For fans, it can be difficult to imagine how well a spin-off series could continue the original film or the popular story set in it. But when To all the boys I've ever loved spin-off XO, Kitty ” was released in 2023, it was only natural that scene-stealer Anna Cathcart would embark on her own quest for love. Season 1 introduced viewers to a new troupe of characters who soon became subject to Kitty's matching services (and confusion). But Season 2 only further proved that teen K-dramas can achieve the same level of passion and chemistry that Lana Condor and Noah Centineo achieved multiple times in the trilogy. All thanks to Cathcart and Sang-Hong Lee.
Min Ho Mun, played by Lee, appeared in season 1 as Kitty's unexpected lover. Their friendship seemed mismatched and irreconcilable in every way, but it's easy to forget that some of the best romances start off on the wrong foot. Season 1 ends with Minho confessing his feelings for Kitty right after breaking up with his boyfriend. Shocked and devastated, Kitty rejects him, and that's the beginning of Season 2, where Minho transforms from a brash schoolboy to a young man who dedicates his heart and soul to those he loves.
Lee recently told Decider on a Zoom call that he was proud of how Min-ho juggled his difficult relationship with his father and the drama in his personal life this season.
Warning: This piece contains spoilers for the ending of XO, Kitty Season 2.
“Kitty has an old relationship and while he had to try to ignore the embarrassing past interactions he had with her on the plane, he somehow surprisingly had to confront his family. ” he said. “I feel like he's handled each challenge pretty well. What I'm most proud of him for is that he's built a really healthy relationship with his dad, which is not easy. . And I'm glad he did it now.”
Kitty and Min-ho's love story takes a backseat for most of the season, with Kitty exploring her sexuality and fighting her hidden feelings for Yuri Han (Jia Kim) while trying to connect with her estranged family. Focus on focusing on. but XO, Kitty Even though Minho claims that his confession to Kitty was a moment of “temporary insanity,” season 2 is doing its best to let viewers know that the chemistry still exists.
And Minho turns out to be the perfect heartthrob to fill the Peter Kavinsky-like void left by the film. Classy and confident, he maintains a level-headed sensibility even as he helps Kitty “Chaos Queen” Song Covey with her plans.
In the fifth episode of Season 2, the director Lee admitted that it was “quite difficult'' to film, especially the touching scene in which Minho comforts Kitty in the pouring rain. “Now, I have a different eye, a different way of looking at people. Now, if I shoot something in the rain, I wonder how I don't hurt my eyes. Doesn't makeup hurt my eyes? I don't know. How does he do that?'' he asked with a laugh.
At least for Minho, there is no doubt that those feelings still remain. The scene hints at the possibility of them kissing while he brushes her hair away, but the friends have more important matters at hand that force them to step away from each other and focus on themselves again. There is.
In episode 6, Minho also faces off against Peter, who is visiting from Stanford University for a lacrosse tournament. Peter may be Lara Jean's boyfriend and effectively Kitty's brother-in-law at this point, but Minho clearly sees him as a romantic threat to Kitty.
“He was defensive in a way, even though he knew Kitty's sister was already having an affair with him. He was like, 'Wait, you have to be more manly in front of him. ''' Lee explained over Zoom. “He tried to confront him head-on and try to undermine him by saying, 'What are you here for, a table tennis tournament?'
“Minho was so cute doing that,” Lee admitted, adding that it was Peter who ultimately stood over Minho and let him know that there was “no meat” between them.
“It shows age too, you know, he's in college and he's been through a lot of different things…We kind of developed a chemistry, and I think it was a lot of fun. We didn't talk about it too much. We didn’t talk, that was the problem, but it just happened naturally,” he said.
of secret ingredient The star said she enjoyed sharing scenes with Centineo. “He's a cool guy. We had some similarities as well. We both collect art and, yeah, we were just chatting,” Lee recalled.
We'd be remiss if we didn't also mention that Lee's sister plays Yuri, Kitty's other love interest, on the show. However, Lee denies there is a Team Edward vs. Team Jacob style debate as to which is the better choice for Kitty.
“Look, I don't think we've ever talked about this, really,” he said. “I just hope for the best for Kitty. If I had to be more frank, I don't think I'm that much of a shipping person, because at the end of the day, it's a relationship. …I feel like I'd like some kind of good luck for [Kitty]Regardless of his relationship with Minho or Yuri. ”
By the end of season 2, Minho seemed to have given up on love since the Stella debacle and remained committed to it until Kitty finally came to her senses.
“I don't think he closed his heart for Kitty,” he said of Minho's final moments. “He was just trying to talk himself out of it and let her know that no matter if someone likes me or I like them, I'm still going to try to find myself.”
Lee said she was “surprised” when Kitty asked Minho to accompany her family on his summer overseas trip. “This is also a pretty show of courage on her part. She's dealing with his complicated feelings, and she's okay with even asking,” he later added, “but she… She literally did that. She rolled the dice and saw how the game would go. Again, great for her and for the growth on Minho's part if there is a season 3. I'm really looking forward to seeing how it develops in season 3.”
Stella may have been betraying Min-ho and his family all along, but her plan unexpectedly ultimately puts the Moon family in a stronger position and puts him in a position to be an even better partner for Kitty in the long run. I placed it.
lastly, XO, Kitty Season 2 succeeds by focusing on the characters played by Lee and the rest of the charming ensemble. They are the ones Kitty turns to as she goes through the drama of adolescence and family, and Kitty becomes even better.
But the show isn't over yet. I hope to see Love Bird in action again next year. XO, Kitty Season 3.
XO, Kitty Seasons 1 and 2 are available on Netflix.
