XO, Kitty Grows Up In Its Entertaining, Ensemble-Focused Second Season

Growing up is hard to do, which is probably why there are so many television shows about the specific emotional ups and downs of teenage life. But the best of them grow with their characters, changing as they do and reflecting their shifting understanding of who they are. Netflix’s XO, Kitty began as a trope-y spin-off of the popular To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before franchise, a follow-up focused on Kitty Song Covey (Anna Cathcart), the matchmaking younger sister of OG lead Laura Jean (Lana Condor). Its first season was colorful and fun, if somewhat insubstantial, delighting in indulging familiar tropes from romance and K-dramas. But like its heroine, the show has grown up a bit as it faces its second semester. 

XO, Kitty returns from its almost two-year hiatus a more confident and self-assured creation, without losing any of the sheer fun that animated its characters. Season 2 jettisons some of the more childish elements (the frequent slapstick comedy) that plagued its first season in favor of leaning more firmly into the series’ ensemble feel and complicating the relationships between its characters in new and interesting ways. Supporting characters are allowed to step more fully into the spotlight, the size of Kitty’s friend group increases, and the show doubles down on the idea that relationships—both romantic and otherwise—come in many shades of gray. It’s a surprisingly realistic approach for a teen drama: Not every crush works out and not every romance is meant to be forever. But these experiences are key parts of this formative period of young adult life—when you’re not only figuring out who you are, but what kind of person you want to be. 

Season 2 picks up a month or so after the chaotic events of the first season finale. Kitty’s back at KISS for her second semester, determined to give herself a fresh start. She’ll set aside her unresolved feelings for Yuri (Gina Kim), get back to being friends with Dae (Minyeong Choi), and ignore the awkwardness with former suitemate Min Ho (Sang Heon Lee), who confessed his love for her on the plane home for winter break. Instead, she’ll hang out with bestie Q (Sasha Bhasin), dedicate herself to her studies, and focus on what she came to Seoul to do, connect with her Korean heritage, and learn more about her mother, who died before Kitty was really old enough to remember her. Things certainly start off promisingly in that regard, with the discovery of a school time capsule from the year in which Eve Song attended and a letter that promises to change her understanding of her family forever. 

But Kitty’s hardly the only KISS student dealing with the ups and downs of growing up. In the wake of the scandal that rocked the school at the end of last season, Min Ho’s father, Mr. Moon (Philippe Lee), swoops in to save the day with a massive donation. A successful entertainment manager but not a candidate for dad of the year, Mr. Moon winds up teaching several arts-based classes, in which both Dae and Eunice (Han Bi Ryu) excel. His presence complicates things for Min Ho, who longs for the approval of the father who has always treated him as an afterthought, particularly in comparison to his superstar son Joon Ho (Peniel). Elsewhere, Yuri is back together with Juliana (Regan Aliyah), who is now a student at KISS herself and seems uneasy about Kitty’s closeness with her girlfriend. Season 2 also introduces some new faces to round out the central squad, including Kitty’s mysterious new roommate Stella (Audrey Huynh); Q’s uber-competitive track teammate Jin (Joshua Lin), and snarky American classmate Praveena (Sasha Bhasin).

To be fair, some of the season’s subplots are weaker than others. Anything involving the arts classes theoretically being “taught” by Min Ho’s father is fairly ridiculous, as is the competition he ultimately stages for those enrolled in his voice class. A key central mystery, while fun to watch unfold, wraps up incredibly quickly and wildly conveniently. More than one major problem is solved simply because Min Ho is rich. And Kitty’s love life—or lack thereof—is still a major part of the story, for both good and ill. But while you may occasionally find yourself rolling your eyes at her ability to get in her own way and/or unintentionally cause drama, the show is remarkably thoughtful in the way it portrays and prioritizes the various relationships between and among Kitty and her friend group.