'XO, Kitty' Season 2 review: Totally teen drama-ma-ma-ma
If Season 2 of XO, Kitty wanted to end each episode, not just one, with Aespa’s "Drama" it would work.
The sweet Netflix series spinoff of Jenny Han's To All the Boys I've Loved Before franchise centres on the youngest Song Covey sister, chaos queen and matchmaker Kitty (Anna Cathcart), who finds her own path attending her mother's former high school in Seoul — and cannonballing into romantic pandemonium between classes. In Season 1, confessions of love were made, exams were passed, and Kitty navigated her bisexual awakening. After all the unearthed family secrets and lovelorn twists of Kitty's first semester, the series left us on a colossal cliffhanger in coach.
In Season 2, co-showrunners Han and Sascha Rothchild spring from the first season's foundations, not only pushing Kitty to dig further into her mother's past (through franchise-important letters, of course) but throwing the show's now established characters into teen K-drama-worthy romantic hijinks, enemies-to-lovers gold, and high stakes family drama. If you loved Season 1 of XO, Kitty, you'll want to seize that popcorn and let the dramatic misunderstandings, near-kisses, and banger soundtrack flow for the second semester.
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XO, Kitty Season 2 cranks up the romantic chaos
Where Season 1 subverted high school romance tropes with a sapphic twist, Season 2 moves forward into nothing short of romantic chaos. Given a second, post-expulsion chance at the fictional Korean Independent School of Seoul (yes, KISS), Kitty is determined to start fresh this term — academically, romantically, generally. She's reunited with her beloved athletic bestie Q (Anthony Keyvan), on relatively good terms with her sweet, heartbroken ex Dae (Minyeong Choi), and determined to move on from her mega crush on Yuri (Gia Kim), the latter potentially helped with the introduction of American student Praveena (Sasha Bhasin).
Multiple spanners in the works? Yuri's girlfriend Juliana (Regan Aliyah) is back at KISS and they're living through the honeymoon phase together as Kitty's roommates — yeah, she's totally fine with it, cool, cool, cool. Min Ho (Sang Heon Lee) dropped the truth bomb shipping dreams were made of on Kitty in the Season 1 finale, and he’s struggling with all that while managing the sudden, backup dancer-flanked arrival of his star talent manager father (Philippe Lee) at the school. Plus, Kitty's new roommate Stella (Audrey Huynh) has a few secrets of her own behind that pious facade.
When I tell you that every single one of these characters ends up in a complicated romantic situation this season, I am underplaying it. Yuri and Juliana are finally able to be themselves together within their friend group, which means the show is actually able to develop their relationship beyond Season 1's banishment storyline. After his romance with Florian ended last season, Q is given a sweet enemies-to-lovers narrative when he's not trying to keep Kitty out of trouble. And privileged prince Min Ho clings to his signature posh bravado and a new love interest to keep those pesky true feelings hidden.
These are mere starting points for the characters orbiting our protagonist, whose own storyline fluctuates between romantic love and a determination to reunite her family — and it's here the season actually answers outstanding questions from Season 1.
Kitty Song Covey remains an imperfect heroine who deserves a break
In every episode of XO, Kitty, someone ends up needing to apologise to someone else — and that person is pretty much always our girl Kitty. Sometimes it's warranted, sometimes she's unfairly branded a pariah, other times it's a bit of both. But what XO, Kitty does is give us a flawed, complex teen heroine making mistake after mistake — and actually taking responsibility for her actions. Like fellow Netflix teen series Never Have I Ever, XO, Kitty leans into its protagonist's imperfections and impulsive decisions — and Cathcart does an excellent job keeping Kitty true to her insatiable desire to be liked, accepted, and included. It's relatable stuff.
Most of Kitty's time at school is spent suppressing her feelings for Yuri, exploring something new with Praveena, and figuring out what's going on with Min Ho after the plane moment. But unlike last season, Kitty's meddling and matchmaking skills are held mostly for her reuniting her long-estranged family this time. In Season 1, Kitty's search for her mother Eve's past at KISS led her instead to uncover life-changing details about Eve's friends, so in Season 2, Han and Rothchild refocus on the Song family — meaning some pretty moving scenes for Kitty, and a surprise cameo from Janel Parrish as her sister Margot. But it's not the only To All The Boys... cameo here.
Season 2 enjoys a great To All The Boys… Peter Kavinsky cameo
Though we don't get a Lara Jean cameo this season as rumoured, we get the next best thing: a Peter Kavinsky drop-in. The internet's unrivalled boyfriend of 2018, Noah Centineo turns up this season of XO, Kitty, and it's one of those rare moments where giving the people what they want also works for the narrative.
Peter arrives at the boiling point of Kitty's personal drama, and it's a moment of relief and perspective not only for the protagonist but also the viewer. Kitty's not-yet-brother-in-law (they're only 22!) happens to be in town for some shoehorned sports related reason, but his role in the episode is to ask the quiet parts out loud for our turbulent people-pleaser. Who's that guy who's obviously in love with you? Where are you at with your roommate situation? Would you like a hug even though everyone's mad at you? It's a welcome, familiar check-in and the series benefits from it.
XO, Kitty returns with all the sweetness, fun, and romantic mayhem of the first season, diving further into the characters' relationships with each other and Kitty's determination to find connection with her extended family. One for the fans, it's good to be back at KISS.
XO, Kitty is now streaming on Netflix.
Topics Netflix
Shannon Connellan is Mashable's UK Editor based in London, formerly Mashable's Australia Editor, but emotionally, she lives in the Creel House. A Tomatometer-approved critic, Shannon writes about entertainment, tech, social good, science, culture, and Australian horror.
