Reel Review: Xo,Kitty All the Drama, All the Feels, and More Reasons to Watch

Giddy wide eyes and kicking feet—you might think I’m describing Kitty when Yuri (Gia Kim) is in her orbit, but no, I’m talking about me watching Season 2 of XO, Kitty.

When the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before spin-off was announced in October 2021, I, like many fans, wasn’t sure if it would capture the same romantic thrill. But I knew I had to watch. One of the main reasons? Anna Cathcart. From her days as the sweet, artistic Dizzy in Disney’s Descendants series, I’ve been rooting for her. Now, I’m adding my name to the list of fans calling this show a success. XO, Kitty perfectly captures the chaos of teenage years—dramatic, emotional, hectic, and full of heart.

Kitty, our hopeless romantic, is on a very different journey than her older sister Lara Jean, who found love swiftly. As the saying goes, “You teach best what you most need to learn,” and while Kitty may be an intuitive matchmaker for others, her own love life is, well, a mess. Season 1 ended with Min Ho (Sang Heon Lee) confessing his feelings for Kitty, who had just friend-zoned her once-true-love Dae (Choi Min-young) thanks to her complicated feelings for Yuri.

Season 2 picks up with Kitty returning to KISS after winter break, determined to leave her past behind and stay out of drama. But of course, drama comes rushing in hard and fast. But that’s what makes this show exciting to watch. Kitty finds herself stuck in a dorm room with her crush Yuri, Yuri’s girlfriend Juliana, and her conniving new roommate, who’s pursuing Min Ho (aka her true love). Kitty’s also navigating her bisexuality, with a new love interest, Praveena, entering the mix. While Praveena brings an exciting dynamic to the show at first, it doesn’t exactly take off and I never felt the spark between her and Kitty.

Our other favorite KISS students also explores their own love life, though none are as captivating as Kitty’s. Min Ho’s potential love interest (aka the suspicious new roommate) brings unnecessary drama, though her storyline does give us a deeper look at Min Ho’s strained relationship with his father. Meanwhile, Dae appears to have an interest in Eunice (Ryu Han-bi), but it feels more like a temporary fling helping to move Dae’s story along. And Q, finds himself in to a classic enemies-to-lovers romance.

The real tension, though, lies in Kitty’s self-made love square: unresolved feelings for Yuri, unacknowledged interest in Min Ho, and her forced romantic connection with Priya. Kitty has endless amounts of love to give, but that same charisma gets her into trouble. Anna Cathcart shines as Kitty, beautifully portraying her character’s growth. You can see a clear shift in confidence between Seasons 1 and 2—not just in Kitty but in Cathcart herself, who fully embraces the messiness and charm of her role.

One of the most compelling parts of XO, Kitty is the exploration of Kitty’s late mother. The show seamlessly weaves this storyline into the drama, making it a core part of the series without overshadowing everything else. Yuri and Min Ho play key roles in helping Kitty uncover the truth about her mom’s past, and their friendships with Kitty are some of the most heartfelt moments of the season. Yuri and Kitty’s bond, in particular, feels healing for both characters. While Yuri may have helped Kitty discover parts of herself, she doesn’t have to be the person Kitty ends up with romantically. Still, the chemistry between Cathcart and Kim is undeniable. It’s one of the things that makes this franchise so lovable, the relationships are deeply compelling, constantly adding layers of emotion and heart.

Season 2 even dives into the nostalgia with appearances from Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo) and big sister Margot (Janel Parrish). Their cameos are the perfect nod to the original series while keeping the focus on Kitty and her world.

XO, Kitty is the kind of show that makes you long for the days of 22-episode seasons with mid-season breaks. It’s binge-worthy, yes, but the characters have the potential to create even deeper connections with their audience if given more time. One relationship I wish had been explored further this season was the possible rekindled romance between Director Lim and Professor Lee—it had so much potential!

Season 2 proves that XO, Kitty is as wild and unpredictable as its main character. It’s packed with the juicy drama we all loved about being young, and while Kitty still has a lot of growing up to do, that’s part of the magic. Watching her story unfold, with all its messiness and heart, is a joy. Netflix, can we get more episodes, please?

XO, Kitty is streaming now on Netflix.