TV Show review
Review basis: 3 seasons · through April 2, 2026
May 18, 2023 · TV-14 · Ended
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
XO, Kitty is a Netflix teen rom-com spin-off from Jenny Han's To All the Boys series. Half-Korean American Kitty Song Covey attends an elite international boarding school in Seoul to reconnect with her long-distance boyfriend and learn about her late mother's past. Across three seasons the show follows love triangles, school drama, family secrets, and self-discovery, with prominent queer storylines including a lesbian character in a secret relationship, a gay character, and the lead's bisexual awakening and explorations. Creators, cast, and coverage have framed the queer elements as bold representation in a Korean setting, and the series won a GLAAD award for kids and family programming.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for XO, Kitty.
Woke representation / casting
Prominent lesbian character Yuri drives major plotlines involving secret relationship, family conflict, and coming out. Gay character Q has recurring arcs. Kitty's bisexual questioning and crush on Yuri form a central season 1 storyline and love triangle. Diverse international school ensemble is emphasized in marketing and cast interviews. Casting directors have documented focus on inclusive and queer representation. The setting justifies some variety, but the volume and framing of queer roles in key positions add weight per guidelines.
Woke political dialogue
Includes coming-out conversations, parental disapproval of queer relationships framed around societal acceptance, and light cultural notes on identity in a Korean versus Western context. These function mainly as personal and family drama within the teen rom-com structure rather than extended activist lectures or institutional critiques.
Identity-driven story themes
Kitty's mixed Korean-American heritage and quest to connect with her mother's past form the core premise across all seasons. Queer identities for Yuri, Q, and Kitty shape emotional arcs, conflicts with family/society, and self-discovery. Love triangles and family reconciliation frequently intertwine with these elements. Creators and coverage have described the queer threads as meaningful and significant.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Occasional contrasts appear between more open Western attitudes and conservative Korean family expectations, mainly around queer relationships and school life. The show does not present broader systemic critiques of Western institutions, capitalism, patriarchy, traditional norms, or similar as central messaging.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant. This is an original spin-off with new characters in Jenny Han's universe. No identity-driven swaps or reinterpretations of established canon figures or source material occur.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Niche online complaints (Reddit, Facebook, X) describe the prominent queer storylines as the show going woke, adding forced diversity, or shifting into an LGBT-focused series without warning relative to the original films. No major mainstream news coverage of widespread backlash or boycotts. Recent complaints are more often from progressive viewers unhappy with season 3 handling of queer arcs.
Creator track record context
Creator Jenny Han maintains a consistent focus on Asian-American stories and authentic representation. Executive producer/writer Sascha Rothchild has credits on The Bold Type, which featured explicit LGBTQ and social-issue storylines. Casting directors Rapaport and Baldasare have clear inclusive/queer-forward reputations. Other key writers and directors show lower or limited public activist patterns.
Production
