This review contains spoilers for Season 3 of XO, Kitty.
XO, Kitty is back with season 3 to prove once again that Kitty Song Covey (Anna Cathcart) finds drama no matter what part of the world she is in.
Now that Kitty is a senior at KISS, it is the beginning of the end of an era. She sets out to make her final year the best one yet, forge new unforgettable memories with her best friends, and grow closer to her recently found Korean family. Of course, she still has to define her relationship with Min Ho (Sang Heon Lee). Her plans go awry when new rivals and revelations cross her path. After being shaken by reality’s instability, Kitty must find a way to pivot and seize control of her destiny.
The world of young adult romance can be exciting, nostalgic, or generic and predictable, depending on the story. XO, Kitty Season 3 deconstructs the genre’s tropes, slightly deviating from the formulaic approach established by prior seasons to reintroduce Kitty at the most crucial point in her self-discovery thus far. This season wastes no time dancing around the obvious to explore themes of love and destiny. It immediately picks up where season 2 left off, quickly tying up loose ends to prioritise new conflicts and consequences, not only for Kitty but also for her inner circle as she is placed at the centre of their converging crises.
Kitty may still have a lot of growing up to do, but she has come a long way out of her sister’s shadow. XO, Kitty further develops its independence from the mothership trilogy, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, for the better. The way the third season explores growth is reflected in the writing and portrayals of Kitty, Min Ho, and the remaining main characters.
XO, Kitty Finds Solid Ground
The first 2 seasons were entertaining but inconsistent. Season 3 is the best yet because it hones in on their redeeming qualities and amplifies them for a fresh story that challenges the characters and subverts expectations. After serving only as a writer in season 2, the new showrunner, Valentina Garza, demonstrates her maternal love for Kitty by treating her as a woman with adult problems who has to learn how strong she is to overcome them. Don’t be mistaken, XO, Kitty is still a teen drama at the end of the day, but Kitty is about to graduate from high school in Korea, so her storyline about facing the uncertainty of adulthood is essential, especially for young people thinking about their future.
We saw Kitty go from learning about her heritage to learning about her sexuality. Now we get to see her identity tested as she confronts fate. Anna Cathcart faces this challenge, portraying Kitty with a vulnerability that’s new to her character. Her neuroticism overloads, and she is at her breaking point. Early in the season, everything goes her way until reality hits and tests her resolve to fight for the life she wants. She is a flawed protagonist who stumbles repeatedly, but Cathcart allows you to root for her by making her relatable with nuance and expanding her range. Seeing Kitty grow to adapt to the storm after the calm is largely cathartic because of Cathcart.
Kitty & Min Ho Vs The World
Kitty and Min Ho being endgame has been obvious since the last two episodes of the freshman season. Yuri (Gia Kim) is her best friend and first queer crush. Praveena (Sasha Bhasin) was a failed experiment. Min Ho, however, is her true love. Their romance becomes increasingly dominant to highlight the risks and rewards of pursuing a serious relationship at the beginning of a life with no manual or safety net.
The lovebirds do not necessarily need each other, even though they think they do, but they complement each other with their chemistry and corresponding arcs. Min Ho has been head over heels for Kitty from the beginning. Now that Kitty completely reciprocates his feelings, we see a shift in their relationship dynamics, which puts him in a new light. He puts in the work to be the best version of himself so that he feels worthy of Kitty in his life, while she ironically feels like she’s not good enough for his world or the life she deserves.
They are happy together, but when they are apart, doubt, fear, and distrust emerge. Their insecurities, as relatable concerns for young adults rather than simple puppy love problems, are woven into the story to equip them for the world ahead and keep fans invested in their intertwined journeys.
The organic chemistry between Anna Cathcart and Sang Heon Lee catapults Kitty and Min Ho’s story further into the thrilling side of young modern romance, making it all the more gratifying when they overcome obstacles hurled their way to grow together rather than just be together.
The Matchmaker Meets Her Match
When Kitty is not facing conflict from her inner demons or fleeting time, she faces it from Marius, who is back to stir the pot at KISS. For those who remember hearing about Q’s (Anthony Keyvan) former roommate/fling in season one, you can finally put a face to the name. Sule Thelwell joins the cast as the legendary or infamous Marius, depending on who you ask.
Motivated by jealousy, he is determined to get Kitty out of the picture to reclaim his spot in the friend circle and have Q all to himself. Thelwell introduces Marius as an interesting character by revealing his struggles underneath the surface. He is not a standard teen drama villain. While he can be extremely arrogant and unlikable at times, he is an insecure kid, feeling abandoned, fighting to reclaim everything he lost before it’s gone forever, so he is far from dissimilar to Kitty. That’s why Marius is the quintessential antagonist for her at this point in her narrative.
No Goodbye Yet, XO, Kitty
There is never a dull moment in XO, Kitty season 3. This season might cement the series as the most brilliant young adult drama on Netflix, possibly surpassing Never Have I Ever. Valentina Garza succeeds in her mission to make this chapter a transition period into a new era that we all recognize. Senior year of high school is an exciting and terrifying time when we essentially determine our fate, or have it done for us. Our decisions can make or break us and our relationships. Watching Kitty learn this with Min Ho and her friends hits harder than her past conflicts due to the strength of the writing and character portrayals.
While there is currently no renewal for a fourth season, the seeds for an emotional closing chapter are already planted. Audiences will be pleasantly surprised by how XO, Kitty, respects fans enough to mature with them and have an honest conversation about the end before the new beginning.
