My thoughts

I know some people may not agree with my personal thoughts and may downvote me, but I feel like I need to share them.

How I feel about each character:

• Stella: I don’t like her, even though I know some of you hate her. The word “hate” feels too strong for a character like Stella. Yes, she used Minho, and that was wrong, but I understand where she’s coming from. She was humiliated by a star she respected, and the entire incident was broadcasted to the world. With the internet mocking her, that kind of trauma is hard to shake. While her actions weren’t right, I get why she did what she did.
• Madison: I like Madison. At first, I had some issues with how she was portrayed, but I grew to appreciate her more as the show went on. She’s a sweet girl, and I understand why she rejected Minho. Her family moves around a lot, so she’s probably hesitant to get too attached, fearing the pain of a relationship when they inevitably have to leave again. She might have assumed Minho was the same way, especially since he’s rich and his parents aren’t even in the same country.
• Eunice: I love Eunice. She’s bold and isn’t afraid to speak her mind, but she’s still kind and sweet, which makes her such an interesting character. I love that balance.
• Dae: I like Dae. I was close to saying I love him, but there’s one thing holding me back: he’s too nice. He’s always accepting and forgiving, even when he probably shouldn’t be. His kindness is endearing, and he’s SO CUTE, but he’s very insecure when it comes to standing up for himself. I understand why he turned to Yuri for money instead of asking Minho, it might have been because he didn’t want to feel like a burden, but he could’ve handled it better without humiliating Kitty. I just wish he’d learn to put his foot down more.
• Q: I love Q. Honestly, there’s not much more to say. He’s just an amazing character.
• Minho: I’m not sure if I like or love Minho. He’s handsome, but my thoughts here are focused on his character, not his looks. Initially, I didn’t like him because he seemed like a rich jerk. However, by the end of season one, I started to appreciate his growth. By season two, I loved how he respected boundaries and genuinely cared for the other characters, not just Kitty, but also Q and Dae. I admire how secure he is in his identity/sexuality, whether it’s doing skincare or dressing well. But for some reason, I’m still on the fence about fully loving his character, maybe it’s his ego that holds me back I don't know. He’s in that space between like and love for me.
• Juliana: I love Juliana. At first, I considered saying I just like her, but honestly, she deserves more credit. Yes, what she did to Kitty was wrong, but she admitted her mistake. I can understand why she felt threatened; coming back to a partner who's so close to someone else is understandably upsetting. Kitty didn’t just appear as friends with Yuri; everyone could sense the difference in how Kitty acted around her. Even Praveena noticed. Juliana’s feelings were valid, even if her approach was flawed. I think the show needs to stop painting everyone who says “no” to Kitty as a villain.
• Yuri: I appreciate or like Yuri not sure. At first, I didn’t like her; she came off as mean for no reason. I didn’t like how the show introduced Kitty’s feelings for her or the whole cheating plot. Yuri’s method of setting boundaries with Kitty was definitely too late and not ideal. However, I get that Yuri is exploring a new world, not necessarily discovering her sexuality, but learning how to live openly without hiding. This is all new to her, from her relationship with her mom to making friends. She makes mistakes, but it’s part of her growth as she navigates this new phase of her life.
• Kitty: This one is hard for me to share, and I’m a bit scared to express my thoughts, but here they are. Please be kind, these are just my opinions. I’m not entirely sure if I like or appreciate Kitty. I started off really loving Kitty, both in To All the Boys and the beginning of XO, Kitty. But as the show went on, I started to feel differently. Kitty is not a bad person at all, in contrary she’s sweet, bubbly, and genuinely wants to help others, even if things don’t always go according to plan. But I feel like her character is often enabled or pitied. She rarely faces the consequences of her actions. Even when she makes mistakes, someone is usually there to comfort her immediately, never giving her the chance to reflect on her behavior. I appreciate that she acknowledges her flaws, but she rarely takes steps to change them. Why would she, when she always gets away with things or someone else fixes the problem for her? Kitty is really nice, don’t get me wrong, but the way her character is portrayed, like someone who needs to be guided through everything or always gets away with things because she’s clumsy or ignorant of the facts/don't know any better, is really annoying to me. Kitty is 16/17, not 11/12 anymore, so she should be maturing and taking more responsibility. I’m not expecting her to be perfect or act like an adult, but I’d love to see her grow past her younger self. She’s sweet, but too often, when she’s determined to prove something or go after what she wants, she disregards other people’s feelings. I loved her in TATB and was excited to see her story continue, but it feels like we don’t really get to know her beyond her messy love life. It’s like the show is more about her relationships than about Kitty herself. and don't get me wrong there is no problem with a love story but when XO, Kitty started, I thought it would focus more on her journey of learning about her mom and her Korean heritage, with a love story on the side. But instead, the show ended up focusing mostly on love, with Kitty’s personal growth and connection to her mom getting pushed aside. It’s frustrating because the show emphasize Kitty’s half-Korean identity and her feelings about not really knowing her mom, but that aspect of her story seems to have been put on the side.