This review contains spoilers.
Dear “XO, Kitty” Season 3, you were a fun watch. But you also gave me several dozen figurative heart attacks.
The Netflix original series returned on April 2 after Season 2 ended on a romantic cliffhanger — and this time around, the show wasted no time diving into a rollercoaster of relationship drama, leaving me reeling from the whiplash.
As they enter their senior year of high school this season, the characters face change. Kitty (Anna Cathcart) and Min Ho (Sang Heon Lee) start the semester off with officially defining their relationship. However, as Min Ho becomes more involved in managing Eunice (Ryu Han-bi) and her idol career, Kitty becomes increasingly insecure about her role in his high-profile life. She’s also simultaneously struggling to meet her graduation requirements.
What made this season so uniquely compelling was the characters’ relatability, despite their overblown flaws. Their emotional realism and imperfect behavior ground the show. Expecting a season of escapism, I emerged with genuine heartache in response to the overarching theme of confronting identity to reach the characters’ deserved happy endings.
It was the side characters that really carried this season. After falling from riches to rags, Yuri (Gia Kim) discovers new passions beyond simply spending money. Her dynamic with Juliana (Regan Aliyah) and Praveena (Sasha Bhasin) is similarly well-executed, offering refreshing nuance and emotionally mature communication despite their complex interactions.
Even though Q (Anthony Keyvan) irritated me with how he lies to Jin (Joshua Hyunho Lee) about his history with ex-fling Marius (Sule Thelwell), the adorable “I love you” scene still hit hard enough to make me cry.
I also found Eunice’s struggles with being an idol to be especially moving. Watching her become increasingly overwhelmed by the lack of privacy not only rounded out her character but also shared some much needed critiques on the K-pop industry as a whole.
However, the central romantic conflict between Kitty and Min Ho was comically infuriating. She often overreacts out of insecurity and places an extraordinary amount of unwarranted blame on Min Ho when they break up. While he certainly could have communicated better, Kitty’s apologies always came with pointed fingers.
The heavy reliance on miscommunication as a plot device amplified my frustration. While these situations are common in reality, it becomes too excessive in the show. A recurring pattern throughout the season was characters blaming each other for their own mistakes. Though still in high school, they are written as highly immature for legal adults.
Furthermore, the season attempts too many storylines to the point where it feels rushed. From Yuri’s fashion designer debut to college applications to Kitty’s family drama, there is not enough time to meaningfully explore any of the presented plot threads. If there had to be a sacrifice, I would have preferred a simpler plot with greater detail over convoluted, shallow content.
Most notably, the unresolved tension between Yuri and Kitty from the previous seasons is entirely dropped. I loved the platonic and familial nature of their relationship, but there should have been a smoother shift into the realization that they are not romantically interested. You don’t just get over your gay awakening by falling in love with a man.
Despite these issues, the romances remain incredibly engaging. Some moments had me kicking my feet and smiling from ear to ear, even if they were followed by eye-rolling clips of Min Ho and Kitty entrenched in middle school-esque PDA. That emotional push and pull is precisely what makes the show so addictive.
Interpersonal relationships have always been the centerpiece of “XO, Kitty” but they truly shone through this season. Though the main couple and the superficial messaging irked me, the remaining cast made the watching experience worthwhile. The sisterly bond between Lara Jean (Lana Condor) and Kitty was heartwarming, even if the norovirus mention made me physically recoil.
Season 3 is a cesspool of chaos that still manages to exude an atmosphere of genuine love and platonic care. It is deeply entertaining, undeniably heartfelt and may have taken years off of my life.
XO, Rainee.
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