If you're looking for a thought provoking show or logical analysis behind scenes that transpire, don't expect much here. If you are looking for romance and expect the main leads to be in love and for it to ooze in each section of the screen, please do not look here. If you are looking to see the main male lead to be seen in majority of the show, please don't look here.

What Arsenal Military Academy lacked in a logical and consistent plot made for it in strong characters that undergoes serious developmental growth.

Acting/Cast:
Everyone has mentioned the two main leads being in a previous show, but I was only interested because of Xu Kai and watching him in Yanxi Palace. If it wasn't for the fact that Xu Kai made Gu Yan Zheng such a hilarious, arrogant, goofy, childish, hearty, flirty, loving, cool, and smug character, I would have given up watching this show halfway. His character has been done before but Xu Kai portrayal of him, was completely new and not seen before. I can honestly say that he made Gu Yan Zheng his own. The flaws in his character could be the childish nature, but it was the brute honesty of his childishness that made him refuse and decline the second female lead efforts and affection. His childishness also add a dash of humor and it showed the stark contrast of his growth as he became determined , patriotic, and serious in protecting the people he loved.

On the other hand, Bai Lu played an amazing role as Xie Xiang/Xie LiangChen. Her loyalty to her friends, her guts, and trying to find herself after her brother passed away was one of the highlight points of her character. However, her character began to annoy me, especially how she treated the male lead during the second half of the drama. Someone mention there were cut scenes of the leads, and if that is so, that would make sense to the lack of romantic interactions.

Shen Jun Shan became an annoyance to painstakingly irritating. I was confused about his character and how he knew Xie Xiang’s brother. I was confused about his feelings for the female lead in the first half, and looked like it was going to go a different direction with Xian Rong and wish at most, that they did get tied into a forbidden romance, rather than see him exert himself in pursuing the female lead. However, his character was the typical cold and standoffish at first and slowly opens up to the people around him. The actor did a phenemonal job, just that the character in itself and excessive screen space, left a distaste in my mouth.

Supporting Characters/Actors:
I have to say that Liu Si Bo, who played Huang Song, blew me away. I loved his friendship with Xie Xiang but surprisingly loved it even more with Gu YanZheng. He was naïve, innocent, loyal, an truly honest. Most of his interactions with Xie Xiang dressed up as a girl was just purely gold….if it wasn’t because of Xu Kai, I would have shipped her with him instead.
Music:

I really liked the music, it didn’t overpower the scene, nor was it used to wring out an emotion. It was tastefully done. I always loved it when they used the background beats whenever Xie Xiang and the rest of the guys will walk into the scene.

Overall:
I wouldn’t personally sit down and watch this show all over again. However, I would watch the scenes between the leads and the friendship amongst the rest of the supporting characters. However, the excessive screen time of the second male lead had me grow a distaste to his character and to most of the second half of the show. I would recommend if not alone for the humor, comedy, and friendships. If you are an avid romance lover and looking for a followup from their previous show called “The Legends” you will NOT find that passion here. Instead enjoy a cute and slow burn, very slow burn, romance that will make you cry, laugh, and at the same time hide away in embarrassment. Its an overall good show.