Netflix’s To All the Boys franchise has a new installment with the spin-off series XO, Kitty. Jenny Han – author of the novels on which the narrative universe is based – is the co-showrunner for the 10-episode season, along with Sascha Rothchild. While the trilogy of films follows the story of Lara Jean (Lana Condor) and Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo), the new series focuses on Lara Jean’s younger sister, Kitty (Anna Cathcart). Rather than the Portland, Oregon setting that was synonymous with the films, XO, Kitty takes the story to Seoul, South Korea where Kitty attends her late mother’s alma mater, the Korean Independent School of Seoul. Now, Kitty finds herself in the middle of her own complicated love story, reuniting with her long-distance boyfriend Dae (Minyeong Choi) at the school.
Han and Rothchild both affirm that even audience members that lack a familiarity with the franchise can watch the XO, Kitty series fresh and appreciate the relatability of the characters and situations. It is a classic fish-out-of-water story in many aspects, which viewers from various backgrounds will find engaging and sympathetic. In addition to the main characters of Kitty and Dae, other significant roles include Quincy “Q” Shabazian (Anthony Keyvan), Yuri Han (Gia Kim), Min Ho (Sang Heon Lee), Professor Alex Finnerty (Peter Thurnwald), Juliana (Regan Aliyah), and Florian (Théo Augier Bonaventure).
The group of directors behind the camera on XO, Kitty consists of Emmy-nominated filmmaker Jennifer Arnold – who helms four episodes – as well as Jeff Chan, Katina Medina Mora, and Pamela Romanowsky, with two episodes credited to each. Currently holding a Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh rating of 82 percent based on 22 reviews, critics praise the show’s charm, charisma, and sincerity which have continued to make the franchise a success with its teen target audience.
All 10 episodes of XO, Kitty Season 1 are now available to stream on Netflix.
Thomas Manning is a member of the NCFCA and SEFCA, and also the co-host of the television show and radio program Meet Me at the Movies. He also serves as Senior Interviewer for Elements of Madness. He has worked as a production assistant and voting member on the Film Selection Committee for the Real to Reel Film Festival. Additionally, he manages his own film review and interview site, The Run-Down on Movies.
Manning is a graduate of Gardner-Webb University with a double-major in Communications and English. His passion for cinema and storytelling is rivaled only by his love for the music of Taylor Swift.
When he isn’t watching or talking about movies, you can usually find Manning drinking a ridiculous amount of coffee, going on spontaneous road trips, and running dozens of miles as he searches for the meaning of life.