XO, Kitty season 3 sidestepped a beloved ship—and it was a big mistake

MAJOR spoilers are ahead from XO, Kitty season 3!

XO, Kitty is back with its third season, and I'm going to be brutally honest. I'm not a happy camper at all about how the writers handled one beloved ship. I'm talking about Kitty and Yuri. The third season completely sidestepped their storyline, leaving one of the most emotionally charged and fan-loved dynamics in the series frustratingly unresolved.

When XO, Kitty first debuted as a To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before spinoff, fans were curious whether Kitty Song‑Covey (Anna Cathcart) could carry her own series. What we didn’t expect, however, was one of the most genuinely intriguing emotional threads unfolding between Kitty and her classmate Yuri Han (Gia Kim). That's only for that thread to be noticeably under‑utilized in XO, Kitty season 3.

The third season of XO, Kitty, which premiered on Netflix on April 2, 2026, follows Kitty during her senior year at KISS as she plans for her future, navigates relationships, and deepens her connection with Min Ho, aka her latest romantic focus. But in doing so, the show quietly glosses over one of its most compelling dynamics from earlier seasons. That's the emotional and romantic tension between Kitty and Yuri. 

From tension to unresolved potential

In XO, Kitty season 1, Kitty arrives in Seoul hoping to reconnect with her long‑distance boyfriend, Dae, only to find he’s in a fake relationship with Yuri. This setup wasn’t just a trope. It created a natural tension between Kitty and Yuri from the beginning. As they were forced into proximity and shared emotional space, the relationship quickly went beyond casual friendship. Kitty genuinely developed feelings for Yuri. 

Many fans recognized this early on. Even back after the first season, discussions around their interactions were rife, with many viewers interpreting small moments, looks, and emotional beats as foreshadowing something deeper than friendship. 

This wasn’t merely “will‑they/won’t‑they” tension. It was queer representation in motion, with Kitty seemingly exploring more than one romantic direction.

A defining moment and a switch

Then, in XO, Kitty season 2, Kitty and Yuri’s storyline reached its emotional apex. They finally kissed. But rather than launching into a clear relationship, the moment was fraught with ambiguity. Yuri was still recently out of a relationship with Juliana, and ultimately rejected Kitty’s advance. Of course, this left viewers heartbroken but more invested than ever in their potential. 

During that season, Kitty even penned a heartfelt love letter to Yuri. It was a significant emotional beat that showed just how deep her feelings were. Yet the narrative never fully addressed this letter or the emotional fallout in a satisfying way. Again, it was left unresolved. 

To make matters more complicated, Kitty found herself increasingly drawn to Min Ho. While Min Ho’s arc gave Kitty a clear romantic trajectory, the show’s pivot toward him came at the expense of exploring Kitty and Yuri’s connection with emotional depth.

Season 3’s choice and the missed opportunity

Then, we arrive at XO, Kitty season 3, which makes its creative priorities clear right away. Kitty’s love life is now centered on defining her relationship with Min Ho.

While Min Ho’s storyline is heartfelt and Kitty’s growth with him enjoyable, the show’s decision to sideline Kitty and Yuri’s unresolved tension feels like a narrative misstep. Yuri is still present in the cast and appears in group scenes, but with the story distancing itself from any deep follow‑through on their connection, her role feels more like background support than a story with emotional stakes of its own. 

For many fans, this wasn’t just disappointing. It felt like a missed representation opportunity. Kitty and Yuri’s relationship offered one of the few meaningful queer narratives in the series. The show’s handling of that dynamic, especially the drop in focus after their kiss, felt abrupt and unsatisfying. Treating Kitty’s kiss with Yuri as merely a “phase” or a step toward her story with Min Ho comes off as dismissive of real emotional complexity. 

The heart of the issue

I mean, part of what made Kitty and Yuri’s arc so gripping is that it wasn’t just about romantic possibility. It was about identity, vulnerability, and honest emotional reckoning. Unlike other relationships on the series, which developed in predictable ways, this one was messy, lived‑in, and rooted in personal significance for both characters.

But by season 3, we rarely see these threads revisited in any substantive way. Yes, Kitty has moved forward and is exploring a new connection with Min Ho. That’s fine, but the show doesn’t give Kitty and Yuri the closure their dynamic deserved. To many, it feels like the tension was introduced for attention rather than resolution.

Why it matters

Ultimately, XO, Kitty is a show about growth, exploration, and the ups and downs of young love. Its greatest strength lies in how it reflects the messy, unpredictable paths of teenage feelings. But if the series is going to introduce emotionally charged dynamics, particularly those that touch on identity and queer experience, it owes those moments narrative payoff.

By drifting away from Kitty and Yuri’s layered connection in favor of a more straightforward romance, XO, Kitty season 3 sidestepped one of its most beloved ships, and that choice has left a noticeable gap in the emotional tapestry of the show.

I've pretty much given up on Kitty and Yuri ever being an item, and it looks like we're probably never going to get that closure many of us had been hoping for. The third season moved on as if Kitty didn't spend the entire second season spiraling over her feelings for Yuri. Honestly, it’s truly a shame how things turned out. Will I be tuning in if there is to be an XO, Kitty season 4? If I'm being honest, I'm undecided at the moment.

XO, Kitty season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.