No guts, no glory

Also being streamed overseas, the series has been watched over 13 million times on YouTube, accumulating nearly 9,000 comments and over 109,000 likes－a satisfying performance for a Chinese military-themed drama, according to Sun Hao, vice-president of Shanghai Youhug Media, the production company.

Sun recalls that the crew conducted a lot of work to ensure the accuracy of the details, including recruiting a military consultant and constructing full-scale replicas of military facilities, which covered a total area of about 200,000 square meters.

"The series features a lot of hardcore elements, such as military exercises and science, which has drawn many military enthusiasts to discuss the advanced equipment," says Sun.

Describing the military tales as a "rich mine" for literary and artistic creation, Sun concludes that on-screen productions with such themes depict a new generation of the Chinese army, reflecting the improvement of the country's comprehensive strength, as well as the rise of the audience's national pride.

"In the past, most soldiers featured in movies and TV series were from rural areas, but now, the new recruits have more diversified backgrounds, with some growing up in cities or being college students and graduates. They are better educated and well-raised, a drastic change that has also reshaped military-themed works in recent years," adds Sun.