XO, Kitty Season 2 Highlights One Of Netflix’s Biggest Issues

This text comprises spoilers for XO, Kitty season 2.

XO, Kitty season 2 highlights one in all Netflix’s largest persisting issues with illustration. Just lately, XO, Kitty season 2 premiered on Netflix, portraying Kitty’s spring semester on the Korean Worldwide College of Seoul (KISS). XO, Kitty season 1 ended simply earlier than winter break, with many complicated arc developments, together with Min-ho confessing his emotions for Kitty, whereas she discovers a mysterious Simon, and her grappling together with her emotions for Yuri. The present’s second season explores these avenues, from Kitty’s lingering emotions for Yuri and Min-ho to her reuniting her estranged household.

XO, Kitty season 2 also features new and returning characters, spicing up the dynamics and storylines. One of the vital arcs in XO, Kitty season 2 includes Kitty and Yuri’s evolving relationship. Kitty and Yuri kiss — resulting in the latter and Juliana breaking apart. These narrative decisions exist to attract Kitty and Min-ho nearer. It finally illustrates XO, Kitty handles all of the lesbian characters and sapphic romances poorly, reflecting on Netflix’s severe problem of mistreating lesbian and different sapphic illustration.

XO, Kitty Season 2’s Lesbian Illustration Was Problematic

XO, Kitty Season 2 Sidelines A number of Lesbian Characters Whereas Vilifying Yuri

Whereas XO, Kitty‘s romances are thrilling, Kitty and Yuri don’t stand an opportunity in the long term. Proof suggests XO, Kitty will undo a major romance twist in season 3 to permit Kitty and Yuri to get collectively, however this isn’t sturdy sufficient to defeat the parallel between them and their moms, Eve and Jina. Eve and Jina have been greatest mates after they attended KISS, however they misplaced contact. Kitty and Yuri turn into mates, like them. That stated, each time they encounter an issue, they arrive out of it stronger than ever.

For now, it looks like Kitty and Yuri would stay platonic. Nonetheless, that doesn’t imply the present can’t pursue a possible romance, particularly if it helps Kitty perceive her sexuality. Sadly, XO, Kitty pursues the worst path to discover their romance by creating drama for Yuri and Juliana’s relationship. As an alternative of specializing in her bisexuality, the narrative makes use of Kitty and Yuri’s potential romance to interrupt up Julianna’s relationship. In consequence, Kitty and Yuri drift aside for some time, leaving her with nobody to assist her to find her long-lost household aside from Min-ho.

Min-ho and Kitty develop nearer throughout Kitty’s expedition to unravel the Song Covey family rift in XO, Kitty. This permits Kitty to see Min-ho in a brand new gentle and develop emotions for him. This narrative choice doesn’t middle on Kitty’s journey together with her sexuality, nonetheless. As an alternative, it appears as if Yuri and Juliana break up only for Min-ho and Kitty to get collectively. Lesbian relationships stand on their very own, and in the event that they exist to prop up a romance between a person and a lady, then it’s poor illustration.

The narrative additionally villainizes Yuri, portray her out to be the large dangerous of the season. That is regardless of Kitty being unable to cover her emotions and permit Yuri and Juliana to be blissful. Kitty invitations Praveena to Min-ho’s ski weekend, solely to kiss Yuri proper earlier than leaving. The narrative punishes Yuri for this motion, however solely she offers with the implications of it. Kitty just isn’t a foul particular person; she is human and makes errors. Sadly, Yuri just isn’t allowed the identical grace, holding lesbian characters to increased requirements. Moreover, XO, Kitty portrays Yuri and Kitty dishonest collectively, which is a dangerous stereotype for bisexual folks.

Slip off my fairly costume down my chest after I consider you

Each evening, each lips on the mirror

It is ritualistic, counting lipstick stains the place try to be

Am I within the body out of your viewpoint?

Do you are feeling the identical? I am too scared to say

Half of the issues I do after I image you

– Lyrics from Chappell Roan’s “Image You” that counsel the music is about two women

Lastly, one of many songs on XO, Kitty‘s season 2 soundtrack is “Image You” by Chappell Roan—a music a few misplaced love between two women. Sadly, XO, Kitty implements “Image You” throughout a second between Min-ho and Kitty. XO, Kitty season 2 has many alternatives to make use of this ballad for any lesbian relationships however fails to take action. After the way in which XO, Kitty treats Kitty and Yuri’s relationship and disregards Juliana and Praveena, it’s insulting to make use of this Chappell Roan music for Kitty and Min-ho.

XO, Kitty’s Lesbian Illustration Highlights A Greater Downside With Netflix

Netflix Has A Infamous Historical past Of Mistreating Lesbian Illustration

Sadly, on condition that XO, Kitty is a Netflix TV show, it’s unsurprising that the lesbian and sapphic illustration is problematic. Netflix has a infamous historical past of mistreating lesbian characters, sapphic relationships, and queer exhibits. Netflix notably canceled First Kill, which premiered across the identical time as Heartstopper —a present that Netflix renewed for 2 seasons. Nonetheless, after they each debuted, First Kill had a considerably increased viewership numbers. In accordance with Forbes, First Kill had 97.6 million viewing hours, whereas it was Netflix’s prime 10, in comparison with Heartstopper, which solely had 53.4 million viewing hours.

Whereas it additionally options unimaginable LGBTQIA+ illustration, Heartstopper primarily focuses on the first romance between Nick and Charlie, who’re bisexual and homosexual, respectively. Moreover, the illustration among the many secondary characters—together with two lesbian characters, Tara and Darcy—typically prop up Nick and Charlie’s romance. Different lesbian and sapphic exhibits Netflix has canceled embody One Day at a Time, Warrior Nun, I Am Not Okay With This, Destiny: The Winx Saga, Sense8, and GLOW.

As seen within the desk above, Netflix can also be not the one community to cancel exhibits with wonderful lesbian and sapphic illustration. Amazon Prime Video canceled The Wilds and Paper Women and Disney+ pulled the plug on She-Hulk: Lawyer at Regulation. There’s a massive downside with lesbian illustration on streaming, with a specific emphasis on Netflix.

Netflix Should Take Motion To Repair Its Lesbophobia Downside

There Are A number of Steps Netflix Can Take To Enhance Their Lesbian Illustration

Netflix has an issue with how the community treats lesbian and sapphic illustration, however there’s a lot they will do to repair the problem. When it comes to cancellations, a variety of the exhibits Netflix cancels barely obtain any promotion or advertising. Netflix prides itself on the LGBTQIA+ illustration they supply, however the neighborhood is far larger than homosexual males and relationships. Netflix should actually permit sapphic exhibits and lesbian relationships to remain on the air by selling them as a lot as attainable and allocating sufficient time to present the exhibits an opportunity to thrive.

Regardless of this, Netflix has shiny hope for its future. A future season of Bridgerton will feature Michaela Stirling in Francesca’s story, illustrating the 2 ladies falling in love. Different exhibits comparable to Heartbreak Excessive will return for future seasons, whereas the streamer may additionally present extra emphasis on Tara and Darcy in Heartstopper. As for writing lesbian and sapphic illustration, writers ought to seek the advice of LGBTQIA+ ladies when writing these storylines to keep up authenticity and to make sure that the illustration stands by itself and doesn’t exist for heterosexual dynamics.

How XO, Kitty Season 3 Can Enhance Its Lesbian Illustration

Yuri, Juliana, & Praveena Ought to Have Their Personal Unbiased Storylines Exterior Of Kitty & Min Ho’s Romance

The lesbian and sapphic illustration just isn’t misplaced in XO, Kitty, both. If Netflix renews XO, Kitty for season 3, then there are a number of facets the present should repair to make sure the lesbian illustration is superb going ahead. Before everything, lesbian characters ought to have their very own storylines with out advancing romance between women and men. Yuri and Juliana are each principal characters, and the story is simply as a lot theirs as Kitty’s. If XO, Kitty has no plans for Yuri and Juliana to get again collectively, then the present must also deal with Juliana and Praveena’s newfound relationship.

Yuri ought to discover romantic happiness, irrespective of who it’s with. It is usually vital that XO, Kitty doesn’t implement dishonest for bisexual characters once more. Lastly, whereas it’s extremely probably that Kitty and Min-ho will find yourself collectively, it mustn’t overlook that Kitty is bisexual, which doesn’t change irrespective of who she dates. Kitty’s sexuality is for herself and never for romantic drama.

Supply: Forbes

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XO, Kitty is a comedy-drama sequence from the creator of To All The Boys I Cherished Earlier than, Jenny Han. Teen matchmaker Kitty Music Covey thinks she is aware of the whole lot there may be to find out about love. However when she strikes midway the world over to reunite together with her long-distance boyfriend, she’ll quickly understand that relationships are way more sophisticated when it’s your coronary heart on the road.

Forged

Anna Cathcart
, Sang Heon Lee
, Choi Min-young
, Anthony Keyvan
, Gia Kim
, Peter Thurnwald
, Regan Aliya

Seasons

2

Writers

Jenny Han