The chaos queen, Kitty Song-Covey, and the lovable KISS gang returned in XO Kitty season 2 which was released on Netflix last week. The narrative of the eight-episode season starts off after the cliffhanger finale of season one which included a shocking expulsion, a bittersweet break-up and an unexpected love confession. All the beloved actors from season one reprise their roles in XO Kitty season 2.
Since KISS wouldn't be half as fun without Kitty, fans were delighted to see her back in uniform, which was mostly thanks to Yuri. In XO Kitty season 2, the spirited protagonist reunites with her older sister, Margot as well as pseudo-older brother Peter Kavinsky, intensifies her search for "Simon" while navigating confusing romantic feelings for Yuri and Min Ho.
Understandably fans were hooked to XO Kitty season 2 because so much was happening in every episode. Those who feel melancholy for having finished it too fast should divert their attention to the quality shows on this list that are just as fun and engrossing.
Disclaimer: This list contains information from various sources.
Derry Girls, Heartbreak High and five other shows that are the perfect follow-up to XO Kitty season 2
1) Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo (2016)
In XO Kitty season 2, the audience gets to see Kitty grow as a person and as a young woman as a result of her new experiences at KISS. The spirited protagonist of Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo also goes through many changes during the course of 16 episodes.
In this South Korean show, Lee Sung-kyung plays Kim Bok-joo, a talented weightlifter who attends a sports university. The outgoing young character starts to see the world in a whole new light after she develops a crush on a much older man who heads an obesity clinic. From the butterflies of first love to figuring out one's life goals, this endearing show explores varied relatable coming-of-age elements.
Fans of XO Kitty season 2 will instantly connect to Kim Bok-joo because she also displays tenacity, generosity and compassion, just like Kitty. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo offers the perfect blend of clever dialogue, lovable characters and heartwarming messages.
Where to watch: Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo can be viewed on Netflix, Viki and Prime Video.
2) Derry Girls (2018)
Like the KISS gang in XO Kitty season 2, the central characters of Derry Girls always find themselves in some sort of trouble. Containing three seasons and 19 episodes, the show stars Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Jamie-Lee O'Donnell, Louisa Harland, Nicola Coughlan, and Dylan Llewellyn.
The story is centered around five spirited teenagers navigating the ups and downs of adolescence in mid-1990s Derry. All of them attend the fictional Our Lady Immaculate College run by the no-nonsense Sister George Michael, portrayed by Siobhán McSweeney.
Like XO Kitty season 2, Derry Girls thrives on realistic young characters who act and talk like teenagers. They also have great chemistry with each other which makes the audience feel invested in their relationship dynamics. The humor is on-point and the narrative never gets monotonous as there is always something interesting happening on screen.
Where to watch: Derry Girls is available for streaming on Netflix.
3) True Beauty (2020)
XO Kitty season 2 is much more immersive because it focuses on the character arcs and it is always a pleasure to see beloved characters mature with time. Another show that does this really well is True Beauty containing a total of 16 episodes.
Based on a webtoon by Yaongyi, the show stars Moon Ka-young as Lim Ju-kyung who is constantly bullied by other students for her appearance. So, she decides to give herself a transformation using makeup. Although this boosts her popularity, she soon realizes that real beauty isn't skin-deep.
Even though the narrative is lighthearted in nature, it also carries powerful messages about beauty and self-love that the audience will find moving.
Where to watch: Episodes of True Beauty are available on Prime Video, Netflix and Viki.
4) Never Have I Ever (2020)
Kitty has to navigate many awkward moments to figure out her true feelings in XO Kitty season 2. Maitreyi Ramakrishnan's character Devi Vishwakumar also faces similar conundrums in Never Have I Ever containing four seasons and 40 episodes.
In the show, 15-year-old Devi suffers from trauma after the sudden death of her father. When she is finally able to come to terms with the tragedy, she becomes determined to live her best life which starts with improving her social status at school. Of course, the path is rife with challenges and her eccentric friends and family don't make it any easier.
Like Kitty in XO Kitty season 2, Devi is also torn between two love interests, both of whom complement her in different but equally endearing ways. Viewers will particularly become invested in Devi's journey because her "inner voice," narrated by the hilarious John McEnroe, makes her instantly relatable.
Where to watch: Never Have I Ever can be streamed on Netflix.
5) My Love Mix-Up! (2021)
In XO Kitty season 2, Kitty starts to embrace the realization that dawned on her in season one with regard to her s*xual orientation. The lead character of My Love Mix-Up! is also forced to reassess his own orientation when he starts to fall for a classmate of the same gender.
Containing ten episodes, My Love Mix-Up! is based on a manga written by Wataru Hinekure and illustrated by Aruko. Shunsuke Michieda plays Aoki, a shy student who has a crush on Hashimoto, portrayed by Riko Fukumoto. But thanks to a strange set of events, his classmate Ida (Ren Meguro) misunderstands that Aoki is in love with him.
Like XO Kitty season 2, My Love Mix-Up! focuses on themes of friendship and romance. The endearing chemistry between the leads certainly helps to elevate the narrative. Aoki, like Kitty, is a good-natured protagonist who the audience will find themselves rooting for.
Where to watch: Episodes of My Love Mix-Up! are available on Viki and Netflix.
6) Heartbreak High (2022)
KISS is where all the action happens in XO Kitty season 2. In Heartbreak High, the narrative is primarily centered around Hartley High. Containing two seasons and 16 episodes, the show follows the lives of the students as well as the teachers. Like Kitty's gang, the Hartley High gang has to work on their own personal problems while also looking out for each other.
As compared to XO Kitty season 2, Heartbreak High broaches more mature topics like toxic masculinity, abuse, domestic violence and more, but it is able to address them in a manner that gives viewers food for thought. It is interesting to see how different personalities can come together to support one another.
Heartbreak High feels realistic and relevant which is why it will surely connect to viewers who enjoy gritty coming-of-age narratives.
Where to watch: Heartbreak High is available for streaming on Netflix.
7) The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022)
XO Kitty season 2 cements the fact that Kitty's experience at KISS has helped her gain a new perspective on life. The same can be said about the protagonist of The Summer I Turned Pretty who experiences a life-changing summer.
Based on Jenny Han's novels, the show stars Lola Tung as Isabel Conklin aka Belly who spends every summer at the house of her mother's best friend who has two sons. Belly has had a crush on Christopher Briney's Conrad for the longest time but he is unaware of her feelings. However, things change the summer she is about to turn sixteen and both boys start to take a keen interest in her.
Like XO Kitty season 2, The Summer I Turned Pretty boasts plenty of unexpected revelations that will keep viewers hooked to the narrative. Although the show is not devoid of common clichés, it is still able to present an endearing coming-of-age tale that is clever, impactful and entertaining.
Where to watch: The Summer I Turned Pretty can be viewed on Prime Video.
Like XO Kitty season 2, these well-acted and cinematically presented shows will keep viewers invested from the first episode to the last.
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