When Anna Cathcart was cast as Kitty Song Covey in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, she didn’t know she’d play the character for the rest of her teenage years, first in two more films and now the spin-off series XO, Kitty.
“I truly had no idea how much [Kitty] was going to change my life,” she told Tudum about vying for the role. “I had just turned 14 and at the time I was auditioning for a one-off little romance movie (that I absolutely loved). I was ecstatic [when I was cast], but so unaware of the incredible universe that I was about to enter.”
Premiering April 2, XO, Kitty Season 3 picks up with the youngest Covey sister as she returns to the Korean Independent School of Seoul (KISS) in Seoul, South Korea for her senior year.
“Not just for Kitty, but for all of our characters, this is a season about personal growth,” showrunner Valentina Garza tells Tudum. “There’s so much pressure and high stakes in being on the precipice of adulthood. That can be really scary, but it can also be really joyful if you just embrace it fully. That’s what we want to see with all of our characters.”
This semester, Kitty has everything mapped out: she’s going to make meaningful memories with her friends Q (Anthony Keyvan), Yuri (Gia Kim), and Dae (Choi Min-yeong); grow closer to her relatives in Korea, including her cousin Jiwon (Hojo Shin); and make big decisions about her future. Her big sister Lara Jean (Lana Condor) even returns to visit her little sis.
Read on to catch up with Kitty’s squad in the series, and meet some of its newest members:
When the youngest Covey sister came to KISS, she hoped to follow in her late mother’s footsteps and learn more about her Korean family.
Kitty’s mother, Eve, had been working with her cousin Simon to reunite their mothers before she died. In Season 2, the next generation finally fulfills their wish and, with older sister Margot’s (Janel Parrish) help, brings their halmeonis (grandmothers) together and mends family wounds that had been festering for 50 years.
Would-be matchmaker Kitty ended Season 2 more self-assured than ever. Going into Season 3, she’s now able to have a closer relationship with her own cousin, Simon’s daughter, Jiwon (Hojo Shin).
“Launching into her senior year, this is a time of real self-discovery and growth for her,” says Garza. “Over the last couple of years, she’s discovered that maybe she doesn’t know everything about love, especially as she’s turned that lens in on herself.”
Odd Squad, Descendants 2 and 3
Kitty’s first boyfriend-turned dear friend Dae discovered a lot about himself last season: He found romance with Eunice, although they ended the season a bit on the rocks. He pursued his passion for singing in the talent showcase while staying a straight-A student. He even placed second, thanks to the help of his friends rallying around him as his backup dancers.
This season, his whole life has changed now that his dad, who used to be Yuri’s dad’s driver, won a class action lawsuit against him. They don’t need to worry about money in the same way anymore. But he still has a lot to figure out with his friendship with Yuri, and, perhaps even more precariously, where he stands with Eunice.
Dream Palace
Yuri’s world as she knew it shattered at the end of last season: her family lost their fortune in a lawsuit. And her ex Juliana started dating someone new, to boot.
Now, Yuri’s learning to navigate the world in a whole new way — including how to pay for this semester at KISS. But her fashion prowess may take her places she’d never even dreamed of. At least she still has true friends in Kitty, her half-brother Alex (Peter Thurnwald), and even Dae, despite their parents’ legal feud.
Min Ho is the guy Kitty never thought she’d fall for. But by the end of Season 2, their slow burn romance reached a boiling point. They proved how much they care in how they showed up for each other. She saved Min Ho and his family from his ex-girlfriend’s blackmail. And he saved her by flying in her family on a private jet so they could have the healing reunion Kitty had always dreamed of. Talk about epic grand gestures!
At the start of Season 3, Min Ho is about to embark on a world tour as Eunice’s (Han Bi Ryu) manager. But, like Kitty, he’s also dying to know where their relationship stands.
Gran Turismo, Secret Ingredient
Fellow American Q is Kitty’s best friend. A track star at KISS, he spends the summer at USC’s summer training program. He’s still going strong with Jin, his former running rival turned boyfriend. But Q grows uneasy when an old friend who likes to push his boundaries returns for senior year.
Love, Victor, NCIS
Juliana is happy in her relationship with Praveena, which started at the end of last semester. But she still wants to be sensitive to ex Yuri’s feelings. This year, she’s living with Kitty, Madison, and someone she least expected.
Ironheart, BF for Hire
British bad boy Marius is Min Ho, Dae, and Q’s old roommate who’s back at KISS for senior year. He’s keen to get the “Four Horsemen” back together and stir up some trouble, especially for a former flame of his. But Kitty isn’t exactly here for this new chaos king’s reign.
“We heard mention of him before, and Marius brings drama from day one,” says Garza. “He’s going to really shake up some dynamics with all of our friend group.”
Saint X
Last season, Kitty and her cousin Jiwon were able to reunite their grandmothers after a long estrangement. Jiwon takes her own big leap in Season 3 by living away from her halmeoni for the first time. This year, she’s Kitty’s newest professor and resident advisor at KISS.
Big Bet, Good People
The hopeless romantic that started it all, Lara Jean Covey makes a big return in Season 3. The To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before universe started with LJ’s love story — yes, with Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo), but most importantly with herself — and has expanded into the spin-off series with her matchmaker little sister Kitty Song Covey taking the lead.
In Season 3, Kitty spends the summer living with her big sis in New York. Before Kitty goes back to KISS, LJ encourages Kitty to make her senior year count. She gifts Kitty a journal so she can regret nothing and remember everything. Senior Sunset list incoming!
Peter Thurnwald as Alex Finnerty (right)
Alex has settled into life at KISS with his birth father, Principal Lee, and half-sister, Yuri. Like Kitty, he came to KISS to learn more about his family, and, in turn, himself.
Ever the jovial teacher, Alex tries to spark up a friendship with Jiwon, his new colleague. Matchmaker Kitty thinks they might just be a grumpy sunshine match made in heaven! But Jiwon’s focused on teaching her Korean lit course, which has so much homework that Principal Lee wept with joy when he read her syllabus.
Bump, Young Rock, Players
Now Principal Lee, he takes his role as head of KISS — and as Alex’s birth father — very seriously. But he does have a playful side. In the Season 2 finale, he got to live out his musical dreams playing guitar during Dae’s performance in the talent showcase. He’s still not a hugger though.
A Korean Odyssey, The Shield
After winning the talent showcase in the Season 2 finale, Eunice starts Season 3 ready to go on a worldwide tour as the opening act for Min Ho’s K-pop star older brother. As far as her relationship with Dae goes though… he still has to earn his place back in her good graces.
Cheer Up, Mr. Lee, Come and Hug Me, Local Hero
Jin decided the regimented life of a runner wasn’t the track he wanted to stay on come senior year. But he is still committed to his relationship with Q and goes to visit him at USC over the summer.
Gangnam Project
Jocelyn Shelfo as Madison (left)
The daughter of a business associate of Yuri’s dad, Madison is a K-pop obsessed student at KISS. She’s living in Kitty and Juliana’s suite for senior year.
The Summer I Turned Pretty
Praveena and Juliana hard launch their relationship in Season 3. She’s trying to be mature in pursuing a friendship with Yuri, her girlfriend’s ex.
Brave the Dark, The Pitt
Yisoo is a legendary designer who works with emerging popstar Eunice this season. She makes Eunice a custom dress for the tour kickoff party in Busan and another outfit for her music video. She’s currently hiring a part-time third assistant…
Garza says Yisoo and her assistant, Gigi, bring the glamour this season. “They’re our entry point into this world of the fashion industry.”
Like a French Film, Sorry Not Sorry
Gigi is Yisoo’s stylish assistant and a family friend of Min Ho’s. Min Ho calls her noona, which means “older sister” in Korean. “Like Marius, she’s a little bit of a ghost from the past,” says Garza.
Law and Order: SVU
XO, Kitty Season 3 is back in session Thursday, April 2, only on Netflix.
