etflix’s XO, Kitty returns in 2025, bringing back the charm, humour and emotional highs that have made the series a standout in the young adult romance genre. A spin-off of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, the show carves out its own identity, following the ever-curious and love-struck Kitty Song Covey as she navigates the complexities of relationships, identity and self-discovery in a dazzling new setting.

Kitty Song Covey is played by Anna Cathcart. Covey, who once played the impish conductor of her sister’s heartstrings, now takes centre stage in the grand theatre of romance. Her sojourn to South Korea, first envisioned as a dalliance of the heart, a reunion with her beloved, soon unfurls into a journey far greater—a revelation of selfhood amid the labyrinthine corridors of youth’s tempestuous affections.

As Kitty’s plans go awry, she finds herself swept up in a whirlwind of emotions and experience. The series doesn’t just focus on romance. It explores friendships, cultural identity and the challenges of growing up in a world that doesn’t always fit our expectations.

The splendour of Seoul itself plays no minor role in this enchanted reverie. Its neon-lit avenues and hushed hanok courtyards cradle Kitty’s story, weaving a backdrop most exquisite, where East and West entwine in a seamless embrace. The city breathes, pulses with life, as friendships bloom, rivalries ignite and the tender ache of first love wields its intoxicating sting. Season 2 returns with Kitty more confused than ever about not only who she loves but her sexuality as well.

What fate lays in her path is no mere dalliance, no simple ode to young love. It is a symphony both sweet and discordant, a tale wherein Kitty’s expectations are cast asunder upon the shores of reality. She must now fashion her own destiny. Love leads her through confusion and betrayals both whispered and unspoken, always with the promise of wisdom gleaned from sorrow’s embrace.

Directors Jennifer Arnold, Jeff Chan and Katina Medina Mora bring a fresh perspective to the series, balancing the lighthearted moments with a heartfelt emotional beat. The storytelling is crisp, the pacing engaging and the emotional depth never forced.

Showrunners Jenny Han, Matt Kaplan and Sascha Rothchild infuse the narrative with authenticity, ensuring that every moment feels both relatable and meaningful. The cinematography by Mitchell Amundsen elevates the experience, capturing the vibrancy of Seoul’s bustling streets and intimate character-driven moments with equal finesse.

Yet, dear reader, XO, Kitty is not solely a tale of hearts entwined and unmoored. It is an ode to independence, a song of selfhood sung in the key of adolescence as Kitty explores her mother’s roots and history poking and prodding on delicate nerves to uncover buried secrets.

But what of the players who share this fabled stage? Behold, the dashing, the enigmatic, the kindred spirits who stand as mirrors to Kitty’s soul. Each character is imbued with layers both seen and hidden and adds to the grand mosaic of her world. Rival suitors from Min-ho to Yuri to Dae; loyal confidantes such as Quincy; and those who walk the fine line between friend and foe all take their rightful places.

When it seems like Kitty has nothing under control and might get kicked out of KISS a second time, enters Peter Kavinsky. The directors knew the exact memory to tap for the fans of To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before. What better entry song than I Like Me Better. Can he fix the teenage mess created by Kitty and provide a solution once and for all or do we have to wait for another season for a better closure to Kitty’s teenage trouble.

Yet, dear reader, XO, Kitty is not solely a tale of hearts entwined and unmoored. It is an ode to independence, a song of selfhood sung in the key of adolescence as Kitty explores her mother’s roots and history poking and prodding on delicate nerves to uncover buried secrets. Kitty’s journey, though painted with the brush of romance, is in truth about the forging of her own path; the shedding of naivety; and the dawning realisation that true love begins within oneself.

As the final act draws nigh, viewers find themselves bound by the spell cast by XO, Kitty. It is a tale both modern and timeless; a romance both sweet and bittersweet; a comedy laced with the gravitas of growing ache. In the hallowed halls of young adult drama, it shall not be forgotten soon, for it has woven a tale whose impact lingers long after the credits fade, like the last whispered notes of a ballad well sung.

The writer has a degree in psychology with a minor in mass communication. She can be reached at ukmaryam2@gmail.com