The series "XO, Kitty," a spin-off of the "To All the Boys I've Loved Before" film saga, returned to Netflix this Thursday with its third season. A year after the premiere of its previous cycle, the story picks up exactly where it left off: the thrilling scene in which Kitty (Anna Cathcart), determined to confront her feelings for Min Ho (Sang Heon Lee), decides to join him on a summer tour. However, as seen in the first two minutes released by the platform earlier this week, not everything goes as the youngest member of the Song Covey clan expected, returning to the confusing dynamics with her romantic interest.
A Rollercoaster of Emotions While it was shaping up to be a season of resolutions, Jenny Han's series unfolds an emotional rollercoaster where chaos reigns, even in the final school year. On one hand, we have the protagonist seeking to complete her "sunset list," a series of tasks to close her chapter at the exclusive Korean Independent School of Seoul (KISS). And although deciding on college and spending time with family and friends are important on her agenda, the school year begins with the urgency of defining her relationship with Min Ho, who, for his part, is focused on his work as a manager for his friend Eunice (Ryu Han-bi).
Thus, school pressures, responsibilities, and new characters—like Marius (Sule Thelwell), a former roommate whose return is not well-received by the young woman—begin to complicate things between the main couple, reaching a critical point when the intuition of the self-proclaimed "matchmaker" starts to fail. Growing Up Also Means Accepting the Unexpected After hitting rock bottom, the story introduces one of its most significant moments of the season with the arrival of Lara Jean (Lana Condor), who encourages her younger sister to reflect on her life and confront her crisis. From that moment on, relationships take on a new hue, especially between Kitty and Min Ho, who face their own conflicts without losing the traits that have defined their personalities from the beginning, ultimately pushing them to confront key decisions about their future.
Although the third installment is not without certain narrative gaps, the production remains true to its romantic comedy style with touches of k-drama, showcasing the growth of the various group members over eight episodes in a brisk and easily consumable narrative. Thus, the new season of "XO, Kitty" manages to connect with the fears and complexities of growing up, reminding us that growing, in the end, also means accepting the unexpected.