Top 10 Things in XO, Kitty That K-Drama Fans Will Instantly Recognize
Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Things in XO, Kitty That KDrama Fans Will Instantly Recognize Q’s right. Life isn’t a K-Drama, but “XO, Kitty” totally is. And today we’ll be ticking off some of the biggest signs. Be aware, this video will contain spoilers for the first season. So how do you think “XO, Kitty” lives up to the shows it was inspired by? Let us know in the comments.
#10: The Elite Academic Environment
“XO, Kitty” takes its cue from any number of teen K-Dramas, setting its plot on the campus of the prestigious Korean Independent School of Seoul. High school stories are pretty universal. But in South Korea, where the academic culture is intensely competitive, and where the right school can make or break an entire future, an elite institution almost seems like part of the aspirational escapism of a story. We have to give “XO, Kitty” some credit here. In a lot of teen shows worldwide, a high status school quickly fades into a backdrop for personal drama. But at KISS the academic pressure is real, and there are high stakes for several characters concerned about living up to its standards.
#9: The Chaebol Kid
So, we’ve got our fancy school. And naturally it is filled with privileged kids. But as in all of these types of stories, there must be one whose wealth and status outstrips them all. “XO, Kitty,” introduces us to Yuri (yew-ree), whose father controls a luxury hotel empire. She follows a long tradition of K-Drama characters who benefit from enormous fortune, while also struggling with the expectations of their powerful parents. Even as minors they’re generally expected to play an active role in the success of their family enterprise, and Yuri is no exception. With her father on the cusp of closing a massive new deal, her every move is up for scrutiny. And those pressures ripple out across all of the relationships around her.
#8: The Powerful Family Dynamics
While many western teen shows include parental figures only as perfunctory supporting characters, K-Drama often feature whole subplots just dedicated to a main character’s relationship with their immediate family. “XO, Kitty” duly gives us a story where family frequently acts as a motivating factor. Kitty traces her mother’s steps to KISS to find a connection with her memory. And she’s not even the only character with parental ties on campus. Then there’s Dae (Day), whose father works as a chauffeur for Yuri’s parents. When his personal life stands to impact his family’s livelihood, it makes his choices clear, though not easy. The show really emphasizes how much Korean identity and reputation are tied up in family bonds. Even Min-ho (MEE-no) puts his mother ahead of everyone else.
#7: The Fake Dating Scheme
Maybe they were friends, maybe they were enemies, maybe they were total strangers. But put the characters in some kind of a jam, and suddenly one is convincing the other to pretend they’re devoted partners. Or, in Yuri’s case, coercing. She needs a cover story to keep her parents away from her real love interest, and Dae needs help with his school fees. This is one of the most timeworn tropes in K-Drama, but it continues to see success, most recently with shows like “Business Proposal.” Of course, most fake dating plots see real feelings develop, and “XO, Kitty” doesn’t mess with that trajectory. However, it does flip the expectations around, instead having Yuri and Dae take an emotional rollercoaster ride that ends in a solid friendship.
#6: Forced Proximity
If there’s one thing K-Drama loves more than a fake relationship, it’s making the romantic tension actually inescapable. When Kitty is originally assigned to Dae’s dorm room it’s all just a wacky mix up (also not out of place in a K-Drama). However, once her situation in the girl’s dorm proves intolerable, Q-pid steps in to lend a hand. See what we did there? With the two characters constantly in each other’s orbits, lots of longing looks and awkward encounters were inevitable. But Kitty and Dae are so busy navigating one complicated love triangle, that no one notices another one being formed in the close confines of their dorm suite.
#5: A Significant Class Trip
The big overnight class trip is a reliable part of many high school K-Dramas, and these episodes always signal more than just a change in scenery. Usually this is where all the romantic plots in play get a shake up or a level up. As Florian and Q face some serious concerns together, other couples keep the mood lighter. Kitty and Dae start the episode at a bit of a disconnect. But by the end they’re having no trouble communicating their feelings. While Kitty certainly means what she says to Dae, though, she’s also contending with her persistent attraction to Yuri. Meanwhile, Minho is shocked to find himself dumped when he tries to go official with Madison. Ouch. But at least he spins it into a growth moment.
#4: The Heart Fluttering Hand Hold
In more socially conservative South Korea, skinship, or affectionate physical touching, is often a bigger deal than in the west. Yet the teen couples of “XO, Kitty” don’t seem to have any hesitation about showing each other the love. Did we miss that loaded moment that comes from the first unexpected hand hold? Nope. It just comes courtesy of two older characters. Principle Jina (G-nah) and Professor Lee are stern authority figures at KISS, and when they show up to bust Minho’s party, they’re both right on brand. However, when an old song suddenly blasts through the speakers, it has a noticeable effect on both. There’s a lot of unspoken feelings happening here, and they all come to the surface in a sequence that is quintessential K-Drama.
#3: The Dramatic OST Moment
“XO, Kitty”’s soundtrack game comes in strong right from the first episode with a dynamic mix of kpop and western artists. Like their American counterpart, K-Dramas can usually be counted on for great songs to accompany their plotlines. And when it comes time for a significant romantic moment between the main couple, you can be sure it will be accompanied by the swell of a romantic ballad. Kitty originally gifted her mother’s necklace to Dae after his own mother passed away, as a symbol of their connection. But with Dae unable to tell Kitty the truth about his relationship with Yuri, he feels obligated to return it. The slo-mo, the wistful singing, the fraught emotions…all straight out of K-Drama 101.
#2: The Second Male Lead Arc
Love triangles aren’t just common in K-Drama, they’re practically embedded in the formula. So it’s usually pretty easy to pick out the second male lead. Yeah, and moments like this just make it easier to spot. Handsome and spoiled, Minho clashes with Kitty right from the start. But over the course of the season that friction turns into sparks, and he starts to see her in a new way. Try as he might to fight it, Minho only falls harder for Kitty, until he’s pulling classic Second Male Lead moves like leaping to her rescue. And, of course, making big confessions. Does he have a shot? Will Minho strike a victory for Second Male Leads everywhere? Guess we have to stay tuned to find out.
#1: Falling in Love
If a romantic K-Drama goes to the forest and nobody trips, is it even a K-Drama at all? Seriously, the forest isn’t even necessary. The Trip can happen anywhere. And at least the great outdoors allow it to happen organically. Kitty may be trying to keep things friendly with Dae on the Nature Club hike, but we know she didn’t just fall out of love after all those years long distance. And all it takes is the ultimate K-Drama moment to drive that point home. It’s a scene that echoes a thousand before it. Like in all K-Dramas, it’s only one step on the long road to resolution. But it is the one that tells our leads and the audience alike that the attraction can’t be ignored.