The main leads Xu Kai and Bai Lu are together again! Their chemistry and interaction are being carried over to their new drama with arsenal military academy.
Xu Kai plays the same character personality-wise. Very cheeky, intelligent, and charismatic.
He also finds out the cross dressing girl is a girl before anyone else.
He also finds out the cross dressing girl is a girl before anyone else.
Be careful! It contains spoilers
In both dramas:
(main similarities)
- FL hides her identity by pretending to be a boy
- ML quickly realizes FL is a girl (in AMA in 5 Episode, in MUG in 3 Episode). He helps her hide her secret without telling her he already knows she is a girl. He is her secret knight
- FL and ML go to university/academy together, they have to train hard to stay there. They also live together in the dorm as roomates
- It's from hate - to friendship - to love - kind of story
- ML is rich and well-known and incredibly handsome (my personal opinion)
- ML is very persistent to get FL. He doesn't care what other people will think about him being in a relationship with another "man" (it's even more impressive in AMA - the action of the drama takes place in the early of XX century in military academy)
- ML is cute, smart, cunning, cheeky, confident, but when he falls in love he would do anything for FL. His personality, however, doesn't change, even at the end - he is still adorable, he shows his love, but he doesn't become "a henpecked man" :)
- FL has a female friend whom she knew before the drama started
- FL and ML are friends. ML confesses/realizes his feelings first
- Besides ML another FL's male friend discovers her secret and falls in love with her (in AMA I would say it is even love triangle)
- ML has a female admirer, who wants to be with him
- ML quickly falls for FL but teases her a lot. He is jealous of other men
- There is a group of friends to which FL and ML belong
- ML's parent does not consent to his relationship (in MUG later his mother approves)
- Most characters find out about FL's identity at the end - in AMA in Episode 44, in MUG in Episode 23
- Similar shots/scenes appear: sit-ups scene, washing ML's stuff, dancing scene, rescue scene, winter scenery
- The chemistry between the main couple is great
- Besides main couple there are many other interesting characters
- FL and ML have their happy end :)
(main differences)
- AMA is much longer - 48 Episodes, MUG - 24 Episodes
- The topic in MUG is quite light. AMA is about the war (mostly second part), so it's heavier. In AMA there are some deaths, so I remember I cried a bit
- There are more kisses in MUG (mostly peck kisses but still), whereas in AMA you have to search it on youtube to see deleted scenes containing peck kisses
- In MUG there are lots of absurd accidents (typical for most cdramas)
- If you want to see MOSTLY cute romance - AMA is not for you, while MUG is perfect :)
- In AMA ML learns that FL is a woman because he sees her as a woman, in MUG due to accident
- In AMA ML helps FL a lot more than ML in MUG, he is her protector almost from the beginning, and she doesn't even know about some things he does for her
- In AMA FL and ML become a couple in (probably, it's not clear) Episode 41, in MUG in Episode 22. In AMA FL realizes her feelings really late, in MUG much earlier
- In AMA ML confesses his feelings in Episode 31, in MUG in Episode 20, but for us - viewers - it is clear MLs falls for FLs almost at the beginning
- In AMA FL finds out that ML knows about her identity in Episode 14, in MUG really late - bacause in Episode 20
- Genre: AMA is comedy/romance/action/historical drama (action takes place in the XX century), MUG - comedy/romance drama (action takes place nowadays)
Overall, I enjoyed both. However, MUG is more to watch for fun, for lazy Saturday and Sunday, while AMA is more, I would say, ambitious, demanding. It depends what you prefer to see :)
My scores:
AMA 9/10
MUG 8,5/10
Wow, that was long. I hope it'll be helpful for somebody :)
In both dramas:
(main similarities)
- FL hides her identity by pretending to be a boy
- ML quickly realizes FL is a girl (in AMA in 5 Episode, in MUG in 3 Episode). He helps her hide her secret without telling her he already knows she is a girl. He is her secret knight
- FL and ML go to university/academy together, they have to train hard to stay there. They also live together in the dorm as roomates
- It's from hate - to friendship - to love - kind of story
- ML is rich and well-known and incredibly handsome (my personal opinion)
- ML is very persistent to get FL. He doesn't care what other people will think about him being in a relationship with another "man" (it's even more impressive in AMA - the action of the drama takes place in the early of XX century in military academy)
- ML is cute, smart, cunning, cheeky, confident, but when he falls in love he would do anything for FL. His personality, however, doesn't change, even at the end - he is still adorable, he shows his love, but he doesn't become "a henpecked man" :)
- FL has a female friend whom she knew before the drama started
- FL and ML are friends. ML confesses/realizes his feelings first
- Besides ML another FL's male friend discovers her secret and falls in love with her (in AMA I would say it is even love triangle)
- ML has a female admirer, who wants to be with him
- ML quickly falls for FL but teases her a lot. He is jealous of other men
- There is a group of friends to which FL and ML belong
- ML's parent does not consent to his relationship (in MUG later his mother approves)
- Most characters find out about FL's identity at the end - in AMA in Episode 44, in MUG in Episode 23
- Similar shots/scenes appear: sit-ups scene, washing ML's stuff, dancing scene, rescue scene, winter scenery
- The chemistry between the main couple is great
- Besides main couple there are many other interesting characters
- FL and ML have their happy end :)
(main differences)
- AMA is much longer - 48 Episodes, MUG - 24 Episodes
- The topic in MUG is quite light. AMA is about the war (mostly second part), so it's heavier. In AMA there are some deaths, so I remember I cried a bit
- There are more kisses in MUG (mostly peck kisses but still), whereas in AMA you have to search it on youtube to see deleted scenes containing peck kisses
- In MUG there are lots of absurd accidents (typical for most cdramas)
- If you want to see MOSTLY cute romance - AMA is not for you, while MUG is perfect :)
- In AMA ML learns that FL is a woman because he sees her as a woman, in MUG due to accident
- In AMA ML helps FL a lot more than ML in MUG, he is her protector almost from the beginning, and she doesn't even know about some things he does for her
- In AMA FL and ML become a couple in (probably, it's not clear) Episode 41, in MUG in Episode 22. In AMA FL realizes her feelings really late, in MUG much earlier
- In AMA ML confesses his feelings in Episode 31, in MUG in Episode 20, but for us - viewers - it is clear MLs falls for FLs almost at the beginning
- In AMA FL finds out that ML knows about her identity in Episode 14, in MUG really late - bacause in Episode 20
- Genre: AMA is comedy/romance/action/historical drama (action takes place in the XX century), MUG - comedy/romance drama (action takes place nowadays)
Overall, I enjoyed both. However, MUG is more to watch for fun, for lazy Saturday and Sunday, while AMA is more, I would say, ambitious, demanding. It depends what you prefer to see :)
My scores:
AMA 9/10
MUG 8,5/10
Wow, that was long. I hope it'll be helpful for somebody :)
Both are Republican era dramas with a military backdrop and a suspenseful plot to accompany the romance. Both dramas have main leads that initially come off as being a bit of a playboy/scoundrel before becoming protective of FL, and a more serious (but also ridiculously handsome) second male lead. Both dramas have a strong female cast and supportive cast, including at least one more villainous female character. “Fall in Love” takes place in Shanghai and more directly addresses Western (British) influence while “Arsenal Military Academy” is set elsewhere and focuses more on the conflict with Japan.
- Both dramas take place in a war/political tension context.
- Both also explore the storylines and games of power of different characters, and how, despite the evil, they try to protect and hold onto their loved ones
- Both female leads are strong-willed and use cross dressing to fight for their country
Differences : Military academy was clearly cut in two parts, the first is light and fun, the second one is mostly about the war
Mr.Sunshine does a better job at mixing emotions and situations, leaving a bittersweet feeling.
The concept is similar but Mr Sunshine is better in my opinion
- Both also explore the storylines and games of power of different characters, and how, despite the evil, they try to protect and hold onto their loved ones
- Both female leads are strong-willed and use cross dressing to fight for their country
Differences : Military academy was clearly cut in two parts, the first is light and fun, the second one is mostly about the war
Mr.Sunshine does a better job at mixing emotions and situations, leaving a bittersweet feeling.
The concept is similar but Mr Sunshine is better in my opinion
In both the dramas, the female lead pretends to be a guy and they seem to earn the respect of their peers gradually . To the beautiful you is school based whereas Arsenal Military Academy as the name suggests is military based.
There both on male military academy but different is about fl on here she is teacher . But it so funny and cute drama .
It is in my opinion even better than FIYS, mainly recommend this because Xu Kai is in it as well.
His personalities in these dramas are pretty similar though in AMA he's a little more goofy and fun (imo).
Don't want to spoil much but if you like war related dramas or military costume dramas this can be a nice one to watch! Also really like the acting in it.
His personalities in these dramas are pretty similar though in AMA he's a little more goofy and fun (imo).
Don't want to spoil much but if you like war related dramas or military costume dramas this can be a nice one to watch! Also really like the acting in it.
A very similar vibe to these two shows. They are both are both set in military schools for the elite. While AMA uses a male in disguise as part of its storyline, it is the attitude of the main characters display in both shows that really make both shows binge worthy. Both have have elements of humour, romance and action.
It's the same actress and the chemistry between leads is just really sweet! MLs are always protecting FLs and very clear in their love for FLs. Most importantly, in both shows, the main couples have tons of airtime (unlike other shows where way too much time is spent on other subplots, 2nd or 3rd couples).
