This review may contain spoilers
Raging Fire Love for This Drama
I totally love this drama down from it's characters and storyline to it's OSTs. Absolutely perfect!
I wasn't really expecting anything at the start since military dramas aren't really my cup of tea. Though, Arsenal Military Academy was long in my watchlist since I happened to see a short reel in the blue app where the male lead, Gu Yanzhen, was openly flirting and teasing the female lead, Xie Liangchen/Xie Xiang, while their instructor was in front, I find it cute and decided to add it on my watchlist.
Recently, I decided to watch the drama since I wanted to take a break from all the Kdramas I had been watching. I just randomly picked AMA from my watchlist. I started with no expectations but AMA consistently delivered, which didn't just piqued my interest but also exceeded my standards.
Xu Kai and Bai Lu have such an undeniably strong chemistry. I loved them together because everything felt so natural and not forced. AMA is my first drama for both Xu Kai and Bai Lu, and I think I'll be following them from now on.
Gu Yanzhen and Xie Xiang's love story is so unique and adorable. Yes, it started with the typical "Hate-to-Love" relationship, but there is something that makes theirs special, maybe it's their chemistry or maybe the situation they're in. Their relationship doesn't just revolve around their romantic feelings towards one another but also as comrades-in-arms in battleships. Gu Yanzhen's nature is one of the things I love in the drama. I think I fell in love with Xu Kai as Gu Yanzhen. I also really liked how Gu Yanzhen pursued Xie Xiang by loving, protecting, and supporting her throughout the drama. My only disappointment is that their lovely or sweet moments were not really seen much on-screen, even when they got together it was not clearly declared that they were a couple. Either way, I love both characters, and I hope the actors will be able to work together for a new project. I will surely miss these two as I bid goodbye to the drama.
Shen Junshan gave me "the one that got away" vibes. On the early episodes, he really made it hard for me to choose between him and Gu Yanzhen. He was like a Prince Charming, always ready to save Xie Xiang, the damsel in distress. In early episodes, he was giving off soft stares and sweet interactions with Xie Xiang without even knowing her true identity. My heart goes out for him even more when he says "I trust you", in one of their operations where they must stop a bomb from exploding. Even Gu Yanzhen expressed his distrust on Xie Xiang at that time, but Junshan didn't. His constant heroic saves plus his words of assurance, "Don't be afraid, I'm here", from the early episodes made him a solid contender for Yanzhen. However, I think most Junshan supporters, including me, had a fall out when he decided to blindly believed in Xianrong and constantly distanced himself from Xie Xiang. That's when Gu Yanzhen solidified his spot as a leading man, making the audience swoon all over him. Still, I'll always have a soft spot for Shen Junshan.
To Huang Song, Ji Jin, Zhu Yanlin, and Li Wenzhong, thank you guys for making AMA such a wonderful drama. It would have been nice to see you guys all together, celebrating at Madam Yu's tavern at the end. I still couldn't accept Xiao Song's fate, he was a brother, a friend, and a brave soul. He died without even realizing that the women he loves was his bestfriend all along. Xiao Song was constant, he was there from the beginning but fails to make it till the end. For Wenzhong, I'm glad he was able to redeem himself and we got a glimpse of his life, though it was brief. It would have been great if Wenzhong lived so that Xiao Song's sacrificed wasn't in vain. Either way, great job, boys! Long live brave soldiers!
Shen Tingbai and Qu Manting's lovestory was also great. Thank goodness they got their happy ending. Shen Tingbai was such a green flag, so loving and understanding towards Manting despite her wild character. They definitely deserves each other.
For Guo Shuting and Madam Yu's side story, I'd say they had the deepest yet most tragic love story. Imagine, Madam Yu waited for so many years for Instructor Guo, and when they finally meet halfway, they were forced to bid goodbye. Honestly, I was waiting for Instructor Guo to realize his feelings to Madam Yu, not just because he feels sorry or responsible for her. Sadly, their love story weren't given a chance.
To end this review, I'd say that this drama is really great and deserves to be recommended. It's about a story of brave soldiers who fought so hard for their country's freedom. It shows the determination and courage of one when oppressed in his own soil. AMA is an action, war, and rom-com drama packed into 48 episodes, with great actors and OSTs.
Although, I find the ending lacking. I wanted to see more of the characters. I just think that Xianrong's last scene was dragged on and took up almost the entire last episode, reasons why the ending was a bit rushed and lacking.
Overall, I will surely miss AMA and it's lovely cast. Hoping for a cast reunion someday!
I wasn't really expecting anything at the start since military dramas aren't really my cup of tea. Though, Arsenal Military Academy was long in my watchlist since I happened to see a short reel in the blue app where the male lead, Gu Yanzhen, was openly flirting and teasing the female lead, Xie Liangchen/Xie Xiang, while their instructor was in front, I find it cute and decided to add it on my watchlist.
Recently, I decided to watch the drama since I wanted to take a break from all the Kdramas I had been watching. I just randomly picked AMA from my watchlist. I started with no expectations but AMA consistently delivered, which didn't just piqued my interest but also exceeded my standards.
Xu Kai and Bai Lu have such an undeniably strong chemistry. I loved them together because everything felt so natural and not forced. AMA is my first drama for both Xu Kai and Bai Lu, and I think I'll be following them from now on.
Gu Yanzhen and Xie Xiang's love story is so unique and adorable. Yes, it started with the typical "Hate-to-Love" relationship, but there is something that makes theirs special, maybe it's their chemistry or maybe the situation they're in. Their relationship doesn't just revolve around their romantic feelings towards one another but also as comrades-in-arms in battleships. Gu Yanzhen's nature is one of the things I love in the drama. I think I fell in love with Xu Kai as Gu Yanzhen. I also really liked how Gu Yanzhen pursued Xie Xiang by loving, protecting, and supporting her throughout the drama. My only disappointment is that their lovely or sweet moments were not really seen much on-screen, even when they got together it was not clearly declared that they were a couple. Either way, I love both characters, and I hope the actors will be able to work together for a new project. I will surely miss these two as I bid goodbye to the drama.
Shen Junshan gave me "the one that got away" vibes. On the early episodes, he really made it hard for me to choose between him and Gu Yanzhen. He was like a Prince Charming, always ready to save Xie Xiang, the damsel in distress. In early episodes, he was giving off soft stares and sweet interactions with Xie Xiang without even knowing her true identity. My heart goes out for him even more when he says "I trust you", in one of their operations where they must stop a bomb from exploding. Even Gu Yanzhen expressed his distrust on Xie Xiang at that time, but Junshan didn't. His constant heroic saves plus his words of assurance, "Don't be afraid, I'm here", from the early episodes made him a solid contender for Yanzhen. However, I think most Junshan supporters, including me, had a fall out when he decided to blindly believed in Xianrong and constantly distanced himself from Xie Xiang. That's when Gu Yanzhen solidified his spot as a leading man, making the audience swoon all over him. Still, I'll always have a soft spot for Shen Junshan.
To Huang Song, Ji Jin, Zhu Yanlin, and Li Wenzhong, thank you guys for making AMA such a wonderful drama. It would have been nice to see you guys all together, celebrating at Madam Yu's tavern at the end. I still couldn't accept Xiao Song's fate, he was a brother, a friend, and a brave soul. He died without even realizing that the women he loves was his bestfriend all along. Xiao Song was constant, he was there from the beginning but fails to make it till the end. For Wenzhong, I'm glad he was able to redeem himself and we got a glimpse of his life, though it was brief. It would have been great if Wenzhong lived so that Xiao Song's sacrificed wasn't in vain. Either way, great job, boys! Long live brave soldiers!
Shen Tingbai and Qu Manting's lovestory was also great. Thank goodness they got their happy ending. Shen Tingbai was such a green flag, so loving and understanding towards Manting despite her wild character. They definitely deserves each other.
For Guo Shuting and Madam Yu's side story, I'd say they had the deepest yet most tragic love story. Imagine, Madam Yu waited for so many years for Instructor Guo, and when they finally meet halfway, they were forced to bid goodbye. Honestly, I was waiting for Instructor Guo to realize his feelings to Madam Yu, not just because he feels sorry or responsible for her. Sadly, their love story weren't given a chance.
To end this review, I'd say that this drama is really great and deserves to be recommended. It's about a story of brave soldiers who fought so hard for their country's freedom. It shows the determination and courage of one when oppressed in his own soil. AMA is an action, war, and rom-com drama packed into 48 episodes, with great actors and OSTs.
Although, I find the ending lacking. I wanted to see more of the characters. I just think that Xianrong's last scene was dragged on and took up almost the entire last episode, reasons why the ending was a bit rushed and lacking.
Overall, I will surely miss AMA and it's lovely cast. Hoping for a cast reunion someday!
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