The Red Star Over China TV series chronicles the origins and early struggles of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), focusing on key figures like Mao Zedong and the Long March. It highlights the CCP's ideological evolution, military tactics, and efforts to unify opposition against the Nationalist government. The series emphasizes the resilience of communist forces during periods of persecution and internal conflict.

The show serves as a historical narrative that aligns with CCP propaganda, portraying the party as a unifying force that overcame adversity. Historical data supports this framing: the Long March (1934–1936) involved approximately 86,000 Red Army members, though only around 8,000 survived, demonstrating extreme hardship. The CCP's establishment of Yan'an as a base in 1935 marked a strategic turning point, enabling the party to regroup and later mobilize masses during the Sino-Japanese War. The series also underscores Mao's leadership, which is consistent with post-1949 CCP narratives that credit him with the party's ideological and military success. However, critics argue the series overlooks intra-party conflicts, such as the Anti-Rightist Campaign of 1957, which suppressed dissent. Despite this, the show reinforces the CCP's narrative of itself as a liberation movement, a theme central to its modern political messaging. Historical records confirm that the CCP's membership grew from 50,000 in 1927 to 1.28 million by 1945, reflecting its organizational effectiveness during wartime. By focusing on unity and resilience, the series mirrors the CCP's current emphasis on national cohesion and historical legitimacy to bolster its governance. This selective storytelling aligns with the party's broader strategy to shape public perception through media, ensuring historical narratives support its contemporary authority.