. Behind her frivolous appearance, fragility and sensitivity emerge, which the actress conveys with natural ease, making her one of the most interesting female characters in the series.

Kudos also to Gao Yu Er, who plays Oda Hiroshi with great confidence, imbuing her with the coolness, determination, and charisma necessary to make her a credible antagonist. Despite operating in a context dominated almost exclusively by male antagonists, the actress manages to assert herself effortlessly, transforming Oda Hiroshi into a menacing presence perfectly worthy of her adversaries.

Visual Aspects and Soundtrack

From a technical standpoint, Arsenal Military Academy stands out for the care with which it was crafted.

The direction is distinguished by its solidity and professionalism, using never banal shots and often original cuts that naturally accompany the narrative's evolution. The visual language adapts effectively to the series' different registers: it enhances the lighter, more carefree moments through dynamic and lively staging, but is equally incisive in the more dramatic sequences and numerous guerrilla warfare scenes, always keeping the evolving action clear.

The cinematography is also completely convincing. The color palette favors warm, slightly desaturated tones, dominated by sepia and vintage colors that recall photographs of Republican China and help give the drama the look of a period film. The lighting is consistently well-balanced and avoids the excesses typical of many contemporary productions, favoring natural lighting and realistic staging. I also appreciated the choice to present the flashbacks in black and white, a simple yet highly effective device that allows the viewer to immediately distinguish memories from the present narrative.

The production design also deserves praise. The locations, period vehicles, and set design effectively convey the atmosphere of turn-of-the-century China and help make the historical context believable. I was particularly fascinated by the imposing building that houses the Military Academy, a visually striking location that becomes an integral part of the narrative. Only occasionally does the backlot appear overly tidy and clean, conveying a slightly artificial feel that dilutes the realism sought by the rest of the production.

The costume design department also does excellent work, meticulously reconstructing period fashion, alternating military uniforms, traditional clothing, and Western-inspired garments. The wardrobes of Qu Manting, Jin Xian Rong, and Huo Xiao Yu are particularly successful, using fabrics, colors, and accessories to define their personalities and roles.

Finally, the action scenes deserve a mention: they are well-choreographed and easy to follow. Despite not featuring spectacular solutions or particularly expansive settings, the guerrilla sequences manage to convey a good sense of dynamism and danger, appearing credible and perfectly integrated into the realistic tone that characterizes the entire production.

The soundtrack also helps give Arsenal Military Academy a distinct identity. While favoring melancholic and reflective atmospheres, the soundtrack avoids the more conventional solutions of historical dramas, offering arrangements that draw naturally from Western and contemporary music. The result is a cohesive yet never banal ensemble, effectively accompanying the protagonists' adventures without becoming overwhelmed by the genre's typical sounds.

A prime example of this is 烈火 (Raging Fire), an intense ballad that combines a melancholic melodic structure with modern orchestration enhanced by electric guitar solos. Similarly, 月光探戈 (Moonlight Tango) reworks tango sounds with a contemporary twist, while 毒药 (Poison) stands out for its almost Spanish-inspired arrangement, in which the classical guitar plays a central role. More delicate is 入梦 (Entering a Dream), a romantic ballad for piano and strings that finds its main strength in the performances of Bai Lu and Xu Kai, whose delicate, almost childlike voices effortlessly convey the softer side of the relationship between the protagonists.

The only song that I wasn't entirely convinced by is 戰士 (Soldier). Unlike the rest of the soundtrack, it leans toward a distinctly K-pop sound and a decidedly faster tempo. While this choice makes it immediately recognizable, it also creates a certain discontinuity with the rest of the musical accompaniment. Its modern, almost aggressive energy, in my opinion, clashes with the more solemn and patriotic nature of the lyrics, resulting less effective than the refined balance that distinguishes the other songs on the soundtrack.

Arsenal Military Academy Drama Review (Spoilers)

What Works

The Screenplay

Despite the inconsistencies and narrative shortcuts it employs at times, I believe the screenplay is the true strength of Arsenal Military Academy. Its premise is anything but simple to develop: setting a story in a military academy during the turbulent period of Republican China means navigating a well-defined historical context and a seemingly limited space. Yet the screenwriters manage to transform these very constraints into the main driving force of the narrative, crafting a surprisingly dynamic tale in which life at the Academy becomes the starting point for a succession of ever-changing adventures.

One of the aspects I appreciated most is the variety of missions entrusted to the cadets. The series doesn't just recount the harsh military training, but constantly renews the challenges the protagonists are called upon to face. The storyline ranges from intelligence operations, such as the search for the lost Imperial Seal, to undercover missions against organizations involved in opium, weapons, and human trafficking; from protecting geologists identifying strategic graphite deposits for the government to direct clashes against Oda Hiroshi's men, Prince Rong's restorers, and corrupt officials of the Chinese Republican Army. Each story arc introduces new objectives, settings, and antagonists, avoiding any sense of repetition and giving the impression that each mission represents a new stage in the protagonists' journey.

Xie Xiang's growth also benefits from this narrative approach. Her journey isn't developed through simple military training, but is shaped precisely by her experiences in the field. Despite not possessing the physical strength or fighting skills of her comrades, the protagonist gradually learns to rely on determination, intelligence, and trust in her companions, transforming the desire to honor her brother's memory into an increasingly conscious choice to serve the country. A close-knit group of cadets forms around her, and their bond is one of the most engaging elements of the entire series.

This same variety also characterizes the narrative's tone. Military missions are seamlessly interspersed with moments of everyday life and family life, romantic scenes dedicated to the evolution of the protagonists' relationships, passages that recall the political tensions of the period, such as the student protests against Japan's Twenty-One Demands, and numerous comic interludes that effectively relieve the tension. Action, drama, comedy, romance, and historical reconstruction thus coexist in a surprisingly balanced way, maintaining the series' consistently lively pace and making even the forty-plus episodes flow smoothly.

This balance is also evident in the handling of the more tragic moments. The deaths of key characters, including those of Huang Song and Guo Shu Ting, never appear gratuitous or intended solely to move the viewer. Instead, they fit coherently into the war context and contribute to the heightened sense of danger that permeates the entire story. These are painful twists, but they are perfectly functional to the story's development and serve as a reminder that, in wartime, no one can truly be safe.

For all these reasons, while acknowledging its limitations, I consider the screenplay of Arsenal Military Academy one of the series' greatest strengths. The ability to transform a potentially static setting into a constantly dynamic story and to balance action, comedy, romance, and historical reconstruction makes for an engaging experience from start to finish and demonstrates a remarkable feat of narrative construction.

What Doesn't Work

Some Aspects of Character Development

While I greatly appreciated the script as a whole, I believe its main weaknesses emerge in the characterization of some characters. More than once, I had the impression that their personalities were bent to the needs of each scene, sacrificing internal coherence in order to create romantic, comic, or emotionally charged moments. The result is that some protagonists end up adopting behaviors that are irrational or difficult to reconcile with the characterizations the series had established up to that point.

The most obvious case is that of Gu Yan Zhen. Despite being a positive, charismatic protagonist with a strong screen presence, he is characterized by a narcissism, immaturity, and possessiveness that I struggled to find truly romantic. After initially opposing Xie Xiang, he falls madly in love with her and ends up expressing his feelings with gestures that are as dramatic as they are inappropriate, developing an excessively jealous and all-consuming attitude toward her. Personally, I couldn't interpret this behavior as an expression of passionate love: it struck me as childish, intrusive, and, at times, even irritating. It's also a shame to see Xu Kai once again play a character based on this archetype of the rebellious and unruly young man, because I believe his talent deserves more emotionally complex and nuanced roles.

Hong Yao's character also left me rather perplexed. His concern for Qu Manting should appear romantic and protective, but some of his actions have the opposite effect. Seeing him lurking in his car on street corners to secretly watch her makes him seem more like a stalker than a man genuinely in love, transforming a dynamic that the series seems to want to present as tender into something decidedly more ambiguous.

These inconsistencies become even more evident in the handling of the romantic component. The love triangle between Xie Xiang, Gu Yan Zhen, and Shen Gun Shan is often entertaining and provides some of the lightest moments in the series, but its evolution too often relies on behaviors that seem dictated by the needs of the plot rather than the natural growth of the characters.

Gu Yan Zhen is once again the most obvious example of this. Despite being one of the few who knows and protects Xie Xiang's secret, he repeatedly resorts to ostentatious and reckless behavior, openly declaring his love for her within the Academy, constantly drawing attention to her with jealous outbursts and public displays of affection, and even taking offense when the protagonist moves dormitories to silence rumors of their alleged relationship. These reactions end up jeopardizing the very secret he should be committed to protecting.

Shen Gun Shan doesn't always enjoy consistent characterization either. For much of the series, he appears extremely lucid: he seems to intuit Xie Xiang's true identity and delights in constantly testing her, provoking her with increasingly explicit situations — such as when he has her apply cream to his scars, when he asks her to a dinner party where Xie Lian Chen is also invited, or when he pretends to have believed her lie of the twin sister and announces to Xie Lian Chen that he wants to court Xie Xiang. This is precisely why it's surprising that, as the protagonist's relationship with Gu Yan Zhen begins to strengthen, he almost suddenly gives up on pursuing her, without the script devoting sufficient space to explaining this change. The feeling is that the character stops pursuing his goal simply because the story demands it.

The same problem applies to Xie Xiang. Once his feelings for Gu Yan Zhen have matured, he inexplicably continues to avoid a direct confrontation with Shen Gun Shan, without explicitly making it clear that he doesn't reciprocate her interest. Even less convincing is the fact that she continues to hide her identity from him even when events seem to make that revelation inevitable. Rather than decisions consistent with the character, these seem like devices designed to artificially prolong the romantic misunderstandings.

This difficulty in constructing a truly convincing romantic evolution reaches its most evident point in the love triangle's finale. The writers actually go so far as to use Xiao Jun to explicitly explain to the viewer why, despite much of the series suggesting that Xie Xiang is attracted to men like Shen Gun Shan, she ends up falling in love with Gu Yan Zhen instead. In my opinion, when a story feels the need to verbally justify a romantic choice, it means it has failed to make it fully believable through the events and the natural evolution of its characters.

The Minor Inconsistencies in the Script

Another aspect of Arsenal Military Academy that I found less convincing is the frequency with which the script uses narrative and logical shortcuts to advance the story. While maintaining an overall well-constructed plot, on more than one occasion, events seem to unfold because the script needs them to happen, rather than as a natural consequence of the characters' actions. The result is that some twists and turns end up testing one's suspension of disbelief.

The first question concerns the very premise of the series: I keep wondering how Xie Xiang managed to pass the medical exam for admission to the Military Academy without anyone realizing his true identity. Considering the rigor one would expect from such a selection process, this is a detail whose omission seems particularly convenient.

No less forced is the handling of some plot points. In episode 26, Huang Song, a character not described as particularly brilliant or intuitive, manages to track down the lost Imperial Seal inside the auction house, beating even Prince Rong's men and Huo Xiao Yu's, two groups far more prepared and organized in their search. Likewise, the Seal's reappearance inside the Military Academy, a ploy orchestrated by Vice General Song Xi Cheng with the sole purpose of accusing the school of collaborating with the Revolutionary Army, is unconvincing: a twist that seems more instrumental in creating a new conflict than actually plausible.

Even some insights seem all too convenient. It's difficult to understand, for example, how Guo Shu Ting can immediately recognize Qu Manting as Pei Nian Qing's daughter, especially considering that the two don't bear such a strong resemblance to each other as to justify such an immediate revelation.

Even the action, despite being the most compelling aspect of the story, is not free of contradictions. In episode 40, for example, Xie Xiang manages to single-handedly free herself from the kidnappers sent by Oda Hiroshi, despite still recovering from the serious wound she sustained in the battle to save Xiao Jun. Immediately afterward, she even finds the energy to assist Gu Yan Zhen, who collapses during his search, day and night. Even more surreal is the protagonist's final burst into the Academy with an explosive belt to free her kidnapped comrades: a sequence constructed to maximize spectacular tension, but so over the top that it is incompatible with the generally realistic tone the series strives to maintain.

None of these forced scenes truly compromise the overall immersion, as the fast pace and charismatic characters almost always manage to hold the viewer's attention. However, taken together, they give the impression that the script sometimes prefers the quickest solution to the most credible one, asking the audience to accept unconvincing passages in order to advance the narrative.

Characters and Cast

Primary Characters

Xie Xiang/Xie Liang Chen (Bai Lu) nineteen-year-old daughter of a Beijing professor who decides to enroll in the Arsenal Military Academy, posing as her brother Xie Liang Chen to fulfill his dying wish.

Gu Yan Zhen (Xu Kai) rebellious son of Vice Governor Gu Zong Tang, who enters the Arsenal Military Academy at his father's behest. There he falls in love with Xie Xiang and fights fiercely against Shen Gun Shan to win her love.

Shen Gun Shan (Li Cheng Bin) younger brother of Sheng Tingbai, who enters the Arsenal Military Academy to develop his fighting skills. There he falls in love with Xie Xiang, but abandons her when he realizes she is in love with Gu Yan Zhen.

Huang Song (Liu Si Bo) orphaned boy from Jinan, Shandong Province, who fought in armed conflicts in his home province and then decided to enter the Arsenal Military Academy to serve his country. He has an older sister named Huang Jie and a younger brother named Huang He.

Li Wen Zhong (Liu Run Nan) rich daddy’s boy who decides to enter the Arsenal Military Academy to build a career. After discovering that Xie Liang Chen is a woman, he constantly tries to expose her, but eventually joins her in the fight against the Japanese.

Qu Manting (Wu Jia Yi) starlet, Xiaojun's childhood friend and Sheng Tingbai's fiancée. She falls in love with Gu Yan Zhen, even kidnapping him during the engagement party with the girl her father wants him to marry, but ultimately gives up on him when she realizes he's in love with Xie Xiang.

Supporting Characters

Xie Family

Xie Liang Chen (Dong Li) Xie Xiang's older brother. Three years earlier, on his way to Shunyuan to enroll in the Arsenal Military Academy, he was killed by a thief during a robbery.

Xie Zhipei (Zhang Gong) Xie Xiang's father. He is the principal of a school in Beijing.

Yun Zhi (Lu Ling) Xie Xiang's mother.

Arsenal Military Academy

Ji Jin (Wang Yi Zhe) Shen Gun Shan's childhood friend who enters the Arsenal Military Academy with him. He is a smart and capable boy and will be of great help to the protagonists during their missions.

Zhu Yan Lin (Meng En) Huang Song's roommate at the Arsenal Military Academy. He is a determined and idealistic young man and will join the protagonists to complete their missions.

Guo Shu Ting (Shao Bing) Deputy Director and Military Tactics Instructor at the Arsenal Military Academy. He is the only instructor to discover Xie Liang Chen's true identity and, instead of reporting her, helps her keep her secret and pass the final exam. He was in love with Pei Nian Qing and, only years after her death, agrees to marry Huo Xiao Yu.

Lu Zhong Xin (Lin Yo Wei) Director of the Arsenal Military Academy and a friend of Guo Shu Ting. He is Pei Nian Qing's ex-fiancé.

Republican Army

Zhang Xi Hou (Xiao Rong Sheng) Commander of the Chinese Republican Army, superior to Guo Shu Ting and Lu Zhong Xin. He is poisoned by his deputy, Song Xi Cheng, to take his place.

Song Xi Cheng (Li Ang) deputy commander of the Chinese Republican Army who, in order to gain control of Feng'an Province, allies himself with Oda Hiroshi and poisons his superior, Zhang Xi Hou, placing the blame on Xie Xiang.

Jiang Hao/Jiang Hannian (Feng Wu Sheng) former Chinese Republican Army officer involved in the rape of Pei Nian Qing. He is killed by Huo Xiao Yu.

Japanese

Oda Hiroshi/Jin Xianrong/Zhitian Xianrong (Gao Yu Er) adoptive daughter of Prince Rong, expelled from his residence and taken in by the Japanese Oda Yukihide. She is the leader of the criminal organization aiming to take control of Feng'an province.

Fujiwara Ichiro/Teng Yuan Yi Lang (Ma Ang) Oda Hiroshi's right-hand man, who later betrays her and tries to oust her from the organization.

Xin Lan (Xiao Qiao) Oda Hiroshi's attendant.

Oda Yukihide/Zhitian Xiuxing (Liu Hua) Oda Hiroshi's adoptive father and the leader of the Japanese criminal organization aiming to control Chinese territory.

Sato Kazuo (Liu En Shang) President of the Shunyuan Japan Chamber of Commerce. He is killed and replaced by Oda Hiroshi.

Wu Bin (Wu Lin) leader of the human traffickers working for the Japanese. He is killed by Oda Hiroshi after the sawmill where he held his victims is dismantled by the police and the Arsenal Military Academy in a joint operation.

Rong Residence

Chengrui Beile (Yin Zheng) son of Prince Rong and grandson of the last Qing emperor. He is the adoptive brother of Oda Hiroshi and leads the Restorer Party, whose goal is to restore China to an empire.

Prince Rong (Shen Bao Ping) father of Chengrui Beile and brother of the last Qing emperor.

Princess Rong (Li Qin Qin) mother of Chengrui Beile. She is killed by Oda Hiroshi.

Fu Jiu (Wu Li Hua) butler of the Rong residence.

Shen Residence

Shen Ting Bai (Hong Yao) President of the Shunyuan Chamber of Commerce and owner of the Parimo Ballroom where Qu Manting occasionally performs.

Ben Zi (Shen Qi) assistant to Shen Ting Bai.

Mr. Shen (Sun Rong) father of Sheng Ting Bai and Shen Jun Shan. Retired after Shen Ting Bai took over the family business.

Mr. Huang (Sun Tao) butler of the Shen Residence.

Miss Du (Wang Ruo Xue) distant cousin of Shen Ting Bai and Shen Jun Shan. She hopes to get engaged to the latter and bullies Xie Xiang.

Gu Residence

Gu Zong Tang (Ren Shan) father of Gu Yan Zhen and Gu Qi Qi. He is the Vice Minister of the Interior and Vice Governor of Feng'an Province and is involved in the negotiations of the Twenty-One Demands of the Japanese.

Gu Qi Qi (Zhang Yi Xi) sixteen-year-old sister of Gu Yan Zhen who first falls in love with Shen Gun Shan and then with Xie Xiang/Xie Liang Chen.

Xiao Pang (Wang Zi Hao) childhood friend of Gu Qi Qi.

Mr. Zhu (Zheng Sheng Li) butler of the Gu Residence.

Lao Zhao (Yue Chun Yu) chauffeur of the Gu Residence.

Mr. Gu (Lu Shao Ping) butler of the Gu Residence in Nanjing.

Qu Residence

Qu Huaishu (Li Jie) Qu Manting's father. He is actually the girl's uncle and has always been intolerant of her nonconformist behavior, so much so that he has repeatedly attempted to thwart her acting career to preserve the good name of the Gu family.

Mrs. Qu (He Jia Yi) Qu Manting's mother. She is actually the girl's aunt, as Qu Manting is the daughter of Mrs. Qu's twin sister, who died giving birth to her.

Pei Nian Qing (Zuo Xiao Qing) Mrs. Qu's twin sister and Guo Shu Ting's lover. Following a rape, she becomes pregnant with Qu Manting and dies of complications during childbirth.

Qu Manshu (Sun An Ke) Qu Manting's younger sister and the true daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Qu.

Mrs. He (Yang Yu Lan) maid of the Qu Residence.

Xiao Yang (An An) and Xiao Tao (Fei Li Qi) siblings and Qu Manting's assistants.

Shannan Tavern

Huo Xiao Yu (Liu Min) owner of the Shannan Tavern (Southern Mountain Tavern). In reality, she is a weapons and art smuggler working for the Northern Revolutionary Party. She has always been in love with Guo Shu Ting and, eventually, manages to marry him.

Xiao Liu (Long Zheng), Xiao Dao (Chang Cheng), Zha Meng (Ma Weng Chao) orphans adopted by Huo Xiao Yu and who work for her.

Tan Xiao Jun (Zhang Xin) Xie Xiang's childhood friend. By day, she studies at a girls' school in Shunyuan and by night, she works as a bartender at Huo Xiao Yu's tavern.

Other Characters

Huang Jie (Fang An Na) Huang Song's older sister. She is married to Lao Wang (Xiao Yang) and lives in a fishing village near Shunyuan.

Huang He (Jing Yan Jun) Huang Song's younger brother. He studies in Shunyuan but falls into a bad circle and forces Huang Song to participate in underground boxing matches to raise money to get him out of prison.

Yuan Ping Ting (Zhang Nan) starlet and Qu Manting's rival. She takes her place when Mr. Qu has Manting ousted from the entertainment world to clear the Qu family name.

Dong Xiao Wan (Zhang Jia Lin) daughter of Chinese Army General Dong Huiseng (Wei Jun), briefly engaged to Gu Yan Zhen.

Bao Bi Yun (Xuan Lu) daughter of the mayor of Shunyuan who dances with Shen Ting Bai at the banquet organized by the Chamber of Commerce, making Qu Manting jealous.

An Wen (An Yue Xi) florist suffering from anterograde amnesia with whom Li Wen Zhong falls in love.

Mr. Wei (Gong Si Le) hunter who saves and hides Xie Xiang and Shen Junshan after they accidentally acquire the imperial seal on the train and are hunted by the Japanese.

Wei Ling Dang (Zeng Xian Zi) daughter of Mr. Wei, to whom Xie Xiang will become very fond.

Zhang Yuzhi (Liu Feng Gang) editor-in-chief of Minduo, one of Shunyuan's main newspapers, and father of Zhang Hao Ran (Liu Yin Jun). He is killed by the Japanese.

He Lu Ming (Sun Di) Chief of the Shunyuan Police. He turns a blind eye to Huo Xiao Yu's trafficking for a fee.

Son Mao Gong (Shi Fan Xi) Chief of the Beijing Police who works for the Japanese and arrests students who have gathered secretly to organize protests against the Twenty-One Demands of the Japanese.

Lin Xianwei (Li Jun Yi), Chen Rong (Hua Cheng), and Lu Yong (Li Shu Ren) students who come to Beijing to join the protests against the Twenty-One Demands of the Japanese. They are arrested by the Beijing Police and Xie Xiang tries to get them released.

Dražen Petrović (Lu Feng) Russian opium trafficker who also runs several clandestine fighting rings, including the one in which Huang Song kills Russian boxer André. He is killed by Academy cadets in a bomb attack at the Jinhua Hotel.

Shi Hu (Yang Chun Rui) Chinese opium and arms trafficker who controls 40% of the smuggling routes in Feng'an province. He owns two casinos, a restaurant, and a hotel that hides an opium den. The wife of his late brother, Shi Long, who was killed in a gangland clash, is Chu Yunsheng's goddaughter. He is killed by Academy cadets on his way to the scene of the Petrović attack.

Wen Jingze (Yang Chao Wei) Yale graduate in civil engineering, works as a technical consultant for Commander Zhang's office and teaches at Peiyong and Shanghai Universities. He is an opium addict and the mastermind behind the drug trafficking in the three provinces of Feng'an, Peiyong, and Shanghai. He is kidnapped by Academy cadets who want to extort information about Chu Yunsheng, but is killed in a firefight with the latter.

Chu Yunsheng/Robert Cruz (Ji Ke) Chinese man of English origin who nominally trades in leather but is actually the largest arms and drug trafficker in the Far East. He is arrested by the Shunyuan police thanks to the intervention of Guo Shu Ting, who comes to the cadets' aid when he learns that Lu Zhong Xin has sent them to kill Shunyuan's main traffickers after the incident at the clandestine fighting ring.

Chen Zhuo (Jin Yong San) guy rescued by Xie Xiang from the secret base where the Japanese had taken Xiao Jun. He was the translator of a certain Ivan, a Russian geologist who was studying the mineralogical composition of some soils where the graphite deposits stolen from the Japanese by Prince Rong were later found.

Chen Yue (Xue Bin) geology expert professor who returned to China after a period spent in the United Kingdom. He is hired by Sheng Ting Bai for geological surveys on Prince Rong's lands and is protected by the cadets of the Arsenal Military Academy.

Wu Jin Zhi (Yang Yong Wen) geology expert professor who returned to China after a period spent in the United Kingdom. He is hired by Sheng Ting Bai for geological surveys on Prince Rong's lands and is protected by the cadets of the Arsenal Military Academy.

Favorite Character: Qu Manting

She is probably one of the most interesting female characters in Arsenal Military Academy. Although she shares some of Gu Yan Zhen's less appealing character traits — such as narcissism, stubbornness, and difficulty accepting rejection — she manages to captivate the viewer with her vivacity, infectious enthusiasm, and determination with which she approaches every situation. Behind the image of a snobbish and temperamental actress lies a woman who is intelligent, resourceful, and incredibly persuasive, qualities that allow her to quickly navigate even the most challenging circumstances.

She is also a deeply loyal and protective friend, always ready to stand up for those she cares about. She demonstrates this not only by defending her assistants from the constant bullying of rival Yuan Ping Ting, but also by helping Gu Yan Zhen escape her arranged marriage to Dong Xiao Wan.

Even more remarkable, however, is the maturity with which she faces romantic disappointment: once she understands Xie Liang Chen's true identity, she accepts with dignity that she isn't meant for Gu Yan Zhen, lets go of her feelings without unnecessary drama, and learns to look at her relationship with Sheng Ting Bai with fresh eyes.

Finally, among the most touching aspects of her character are the deep bond she develops with her godfather Guo Shu Ting, as well as the composure with which she faces the discovery of her origins. Rather than being overwhelmed by grief or resentment, she reacts with surprising maturity to the revelation that she is the daughter of Pei Nian Qing, who died giving birth to her. It is precisely this ability to grow and face difficulties without losing her vivacity that makes Qu Manting one of the most human characters in the entire series.

Un-Favorite Character: Gu Yan Zhen

He's undoubtedly a protagonist who dominates the scene thanks to his charisma, confidence, and strong presence. However, he's also the character whose personality I found the least convincing. Behind the image of a brilliant and courageous young man lies a deeply narcissistic, capricious, and immature boy, incapable of accepting rejection or fully respecting the feelings and space of the person he loves.

His change of heart towards Xie Xiang is extremely unsettling: after opposing her since she entered the Academy, he ends up falling madly in love with her, to the point of publicly and often inappropriately displaying his feelings in front of his classmates. Despite being one of the few who knows and protects the protagonist's secret, his impulsive actions and constant public displays of affection repeatedly threaten to compromise his cover, giving the impression that he prioritizes his own desires over Xie Xiang's safety.

Adding to the character's controversy are his constant jealous outbursts. His rivalry with Shen Gun Shan often translates into childish behavior, dramatic tantrums, and constant attempts to monopolize the protagonist's attention. This strong egocentrism also emerges in far more delicate situations, where he goes so far as to put the success of a mission and even the safety of his comrades on the back burner just to say goodbye to his beloved. The same opportunistic attitude emerges when, during a visit to Xie Xiang's home, he lavishes exaggerated praise on his father's writings and his mother's cooking, clearly attempting to win their affection and approval.

While I have no doubts about the sincerity of his feelings, I often got the feeling that he views Xie Xiang more as something to be conquered and kept close to him than as a person free to choose. Emblematic of this is the moment when he even goes so far as to blackmail her to win her love: a choice I found difficult to reconcile with the image of the romantic hero the series tries to build around him.

It's true that his relationship with Xie Xiang gradually leads him to mature and to tone down some of his more impulsive nature. This development, however, isn't enough to change my opinion of him: while he remains a charismatic and central protagonist in the series, I still consider Gu Yan Zhen one of the most irritating characters in Arsenal Military Academy.