Story: it’s great there’s no unnecessary scenes and every single character had a story/meaning. I also love the growth of the twins at first they were really funny but bratty and then they had to grow up and face the harsh reality of war. This story broke my heart so many times but also is so funny at the same time. I knew war was a scary and damaging but this really opened my eyes.
Oh the acting in here is great nothing felt forced or overdone. Also can I say how much I love Yang Zi and Wallace Huo like I’m a big fan of them hence I wat he’s this but they really outdid all their other shows with the performance here.
Great music.
Totally totally recommend everyone’s to watch this amazing phenomenal show called Battle of Changsha. Definitely a 10\10.
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This is not just a drama
This is the best thing that happened to me in 2022 , hopefully I didn't watch it back then . Everything is good , it reminds of Reply 1988 , it's just has war and really sad scenes . The cast is phenomenal and my fav characters are the brother in law , the fl and the ml bcs i love his quietness just like me . I'm so happy to find such a gem ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️I'm so in love , it's like something therapeutic to watch every night , it relieves my stress away and I just feel good after watching it . Yangzi really did impress me on this one , and she's now one of my fav Chinese actresses . for Wallace Huo , no need to talk he's my fav taiwanese actor for a reason ?❤️ . If you're hesitating to watch ,just watch it you'll regret delaying it and it's not that sad and tragic .
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Acting: I was not a fan of Wallace Huo's acting but he was awesome in this drama. Yang Zi was really good here to. I am now paying attention to the acting of Niu Junfeng because it the dramas I watch with him (Love O2O, Princess Agents, Battle of Changsha) he is being amazing. One of my favorite actors for sure.
Music: The music was so good, it matched the story so well. One of the few dramas i paid attention to the music.
Rewatch Value: I will definitely rewatch this one day.
Overall: Amazing story, music, actors make an amazing drama.
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This review may contain spoilers
This is a drama that doesn't get old.
I was on a rampage for Chinese dramas. I do have a lot of experience with long and boring chinese dramas but the few that gave me a reason to keep watching has just been as wonderful as this drama.As someone who hasn't visited or lived in China or isn't acquainted with the chinese history and people, I was able to experience the ordeal of the Chinese people at this time.
It wasn't an in your face story, the story started from the female lead running from being engaged to she and her twin brother growing and becoming more mature with every encounter they came across. The bond between them did not seem exaggerated but was built overtime, which just made the ending very painful.
Officer Gu on the other hand grows into a fine young man with unwavering principles and stubborn character, how he fell in love with his wife was pure and seemed like fate wanted them to be together.
What hurt the most was watching Jun Shan lose Pyang and Xiang Jun the older sister of the twins fall apart. Watching her do she can to stand tall and then die in the end was a lot to take in. It also pained to watch the fall out of both husband and wife, but considering their characters it was well underway.
For the entire family, watching them depend on Jun Shan and then taking care of themselves when he was no more was more like a retribution for me.
What I could say was I was proud of every single character in the Gu, Hu and Xue family at the end of the drama.
A wonderful piece I must say.
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What a Masterpiece
This drama popped up in my YouTube recommendation after I finished watching Arsenal Military Academy. I'm guessing because it also involves the war.How do I start? Great pacing of story, great character development, all of the characters are well written. 32 episodes is a perfect length, it's not draggy at all.
It really takes you back to the wartime and it shows the damages it brings to people's lives. This drama makes me feel so thankful that I don't live in a war period.
My favourite character is Dr Ming Han (the twins' cousin), even though he's only a small side character. He has a calming effect (and it's important since this drama has so many heart breaking moments).
Watch this. It's going to be hard not to like it.
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War: Between ideals and lives.
Have watched this drama a few times over the span of few years. I gave it a 10 despite numerous flaws that would usually turn me off, mostly because of its not so naive approach on the subject of war.Blind patriotism is common in depiction of wars, propagandas are expected and seemingly unavoidable, yet this drama managed to walk the fine line between loyalism and humanism without abandoning either. There's a scene which stood out, where this one Japanese guy was persuaded to surrender by a reminder of how precious life is. That scene was a mind blowing one, one where I realized how aware and brave this drama production is, IMAGINE being a Jew and recognizing an active NAZI could also be a victim of war in their own right, that's the westernized scenario of this drama and it takes so much to do that.
It is sad that in 2022 this topic is still relevant, I didn't think that in my lifetime I would see people having to contemplate this once more to make their lives decisions.
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A masterfully crafted tragedy that will squeeze your tear ducts dry
What is war? I have never understood what war really was and what it can do to humanity until this 24-hr marathon. A tale told from the perspective of a very ordinary family, it detailed every phase that they went through during this difficult time and the bits and pieces of tragedy that slowly changed them.Let me start with the heart and soul of the show, the person who left the deepest impression, the cause of my sobs and howls, the nation's brother-in-law, Jun Shan. The first time I met him, he was a shady and corrupt official who talked disrespectfully to elders which put him on my disdainful character list from the start. But over time, I saw how he truly cared and provided for his family, how deeply he loved his wife, and the efforts he did to secure a better life for his extended family. On that night when Changsha was ablaze yet, he kept saving people disregarding his own safety, I totally forgave him for being corrupt. Jun Shan was charming and had strong leadership skills. When he was deployed to the frontline, he skillfully defeated enemies one after the other with his quick wits, smarts and tricks. As he always says, he's very lucky because he can survive anything, and I had hoped for it as well. When tragedy befell his family because of petty jealousy, that was the first time I felt indescribable anguish. I bawled and roared and cursed at no one in particular for not even sparing a little child. That scene when he held his wife and said he did very bad things that's why his bad karma was received by his son made me hate on the gods who did such calculation. For protecting the people of Changsha, he fought day and night at the frontline, saving hundreds, thousands of lives. Was that not enough to balance the scale? I cried injustice. At that time, I was very sure that he would never be able to forgive himself in this lifetime, and that he would probably wish to die on the battlefield hoping to protect what he wasn't able to. And boy, I was right. He was valiant. He was brave. He was a hero. He was someone I have truly admired and respected. I will always miss the carefree smile on his face even when he was at death's door.
As for the rest of the characters, they didn't have much impact on me. I had a love-hate relationship with the family in the first few episodes of the show. I didn't like how the family spoiled the twins that they overlooked all the mischievous things they had done. Sure, they appeared to have been angry and tried to beat them, but they were all for shows, just trying to scare the children. The father was useless, as he's supposed to be the head of the family, yet it was Jun Shan who held them together. He disdained Jun Shan for being a dirty cop, yet he relied on him for everything. He prided himself on being an intellectual, but so what? Can that feed his family? I pretty much labeled him as a hypocrite. But, his last sacrifice for his loyalty to his morals and beliefs was moving and poignant. As an intellectual who loved operas, he used the most appropriate way to demonstrate that he too, can die for his country with no regrets, that he's not in any way inferior to the soldiers who died on the battlefield.
I don't want to say more for the rest of the characters because I felt they weren't as interesting as Jun Shan, nor have the most moving end like the father, so I'll skip those altogether. I don't understand why Battle of Changsha wasn't in any of the Chinese drama recommendations I have seen (and I have seen plenty). This was the most riveting historical show I have seen. It was full of tragedy, yet I could not look away. The reunion at the end and the fact that one family was intact after the war did not give any relief to the anguish I have gone through watching the entire show. I would watch this again, but I have to wait a few years at most when I have recovered from the loss of those people I have learned to love and considered my family.
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Not my style
There is no doubt as to why this series averages such a high rating. It depicts the historical settings of the battles at Changsa with great production quality and an abundance of great supporting actors. It also does a good job in portraying the individualism with many characters. The first few episodes drew me in right away as well as the charisma of the main family.However, while I enjoyed the FL for her acting and her character initially, her and her twin brother's spoiled ways really doesn't sit well for me. The first scene to have irked me was when the brother ran away to join the army (the first time) when he stayed over at a woman's house. She kindly let him in to have water, etc. and then happened to get killed by Japanese invaders. There was zero reaction from the siblings from what should have been their first close encounter with someone getting killed and they simply continue to act foolishly and risking their own lives but worse of all... other people's lives. The series wants the audience to chalk it up to them being raised and spoiled by a well-off family and simply immature because they are young. But I can't imagine even grade school children acting this way during a warring period. Nevertheless, I patiently waited for that turning point when they showed growth and development with every tragedy encountered.
While there was some growth, it didn't feel natural or impactful enough. The FL still continues to have others dying for her because of her thoughtless actions. Even with the concept of her being desensitized to the environment, she doesn't seem to have any self awareness.
The romance between the FL and ML are also not very natural or fitting and the series does what many others can't seem to stop doing, creating way too many forced "coincidental" situations for the couple. Additionally, while Wallace Huo is good-looking with charm, have yet to really see great acting from him. Kudos to the Xue Jun Shan character and actor however. He is by far the most developed and complex personality in the series.
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The entire cast of this series is beyond amazing!!!!! Yang Zi as Hu Xiangxiang is mature, prominent, and profound. Yang Zi's ability to become Xiangxiang, I have no words to describe how beautifully she portray this character, better than any other than I have seen, given the dynamics and weight of Xiangxiang. Yang Zi wears her character well.
Wallace Huo is no less as Officer Gu Qingming. He is also profound and prominent and wears his character well.
Every single actor in this series owned their character and each actor jived beautifully together, which is a rare thing.
[Round of Applause]
The relationships were beautifully and exquisitely portrayed and intermingle to illustrate the depth of the relationship between everyone from family to friends to lovers to Chinese Officers to Japanese Officers, to Government, and last but not least to the Chinese and Japanese. The loves and likes were equally demonstrated as was the hatred amongst the Chinese and Japanese. Indeed a rainbow of emotions were clearly captured .
This series has fun, laughter, seriousness, love, hate, sibling bonding, pain, rebellion of sorts, angst, you name the emotion, it's there.
The Battle of Changsha is one of the best I have seen to depict not just the battle, but to demonstrate how it affect everyone and everything. The Battle of Changsha brings life to history.
The writer definitely put time and effort into writing the dialogues. They were impactful, hard hitting, full of reality of then and today. The delivery of the dialogues were executed beautifully with the right hand gestures to the right look, just flawless.
The creatives of this series did not hold back anything. The used very resource to make a magnificent series to illustrate what happened years ago.
The color scheme was on point, the clothing, the hairstyle all of it were on point.
I only have appreciation for this series!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My heart ached throughout the series just as it did when I studied history.
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5 stars, best war/love/family story with courage, brave, emotion, humanity, brutality of war
Love this series to understand the brutality of Japanese soldiers, the brave and sacrifice of millions of Chinese during the near 8 yrs of Sino-Japan war. The humanity, interaction, unconditional dedicated love and war-related loss of lives among the Hu's family from the granny to little kids are just the best and wonderful. Always love every Wallace Huo's series and movies. This is our 1st introduction to Ms. Yang Zi (or Andy Yang) who played the Xiang-Xiang role, and she is so adorable and lovely. Yang Zi really plays and reflects the well-known classical character of Hunan women extremely well, bold, courageous, dedication to love. A must watch series with 5 starts rating and many tears. The background music is just 1st rated. A must own series.Was this review helpful to you?
