Lightning Fighters, a new series on the Eighth Route Army's struggles and successes in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) has triggered fierce debates online.

Some viewers complained that the stories are far removed from reality. For example, the officers are seen applying hair gel to look handsome, living in luxurious villas, and even making passes at women on the streets. However, in reality, the Eighth Route Army had barely enough supplies to feed them while fighting in difficult conditions and they strictly adhered to military discipline, with every officer treating civilians with respect and as a fellow fighter.

After drawing flak on social networking sites, many video apps began withdrawing the drama on Monday. Some tried to reason that the drama was at least patriotic. However, that is not the case. They are just hiding their prejudice behind a veil of patriotism. Not to mention that the actors are too inexperienced to act in films or television dramas on our revolutionary heroes.

In 2017, when The Founding of an Army, a film on the People's Liberation Army founding in 1927, hit the screens, there were complaints that the actors were too young for the role they were playing. However, the cries died down after historians confirmed that the army generals in those days were actually as young as the actors in the movie.

The fault with Lightning Fighters is that it is distorting the truth and mixing fiction with facts, which is disrespectful to the memory of our heroes who fought with their blood and lives to liberate us from the Japanese invaders.

It is hoped that the producers learn a lesson from the criticism and portray the true history of the Eighth Route Army and their glorious deeds and sacrifices.