We were introduced to XO, Kitty back in 2023. Season one was a fun success that ended with many unanswered questions: Is Kitty gay? Will she end up with Minho? Is she heading back to California now that she’s been kicked out of KISS? Now with the release of Xo, Kitty Season 2, the anticipation for answers is at its peak.
From the get-go, this reviewer was disappointed. I wanted to see more development in the answers to the cliffhanger questions. Within the first three minutes of episode one, Kitty (Anna Cathcart, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before) is back at KISS due to Yuri (Gia Kim, Happy Ending) calling her mom and her sexuality is brushed under the rug with her simply stating “I want to try dating girls.” The best character development comes from handling conflict. Why couldn’t Kitty fight for her spot back rather than depend on her powerful friend? Furthermore, why should she feel the need to bury her crush on Yuri and act like this newfound part of herself (her sexuality) isn’t that big of a deal?
The cinematography has stayed true to the original inspirations of the style of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and perfectly blends it with the K-Drama genre, creating Kitty’s unique identity. The wardrobe is also a great representation of Korean influence with the traditional, young Hollywood actor vibes, paired with the use of a K-Pop heavy soundtrack. We have to give them props for re-enacting Lara Jean’s (Lana Condor, Abbott Elementary) iconic passing out on the track scene from the first To All the Boys film.
Yours truly will always love the relationship between Q (Anthony Keyvan, Love, Victor) and Kitty. They are truly the definition of platonic soulmates. Additionally, Kitty and Minho’s (Sang Heon Lee, Gran Turismo) relationship has stayed intact, in the sense that the playful and flirty banter within their friendship is still so cute. While it remains strong, it grows beautifully in such a short period of time. The introduction of new characters such as Kitty’s new roommate Stella (Audrey Huynh, Squid Game) and Kitty’s new love interest Praveena (Sasha Bhasin, Brave the Dark) in the first episode also adds an interesting dynamic of chaos and love.
Not to be a negative Nancy, but there are many inconsistencies with the randomness of some plot points, such as Juliana’s (Regan Aliyah, Please Don’t Feed the Children) re-appearance at KISS, as well as Dae’s (Choi Min-young, Entertainer) new found musical talent, Minho’s music producer dad, and Q’s sudden commitment to track. It just feels like they tried to pack a powerful punch, with new plot lines and characters, in a short period of time, making everything feel rushed.
As the third episode out of eight wraps up, this writer has a few questions that are hopefully answered within the rest of the season: Who the fudge is Esther? Will Kitty confront her grandmother, and find her family? Will Yuri and Juliana break up? Will Kitty end up with Minho or with Yuri? SO MANY UNRESOLVED QUESTIONS. Let’s see how the season ends!
