XO, Kitty (Season 2)
Introduction
The movie that got me watching Korean American Dramas was “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”, followed by “XO, Kitty” — a fresh take on the same theme but packaged differently in a TV series format. This new season brings a wave of nostalgia with the familiar hot tub scene and yet another love letter. But do all these nostalgic elements come together to create the desired impact? Let’s find out!
Episode 1 - "K.I.S.S. Me Again"
Kitty returns to South Korea to begin her spring semester at the Korean Independent School of Seoul. Sitting in the backseat of an orange taxi, she makes her way to the K.I.S.S. campus, soaking in the vibrant views of Seoul and smiling with gratitude. Kitty proudly declares to Q that she’s now Kitty 2.0 —a more determined and drama-free version of herself. However, her optimism fades quickly when she finds out who her roommates are. Yuri and Juliana are in a happy relationship. Praveena, an Indian girl played by Sasha Bhasin, is the new face who shakes up the dynamics of Kitty’s love triangle. Min Ho’s dad arrives on campus, making a generous donation to KISS, and Praveena immediately identifies him as the “Kris Jenner of Korea.” Tension between Kitty and Min Ho lingers after his confession at the end of Season 1. She confronts him about their awkwardness. And that’s not all—Kitty also faces another confrontation. To top it off, Stella (or Esther) played by Audrey Huynh, also enters the scene. With two names and a mysterious vibe, Stella seems to have more layers to her personality than initially meets the eye.
Episode 2 - "Never Been Kissed"
In the next episode, Young Moon holds auditions for his Advanced Voice lectures. Min Ho goes on a Korean horror movie date. Stella takes a stand for Min Ho against his dad, which makes him warm up to her. Kitty makes progress in her search for the mystery man, Simon, uncovering more clues about his identity. True to her nature, she also pulls a classic move to help Q by fainting on the track, creating a diversion just in time. When Principal Lee overhears Kitty’s conversation, it sparks a chain of events that affects both friendships and relationships in the upcoming episodes.
Episode 3 - "New Year’s Kiss"
As celebrations for the Lunar New Year Festival begin, a student proudly showcases a ‘Bokjori’ as part of the traditional decorations. Professor Alex, played by Peter Thurnwald, sheepishly announces the annual opening of time capsule for the class that graduated 40 years ago. He explains that K.I.S.S. documents the experiences of heritage scholarship students to preserve the school’s history. This gives Kitty an idea to search for her mother’s time capsule, though it may be ahead of schedule. Praveena goes out of her way to make Kitty’s master plan a success by using her Korean-speaking skills, since Kitty isn’t exactly fluent in the language.
Min Ho’s dad announces the student talent showcase with a cash reward for the winner. Dae’s friends encourage him to enter, despite his doubts. The lucrative prize money becomes an added incentive for him to help his financially struggling family. Dae begins his practice sessions with Eunice. Yuri flirts with Kitty, despite being in a relationship with Juliana, complicating her ability to move on. Min Ho’s father invites him to his ski cabin for Seollal, promising a Ramyun dinner cooked by their family friend, a famous chef. Min Ho initially resists the idea of spending time alone with his dad but eventually gathers a large group to join him. Praveena is thrilled by the idea of visiting Kris-Jenner-of-Korea’s vacation home.
The audience gets glimpses of the Seoul Arts Festival featuring a Hanbok experience stall amidst people playing local games and slurping hot Tteokguk. Jealousy begins to brew as Juliana’s art opening nears, leaving her insecure when Yuri prioritizes Kitty over her. After searching through the city for a VCR player, Kitty and Yuri uncover more about Seojoon, which turns out to be Simon’s Korean name. Min Ho inadvertently discovers their secret.
Episode 4 - "Kiss and Tell"
This is the episode in which both the hot tub and the letter make a dramatic return. While an important person ditches the group, an unexpected guest shows up at the ski cabin – Q’s secret date. As anticipated, Kitty’s letter is leaked, causing chaos. The hot tub scene is just too cute and recreated appropriately. Break ups happen and friendships are now strained. Kitty steps into detective mode once again. Ryu Han-bi effortlessly nails her look in a SHEIN velvet pink co-ord set and this outfit perfectly aligns with the character she plays.
Episode 5 - "Kissing Cousins"
Kitty travels to Bukjeon to meet her estranged relatives – her great aunt and her cousin. When she discovers what they do for a living, she’s thrilled to finally understand where her matchmaking traits come from. Meanwhile, Q and Juliana share a heartfelt conversation over boba and spot Stella acting suspiciously. Stella narrowly evades getting caught, but her flimsy explanation only raises more doubts. Soon after, Min Ho’s dad gets embroiled in a scandal. I absolutely love Yuri’s outfit in this episode – an ASAI Hot Wok Turtleneck. It’s pricey but takes the crown for the best outfit of the season. Kitty is devastated when her relatives react in a way she hadn’t expected. Min Ho steps in to comfort her and cheers her up with his quick wit, eventually bringing a smile to her face.
Episode 6 - "Kiss and Make Up"
Peter Kavinsky returns in this episode, though not quite as the hero fans are used to—it’s a bit of a letdown. “I Like Me Better” plays in the background as he greets Kitty with a warm bear hug. He hand-delivers a stack of letters that Simon wrote to Eve, given to him by Lara Jean. Peter catches up on all the gossip from Kitty’s campus as they share a Sweet Potato Latte while he reassures her. He buys her a gift in the stationery shop, but his gesture doesn’t sit well with Min Ho. From their brief encounter at the shop, Peter notices that Min Ho remembers every little detail about Kitty, though he pretends to be annoyed. He even addresses her by her last name—Covey, just like Peter does with Lara Jean. After the MoonLeaks scandal breaks, Young Moon dives into damage control mode, focusing on firings, watertight NDAs, and a new PR strategy. Min Ho finally realizes why his dad was missing during Seollal. As for Kitty, she uncovers the reason behind Stella’s odd behavior—but by then, Min Ho is so attached to Stella that he refuses to believe her.
Episode 7 - "Kiss of Death"
As prom approaches, Kitty dreams of Min Ho who gives major K-drama vibes—but it lasts only for a few fleeting seconds. Meanwhile, Stella asks Min Ho for a favor that involves his dad. Min Ho heads to the Saturday market to help Kitty earn her great-aunt’s approval by highlighting her efforts to learn Korean. The great-aunt finally agrees to read the letters. During their conversation, Kitty learns that her halmoni (grandma), Young Ja, was outspoken and rebellious, while the great-aunt was the caring and responsible older sister. Young Ja had been set up for an arranged marriage but was betrayed by her own family, which forced her to flee Bukjeon. While Kitty works through her personal issues, she also launches a sting operation to repay Min Ho’s kindness. Despite her efforts, she fails to expose Stella. As prom begins, “Illusion” by Dua Lipa sets the perfect tone, marking the start of a night filled with tension and revelations.
Episode 8 - "Sealed with a Kiss"
Kitty manages to convince her family to reunite. The women perform a Jesa ritual, which is a Korean ceremony, to honor her late mother. Kitty finally begins to feel at home in Korea.
Min Ho’s older brother, Joon Ho, makes a grand entrance as Korea’s favorite son. Young Moon takes the stage, channeling Bollywood vibes as he descends on a crescent moon. This might remind the Indian audiences of “Tumse Milke Dil Ka Hai Jo Haal Kya Kahein”, IYKYK. Eunice and Dae engage in a thrilling performance rivalry, raising the stakes. Kitty, ever the planner, hatches a plan to save Min Ho’s family and Dae’s performance. Principal Lee is seen in an exciting new avatar. Actor Michael K. Lee’s transformation makes you root for him. Fun fact: he’s not only a great actor but also a singer and performer in real life! Dae steals the show as he sings Jung Kook’s “Seven”. Actor Choi Min-young is a musical star in real life too.
The season ends with Min Ho deciding to leave with his family for their summer tour, creating a heart-wrenching moment that feels reminiscent of a Bollywood classic. It’s the “Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani” interval scene, but dare I say, the plot makes the moment even more impactful.
Performances
Anna Cathcart makes Kitty’s return to Seoul a whirlwind of emotional revelations and adds nuance to her character navigating new challenges. If Noah Centineo as Peter Kavinsky is your main reason for watching this, you might end up disappointed, as he only appears briefly towards the end. The main cast, including Anthony Keyvan as “Q” and Regan Aliyah as Juliana, deliver more than expected. However, the show offers only fleeting glimpses of Korean culture, missing the opportunity to bring cultural depth to the story. Sang Heon Lee, as Min Ho, brings the K-Drama vibes but it’s once again cut short. The final episode, directed by Sherwin Shilati, may remind the Indian audiences of Bollywood classics. Sasha Bhasin does a great job in making her role of the new Indian character, Praveena, relatable. Costume designer Mojdeh Daftary’s meticulous planning is evident and Gia Kim playing a wealthy influencer shines in the best outfits. Philippe Lee is suave as the pop culture sensation – Young Moon. Audrey Huynh is so convincing in her negative role that you might develop a strong dislike for the character she plays. Choi Min-young steals the spotlight with his heartfelt performance of Jungkook’s song “Seven.”
