XO, Kitty is one of those shows you start “just out of curiosity”… and then suddenly it’s 3 a.m. because you need to know what happens next.
It’s romantic, chaotic, super emotional, and—most importantly—set in South Korea (which is already enough to love it).
The series is a spin-off of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and was created by Jenny Han. It follows the story of Kitty Song Covey, played by Anna Cathcart, who decides to move to Seoul to live out a love story… but of course, nothing goes as planned.
The first season, released in 2023, is basically the beginning of the chaos (in a good way). Kitty arrives at KISS, an ultra-exclusive international school, convinced she has everything under control… but between secrets, lies, and love triangles, her life gets complicated fast. This is where we meet unforgettable characters: Min Ho (Sang Heon Lee), arrogant but secretly soft-hearted, Yuri (Gia Kim), mysterious and intense, and Q (Anthony Keyvan), the best friend everyone wishes they had. It’s a very teen-driven season, full of drama, but you can already tell there’s something deeper underneath.
With the second season (2025), everything changes. Relationships become deeper, more complicated—less of a “game” and more real. Kitty starts to understand that love isn’t always perfect; it can be confusing, difficult, and even painful. And then that moment with Min Ho changes everything… that finale? Total chaos. It’s impossible not to want the next season immediately.
The third season, released on April 2, 2026, on Netflix, is probably the most important. Kitty returns to Seoul for her final year at KISS and has to face real decisions: her future, university, relationships… all at once. This time, she’s more mature, less impulsive, and more self-aware. The emotions hit harder because they feel more real. And yes… Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor) also returns, connecting the series even more to the original universe.
Another thing that makes XO, Kitty special is its locations. Seoul isn’t just a backdrop—it’s part of the story. From neon-lit streets to international schools, aesthetic cafés, and iconic corners of the city, everything helps create a unique atmosphere. In season 3, Busan is also introduced, with beaches and night skylines that make everything even more cinematic.
The show’s success is no coincidence. It has won over Gen Z because it portrays love in a realistic way, without overly idealizing it. It tells stories of confusion, growth, and identity. It blends Western and Korean culture naturally and features diverse, inclusive, and authentic characters. And most of all… it’s impossible not to get attached.
Why you should watch it (really)
It’s not just a romantic series. It’s a story about growth, identity, and difficult choices. It’s like… that phase in life when you don’t know what you want, but you feel everything so intensely. And maybe that’s exactly why it works so well.
