2 - Television

Television: XO, Kitty

It's time for some serious Seoul searching. XO, Kitty season 2 premiered last month, bringing more love triangles, drama, and chaos than ever before.

XO, Kitty is a romantic comedy-drama series created by Jenny Han. It is a spinoff of To All the Boys I've Loved Before, a book trilogy by Han that was adapted into a Netflix film series. To All the Boys follows shy high schooler Lara Jean Song Covey, who keeps a collection of love letters--one written for every boy she has loved. She intends to keep these letters a secret until they mysteriously fall into the hands of her crushes, forcing her to deal with the consequences. We learn that the person who mailed the letters is none other than Lara Jean's younger sister, Katherine (known by her friends and family as Kitty). 11-year-old Kitty only wants the best for her sister and worries that Lara Jean will never leave her comfort zone to confess her feelings to someone. 

The movies chronicle Lara Jean's journey of finding confidence and true love, reconnecting with an old flame, navigating high school, and balancing relationships with friends and family. The books and movies are fantastic, and I highly recommend them to all romance fans in their teens or twenties.

The Covey sisters: Kitty, Margot, and Lara Jean

In the final film, the Covey family travels to South Korea to honor their heritage and celebrate the life of the girls' late mother, Eve Song. While there, Kitty meets Dae, a kind student at the Korean Independent School of Seoul (KISS). They date long-distance for three years before the events of XO, Kitty, when Kitty receives a scholarship to study at KISS.

XO, Kitty

XO, Kitty (2023) begins with the main character, Kitty Song Covey, persuading her father and stepmother to allow her to study in Korea. We discover that KISS is the school her mother attended in the '90s. Kitty, the youngest Covey sister, did not have the chance to know her mother well since she was only three years old when Eve passed. Attending KISS would allow her to explore her mother's background and spend time with Dae. To avoid revealing spoilers, this blog post will focus primarily on the first season.

Season 1 Trailer (below)

The show is heavily inspired by K-Dramas, featuring popular Korean songs and narrative tropes that boost excitement and immerse viewers in the Korean atmosphere and culture.

Meet the Cast (information from the XO, Kitty Wiki)

Kitty Song Covey
Portrayed By: Anna Cathcart
Kitty is a sassy and cheerful character who is not afraid to speak her mind. She takes pride in being a matchmaker but yearns to find her own true love. She cares deeply for her friends and family and wants to learn more about her Korean heritage.

Dae Heon Kim
Portrayed By: Choi Min-young
Dae is a clever student and loyal friend who dates Kitty in season one. He is an excellent singer and best friends with Q and Min Ho.

Min Ho Moon
Portrayed By: Sang Heon Lee

Min Ho is a flirty and fashionable character accustomed to getting his way. He is the son of a prominent talent manager and a famous actress and is viewed by some as "ultra-privileged." Initially, he is one of Kitty's frenemies.

Quincy "Q" Shabazian
Portrayed By: Anthony Keyvan
Q is an American student who is half Iranian and half Filipino. Intelligent and friendly, he quickly becomes Kitty's closest friend and confidant. He is one of the few openly gay students at KISS.

Yuri Han

Portrayed By: Gia Kim
Yuri is a beautiful and famous social media star. She loves shopping and has two highly successful parents. Initially, she is one of Kitty's frenemies. 

Season 1 Recap

Kitty's first semester at KISS did not go quite as she expected. On the first day, she is mistakenly assigned to an apartment-style living space with the three main male characters: Dae, Q, and Min Ho. She meets Yuri, the "mean girl" in a fake relationship with Dae. This creates tension between Dae and Kitty, but they reconnect once Kitty learns the truth—Yuri has a girlfriend named Juliana and wants to keep their relationship private. Throughout the season, Kitty becomes close friends with Q and later with Yuri. She uncovers more about her mother, including that Yuri's mother and Eve were best friends in school. The season is filled with romance, twists, and drama that keep viewers engaged and wanting more.

XO, Kitty also offers a sense of relatability. Kitty realizes she is bisexual after developing a crush on Yuri, which leads her to end her relationship with Dae. In her journey to connect with her mother, she discovers her own identity and feels excited to explore this newfound part of herself. I enjoyed this aspect of the show and felt that it only added to its overall appeal.

The first season ends with a cliffhanger. After the semester concludes, Kitty and Min Ho board a flight to the United States, during which Min Ho confesses his feelings for her. He originally saw her as only an "annoying little sister," but he eventually fell for her kind and easygoing personality. Kitty is unsure of her feelings but begins to develop a romantic interest in Min Ho in season two. They share many heartfelt moments that made my heart swoon.

"Kitty. I think I fell in love with you. A little bit. Or...a lot."

I firmly believe these two are the perfect match. If they do not end up together, I will sob. #TeamMinHoForever.

@aeptifa who knew he could get even finer - scp ashscenesx #minho #minhoedit #minhoxokitty #xokitty #xokittynetflix #xokittyedit #xokittyseason2 #minhoandkitty #fyp ♬ original sound - ♱

Watch XO, Kitty season two on Netflix to see how Kitty's relationships evolve.