In this age of constant reboots and franchise extensions, it can be easy to feel cynical when another spinoff is announced. Sometimes, however, a project will come along that is so vibrant, fun, and creative, any prior misgivings will melt away entirely. Such is the case with Netflix's new series XO, Kitty, an offshoot of the successful To All the Boys I've Loved Before franchise. Created by To All the Boys author Jenny Han, the new show brings Lara Jean Covey's matchmaking sister into the spotlight for her own adventure. On the surface, XO, Kitty appears to be a straightforward tale of rom-com sweetness, but in reality, it's packed with enough twists to surpass any expectations.
Kitty Song Covey (Anna Cathcart) met a boy during a family vacation to Korea in To All the Boys: Always & Forever. Since then, Kitty and Dae (Min-yeong Choi) have kept up a steady long-distance relationship, though the novelty has worn thin. Desperate to get some actual quality time with Dae, Kitty applies to the same boarding school he attends, the Korean Independent School of Seoul, which also happens to be the same school her late mother went to when she was Kitty's age. Kitty arrives in Seoul eager to reunite with Dae, but her hopes are quickly dashed when she finds him with another girl, the affluent Yuri (Gia Kim), at the welcome party. For this young matchmaker, love has suddenly become much more complicated.
To say much more about Kitty's journey in XO, Kitty would violate the list of spoilers Netflix is striving to keep tightly under wraps. However, it's safe to say this is a series that defies expectations. Han, who serves as a co-showrunner alongside Sascha Rothchild, has crafted another breezy, heartfelt YA rom-com that fits in perfectly alongside To All the Boys and The Summer I Turned Pretty, the Prime Video show based on her other hit book series. With ten episodes in total, all clocking in within 30 minutes or less, XO, Kitty is a very bingeable series, particularly because Kitty's story is easy to be immersed in. The idea of a 17-year-old girl moving across the world for a boy is undoubtedly one that will raise some eyebrows, but the creative team wisely gave another edge to Kitty's determination to move to Korea: Her mother. XO, Kitty never loses sight of this element of its heroine's arc, instead weaving in poignant moments where she learns new details about her mom even as she's discovering more about herself.
Even the storyline involving Kitty's investigation into her mother's past leads to some unexpected twists. Certain plot points and the ease with which they come about strain credulity, an unfortunate side effect of XO, Kitty's fluffy nature. Luckily, the series' ensemble more than makes up for these moments. Yuri, initially poised to be the villain, proves to be a multifaceted character whose storyline with her mother, Jina (Lost's Yunjin Kim, excellent here), is less one-dimensional than it initially appears to be. Kitty also encounters Dae's friends Q (Anthony Keyvan) and Min-Ho (Sang Heon Lee), both of whom have their own compelling arcs and unique dynamics with Kitty. Of the young cast, it's Dae who is perhaps the blandest, though that is through no fault of Choi's, as the actor plays his conflicted position with a sweet earnestness. Dae and Yuri's relationship, somewhat surprisingly considering their betrayal of Kitty, actually yields excellent character moments for both.
Fans of the To All the Boys trilogy will be pleased by what they find here. While there are no cameos from Lara Jean or Peter, John Corbett returns as Dr. Covey alongside Sarayu Blue's Trina, and his brief appearances help reaffirm one of the best aspects of the movies, which was the familial bonds between everyone within the Song Covey family. There are also several other references to To All the Boys throughout XO, Kitty, with the most prominent being Kitty's repeated assertion that she is an excellent matchmaker. Stepping into the leading role, Cathcart nails Kitty's exuberance and headstrong nature, proving she can more than handle her own story. Kitty runs into moments of self-centeredness, and while some characters do call it out, she never quite stops to examine that within herself. Nevertheless, Kitty's journey is a strong reminder that love isn't simple, and there are hidden corners within one's self that can surprise even the most self-assured person.
XO, Kitty fits in perfectly with Netflix's growing rom-com slate, and one can only hope it gets the chance to continue beyond this first season. It has an extra sheen of a heightened reality thanks to the glossy surroundings of the fictional K.I.S.S., but it will no doubt spark feelings of warmth. Anyone who enjoys a good rom-com or coming of age story will be well served by what Ms. Kitty Song Covey has to offer.
XO, Kitty is now streaming on Netflix. The series consists of ten 30-minutes episodes and is rated TV-14.