This is the drama I will recommend to friends who have never watched a k-drama. It's the gateway drama that will get them hooked. CLOY is the embodiment of the most skilled execution of the k-drama formula: dramatic scenes + heartfelt humor + swoon worthy love story. Writer Park Ji Eun and director Lee Jeong Hyo should write a textbook on how they made this show.

I have read various reviews that complain this show provides nothing new to the k-drama scene and is predictable. My response is that they are correct. CLOY is simply the formula done to perfection, and that is a hard thing to do.

My favorite characters are the crew of soldiers. Their fish-out-of-water act in the second half of the show had me laughing and loving them even more than I did in the first half. Likewise, their counterparts in the band of ahjummas were vital to the show, and they came to life under the leadership of Wol Seok. I have so much respect for actress Kim Sun Young. She seems to be in her element playing tough ahjummas with heart. And a special mention goes out to Kim Young Min for his portrayal of the anguished spy, as well as Yang Kyung Won as the first sergeant under Jung Hyuk. Both of them added dimension to characters that could have fallen too far into flat caricatures.

I have to say that Son Ye Jin is one fantastic actress. Her energy fills the screen and she's lovely to watch. Despite a bit of weak writing around her role, she carried it where it needed to go. I wasn't a fan of Hyun Bin in Secret Garden, but it seems like the character of Jung Hyuk was written just for him. He was perfect as the quiet, stoic, sometimes clueless man. Finally, I know many people agree that Kim Jung Hyun and Seo Ji Hye often stole the show as the second couple. In many ways, they were more exciting to watch than our main couple.

The rewatch value is high with this one. It's like a favourite movie that you want to watch any time you have the chance. It doesn't ask the viewer for much and rewards you with happy feelings.