Love triangles, quadrilaterals, and all forms of love have captivated Netflix viewers since "XO, Kitty," the spin-off series from To All the Boys I've Loved Before premiered on Thursday, May 18 and soared to #3 on Netflix's Top 10 TV Shows chart The series soared to #3 on Netflix's Top 10 TV Shows chart. Also created by TATBIL's Jenny Han, the show follows Lara Jean's sister and matchmaker Kitty Song Covey (Anna Cathcart) on a romantic adventure in Seoul. xO, Kitty" given the explosive popularity of Korean entertainment, It is a smart mash-up of American and Korean teen dramas.
As for reviews, "XO, Kitty" has a high rating of 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, but a low audience score of 57%.
So is "XO, Kitty" worth watching? Let's break it down.
Kitty Song Covey is a rising third grader who wants to transfer to the prestigious Korean International School of Seoul, a lovely school known by its acronym KISS. She has two reasons: one is to reunite with her long-distance boyfriend Tae (Choi Min-yong), and the other is to reconnect with her heritage and follow in the footsteps of her late mother.
But when Kitty arrives in Korea, she is a fish out of water, barely able to speak the language. She is shunned by students and teachers alike, including the formidable Principal Jinah Lim (Kim Yoon-jin). To make matters worse, when she finally meets Dai, she is mortified to learn that he apparently has a girlfriend named Yuri Han (Jia Kim), a wealthy queen bee. [Kitty stays behind in KISS. She makes friends with fellow expat Q (Anthony Keevan) and frenemy Minho (Lee Sang Hong). But classes are harder than they seem, and Professor Lee (Michael K. Lee) sends her to tutoring for the first time. At least the new Korean-Australian professor, Alex (Peter Thurnwald), seems nice.
Kitty's romantic and academic woes are further complicated by the discovery of her mother's long-buried secret. She may be a capable matchmaker, but Kitty discovers that she does not know everything about love.
Critics were generally favorable about "XO, Kitty," with an overall rating of 82% on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences, on the other hand, gave it a lower rating.
Hollywood reporter Angie Han called the show "a cute, fluffy cupcake of romance." She adds, "What it lacks in intense chemistry of its predecessor, it makes up for with a fresh playfulness befitting its hilarious heroine.
The Guardian's Janelle Zara wrote, "'XO, Kitty' is not prestige TV, but its engaging cast is worth revisiting next semester."
Decider's Joel Keller writes, "XO, Kitty works because Cathcart knows Kitty well at this point, and the story unfolds without the usual artificial romantic comedy plot devices."
Lauren Cheval of the AV Club feels that "it feels a little awkward at first" and that "the main character is grating on everyone around her, including the audience." Nevertheless, Cheval notes that "by the end of the fifth episode, it starts to come together and you can feel the Han magic kick in."
Audience opinion is divided. Yonher S. said, "I thought this show was just a cheesy romance about a girl who wants to be with her boyfriend. But there is more to it than that."
However, Crystal S. says, "This was cringe-worthy from start to finish." Emily G. was more in the middle, "It wasn't completely off the mark, but the production felt rushed. The story was mediocre and the characters underdeveloped.
If you're looking for a heartwarming romance for teens that isn't too deep, "XO, Kitty" is right up your alley.
Having watched the entire first season, I give it my seal of approval. The lead character, Kitty, is not as likable or appealing as Lara Jean, but she is more complex and interesting.
As a series rather than a movie, "XO, Kitty" has room to develop supporting characters and develop different plots. Yuri is amazing and her story about her sexuality and family is as central to the show as Kitty's love life.
With 10 episodes, each about 30 minutes long, it's easy to finish the entire season in a day. The great cast and fun Seoul setting are well worth your time, and I can't wait for XO,Kitty Season 2.
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