The Countdown to XO, Kitty Season 3 Has Quietly Begun: Kitty Embraces Reality, Min Ho Fights Openly, Dae Makes an Unexpected Move, and the Final Shot Ends One Relationship for Good
The anticipation for XO, Kitty Season 3 is building steadily, with Netflix confirming the premiere date as April 2, 2026. This senior-year installment at the Korean Independent School of Seoul (KISS) promises a shift from fantasy to grounded choices, as Kitty Song Covey stops chasing idealized romances, Min Ho steps up boldly to fight for her, and Dae surprises everyone with an unexpected move. Insiders hint that the season’s final shot delivers definitive closure, officially ending one key relationship and reshaping the romantic landscape forever.
As the spinoff from Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before franchise, XO, Kitty has thrived on its mix of heartfelt romance, cultural discovery, and teen realism. Anna Cathcart’s Kitty—relocated to Seoul to pursue love and reconnect with her Korean roots—has evolved from a wide-eyed matchmaker to someone grappling with her own heart. Season 1 introduced the love square with Dae (her long-distance boyfriend), Yuri (the complex heiress), and Min Ho (the charming rival). Season 2 (January 16, 2025) deepened Kitty’s self-exploration, including her bisexuality through a fling with Praveena, family secrets, and unresolved tension with Min Ho, culminating in a cliffhanger where Kitty joins him on a summer tour after nearly confessing her feelings. The season’s success—No. 2 on Netflix with 14.2 million views and Top 10 in 89 countries—reignited interest in the original films and fueled endless ship debates.
Season 3, consisting of eight ~30-minute episodes, picks up in Kitty’s senior year. Official synopses reveal her “perfect” plans: forging lasting memories with friends, strengthening ties with Korean relatives, and making pivotal future decisions—including defining her relationship with Min Ho “for real this time.” Production wrapped in July 2025 in Seoul under new showrunner Valentina Garza, with Jenny Han, Matt Kaplan, and Bradley Gardner as executive producers. The tone skews more mature, tackling graduation pressures, long-distance realities, and authentic heartbreak as characters confront who they truly want.
Kitty’s arc centers on maturity: she stops chasing fantasy romances, embracing what’s real and reciprocal. Min Ho (Sang Heon Lee), after seasons of patient pining and bold gestures like his airplane confession, fights openly for her, no longer content to wait. This “Min Ho era” teases a slow-burn payoff, with chemistry that’s been simmering since Season 1. Dae (Minyeong Choi), previously central to Kitty’s initial move to Korea, makes a move no one expects—perhaps a boundary-setting declaration, a selfless step back, or a surprising romantic pivot that shakes the dynamic. This evolution transforms the love triangle (or square) into something more decisive, forcing clarity amid revelations that derail plans.
The season’s emotional peak reportedly comes in the final shot, which closes one relationship definitively. While details are guarded, it promises cathartic closure—potentially a poignant goodbye, a quiet realization, or a visual metaphor for moving on. Past seasons featured iconic airport moments (Dae’s chase in Season 1, Min Ho’s confession in Season 2), so this could tie into themes of departures and new beginnings, symbolizing the end of one chapter as senior year concludes.
The returning cast delivers familiar sparks: Anna Cathcart as the optimistic yet growing Kitty, Sang Heon Lee as the suave Min Ho, Minyeong Choi as the earnest Dae, Gia Kim as Yuri (whose bond with Kitty continues to spark debate), Anthony Keyvan as loyal Q, Regan Aliyah as Juliana, Hojo Shin (promoted to series regular as Jiwon), and others. New additions—Sule Thelwell as Marius (possibly expanding Q’s queer storyline), Soy Kim as Yisoo, and Christine Hwang as Gigi—introduce fresh conflicts, alliances, and perhaps rivalries.
First-look photos from Netflix, captured by Youngsol Park, capture the season’s essence: Kitty and Min Ho in an intimate cherry-blossom moment, suggesting romantic progression; group shots radiating senior-year camaraderie; and Kitty exuding quiet confidence against Seoul’s skyline. These images highlight blooming possibilities and cultural authenticity, blending rom-com warmth with deeper maturity.
Fan energy on X is palpable. Many celebrate the MoonCovey (Min Ho-Kitty) focus, with posts like excitement over Min Ho’s delivery of “Covey” and theories of a summer tour leading to romance. Others analyze handholds or color palettes for Kitty-Yuri hints, while some humorously predict Kitty choosing herself. Reactions range from “I’m so ready for XO KITTY SEASON 3” to passionate ship debates, underscoring the show’s ability to ignite passion.
XO, Kitty endures through strong representation—Asian-American experiences, bisexual visibility, and relatable teen struggles like identity, family, and future uncertainty. As April 2, 2026, approaches, Season 3 looks set to deliver growth, heartbreak, and resolution. Kitty’s journey from fantasy to reality, Min Ho’s open fight, Dae’s surprise move, and that final shot promise an emotional send-off to senior year—closing one door while opening possibilities for whatever comes next.
