A scene displays Deng's eldest son in a wheelchair. [Photo/China Daily]

The pilot resembles a typical Hollywood political thriller. A thrilling atmosphere is created through fast-changing scenarios and a continuous soundtrack.

Creatively, it may remind the public of another historical drama from CCTV in 2003. Toward the Republic, a 60-episode serial depicting social upheaval in China between the 1890s to the 1920s.

That series also introduced some fictional characters and challenged the staid images of historical figures from school textbooks. Ma Shaohua also played the protagonist, taking on the role of Dr Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925).

The serial was highly praised by viewers, but it also prompted huge political controversies and was never broadcast on CCTV again.

Nevertheless, director Wu, 63, who was also born in Sichuan province, seldom mentions politics when speaking about the series, and repeatedly emphasized that it had more to do with nostalgia.

"My life path coincided with many historic events mentioned in the series," he told Sichuan News Network.

"It's not only a story about a period of history, but also an emotional entanglement of our generation."