Kitty. Anna Cathcart as Kitty Song Covey in episode 301 of XO, Kitty. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix
It’s been over three months since Kitty Song Covey packed her bags for her latest adventure in XO, Kitty season 3, and we are still waiting for official word on her future. While previous seasons were renewed at lightning speed, a new report suggests the future of the To All the Boys spin-off is currently being heavily debated behind the scenes.
If you’re a fan of the YA rom-com, you might be getting a little nervous (in addition to being very frustrated — we see you!). Usually, when a Netflix original doesn’t get a green light within the first 28 to 60 days, it’s not a great sign. XO, Kitty famously secured its season 2 and season 3 renewals less than a month after their respective premieres.
However, don’t panic just yet. As covered by Nellie Andreeva atDeadline late last week, the series hasn’t been quietly canceled; it’s simply stuck in creative limbo.
According to Deadline, Paramount Television Studios (which absorbed Awesomeness and produces the show) has officially extended Netflix’s option on the series. Crucially, the studio also extended the options for the cast, meaning Anna Cathcart (Kitty), Sang Heon Lee (Min Ho), and the rest of the ensemble are still locked in and available if Netflix orders more.
So, why the delay? It seems the ongoing conversations between Netflix and the creators aren’t about whether to finish Kitty’s story, but how.
A Fourth Season vs. a Wrap-Up Movie
Deadline notes that executives are currently weighing a few different options for the franchise. The first is a traditional season 4, which could see Kitty returning to Seoul or heading to an entirely new setting. The second option is capping off the series with a standalone feature-length movie to wrap up the storylines.
If creator Jenny Han opts for a movie, the outlet noted that it tracks perfectly with her previous track record. Han seems to love the “rule of three.” The original To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before saga was neatly packaged as a movie trilogy, and her hit Prime Video series The Summer I Turned Pretty is currently employing a similar strategy by wrapping up its story with a film follow-up after three seasons.
Creatively, season 3 did leave things in a place that could serve as a natural jumping-off point for a finale. It ended with Kitty and former-enemy-turned-love-interest Min Ho reconciling and heading back to the U.S. so he could meet her dad.
How well did XO, Kitty Season 3 perform on Netflix?
If we look purely at the data, XO, Kitty is still pulling its weight.
Thanks to Netflix’s massive What We Watched semi-annual viewership report that dropped on Thursday, we have a clear look at the show’s staying power. XO, Kitty season 3 ranked at No. 16 globally, pulling in an impressive 29.3 million views from its April 2nd premiere through June 30th.
Furthermore, its audience retention has been elite. While many returning Netflix series have suffered steep drop-offs in recent years, XO, Kitty season 3 opened to 12.9 million views in its first week—a remarkably small dip from its season 2 launch week (14.2 million views). That hold continued throughout its 3 weeks in the top 10s.
For now, the ball is firmly in Netflix’s court. We’ll be keeping this post updated as soon as we hear whether Kitty is returning for a full semester or a grand feature-length farewell.
Would you prefer a traditional season 4 for XO, Kitty, or do you think a wrap-up movie is the best way to say goodbye to the To All the Boys universe? Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below.
