Popular TV series helps soldiers win back the hearts of the masses

It has no big stars or pretty heroines, but over the past few months word of mouth about the unheralded military-themed drama Soldiers' Sortie has made the 30-part series a primetime hit on the mainland.

The series revolves around the lives of a group of People's Liberation Army soldiers and talks about their struggles, faith and devotions. Most of the actors and producers have served in the military.

Mainland media have ranked it the best show of this year and fans have established online forums with millions of posts dedicated to it. China Central Television is even using clips from the drama to make its military recruitment films.

Besides making the stars household names overnight, Soldiers' Sortie has also boosted patriotic zeal and endeared PLA soldiers to the public. PLA watchers say the drama's success could greatly help rehabilitate the army's reputation, which has taken a hit in recent years.

Until recently, PLA generals and soldiers had been idolised on the mainland. Millions of people looked up with reverent awe at the war heroes and model soldiers. The army is the cornerstone of Communist Party rule and single-handedly brought the party to power. Almost all founding fathers of the People's Republic served in the PLA. Decades of hardline propaganda elevated its social status to an unprecedented height.

With the conflicts in Korea and Vietnam, the PLA became known as the state's great wall of iron and steel, the defender of socialism and the defender of the public interest.