XO, Kitty season 2 highlights one of Netflix’s biggest persisting problems with representation. Recently, XO, Kitty season 2 premiered on Netflix, portraying Kitty’s spring semester at the Korean International School of Seoul (KISS). XO, Kitty season 1 ended just before winter break, with many complex arc developments, including Min-ho confessing his feelings for Kitty, while she discovers a mysterious Simon, and her grappling with her feelings for Yuri. The show’s second season explores these avenues, from Kitty’s lingering feelings for Yuri and Min-ho to her reuniting her estranged family.

XO, Kitty season 2 also features new and returning characters, spicing up the dynamics and storylines. One of the most important arcs in XO, Kitty season 2 involves Kitty and Yuri’s evolving relationship. Kitty and Yuri kiss — leading to the latter and Juliana breaking up. These narrative choices exist to draw Kitty and Min-ho closer. It ultimately illustrates XO, Kitty handles all the lesbian characters and sapphic romances poorly, reflecting on Netflix’s serious issue of mistreating lesbian and other sapphic representation.

XO, Kitty Season 2’s Lesbian Representation Was Problematic

XO, Kitty Season 2 Sidelines Several Lesbian Characters While Vilifying Yuri

While XO, Kitty‘s romances are thrilling, Kitty and Yuri do not stand a chance in the long run. Evidence suggests XO, Kitty will undo a major romance twist in season 3 to allow Kitty and Yuri to get together, but this is not strong enough to defeat the parallel between them and their mothers, Eve and Jina. Eve and Jina were best friends when they attended KISS, but they lost touch. Kitty and Yuri become friends, like them. That said, every time they encounter a problem, they come out of it stronger than ever.

For now, it seems like Kitty and Yuri would remain platonic. However, that does not mean the show cannot pursue a potential romance, especially if it helps Kitty understand her sexuality. Unfortunately, XO, Kitty pursues the worst route to explore their romance by creating drama for Yuri and Juliana’s relationship. Instead of focusing on her bisexuality, the narrative uses Kitty and Yuri’s potential romance to break up Julianna’s relationship. As a result, Kitty and Yuri drift apart for a while, leaving her with no one to support her in finding her long-lost family except for Min-ho.

Min-ho and Kitty grow closer during Kitty’s expedition to solve the Song Covey family rift in XO, Kitty. This allows Kitty to see Min-ho in a new light and develop feelings for him. This narrative decision does not center on Kitty’s journey with her sexuality, however. Instead, it seems as if Yuri and Juliana break up just for Min-ho and Kitty to get together. Lesbian relationships stand on their own, and if they exist to prop up a romance between a man and a woman, then it is poor representation.

…Kitty being unable to hide her feelings and allow Yuri and Juliana to be happy.

The narrative also villainizes Yuri, painting her out to be the big bad of the season. This is despite Kitty being unable to hide her feelings and allow Yuri and Juliana to be happy. Kitty invites Praveena to Min-ho’s ski weekend, only to kiss Yuri right before leaving. The narrative punishes Yuri for this action, but only she deals with the consequences of it. Kitty is not a bad person; she is human and makes mistakes. Sadly, Yuri is not allowed the same grace, holding lesbian characters to higher standards. Furthermore, XO, Kitty portrays Yuri and Kitty cheating together, which is a harmful stereotype for bisexual people.

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Slip off my pretty dress down my chest when I think of you

Every night, both lips on the mirror

It’s ritualistic, counting lipstick stains where you should be

Am I in the frame from your point of view?

Do you feel the same? I’m too scared to say

Half of the things I do when I picture you

– Lyrics from Chappell Roan’s “Picture You” that suggest the song is about two girls

Finally, one of the songs on XO, Kitty‘s season 2 soundtrack is “Picture You” by Chappell Roan—a song about a lost love between two girls. Unfortunately, XO, Kitty implements “Picture You” during a moment between Min-ho and Kitty. XO, Kitty season 2 has many opportunities to use this ballad for any lesbian relationships but fails to do so. After the way XO, Kitty treats Kitty and Yuri’s relationship and disregards Juliana and Praveena, it is insulting to use this Chappell Roan song for Kitty and Min-ho.

XO, Kitty’s Lesbian Representation Highlights A Bigger Problem With Netflix

Netflix Has A Notorious History Of Mistreating Lesbian Representation

Unfortunately, given that XO, Kitty is a Netflix TV show, it is unsurprising that the lesbian and sapphic representation is problematic. Netflix has a notorious history of mistreating lesbian characters, sapphic relationships, and queer shows. Netflix notably canceled First Kill, which premiered around the same time as Heartstopper —a show that Netflix renewed for two seasons. However, when they both debuted, First Kill had a significantly higher viewership numbers. According to Forbes, First Kill had 97.6 million viewing hours, while it was Netflix’s top 10, compared to Heartstopper, which only had 53.4 million viewing hours.

Canceled LGBTQIA+ Shows On Streaming Since 2020 That Feature Sapphic Main Characters

Show
Network
Run Dates
Cancelation Date

The Baby-Sitters Club
Netflix
July 30, 2020 – October 11, 2021
March 11, 2022

Control Z
Netflix
May 22, 2020 – July 6, 2022
April 28, 2022

Unstoppable
Netflix
February 28, 2020
Unknown

Diary of a Future President
Disney+
January 17, 2020 – August 18, 2021
December 13, 2021

Gentefied
Netflix
February 21, 2020 – November 19, 2021
January 13, 2022

Get Even
BBC iPlayer/Netflix
February 14, 2020
N/A (Unofficial Cancelation)

Hunters
Amazon Prime Video

February 21, 2020 – January 13, 2023
November 15, 2022

I Am Not Okay With This
Netflix
February 26, 2020
August 21, 2020

Luna Nera
Netflix
January 31, 2020
N/A (Unofficial Cancelation)

Ratched
Netflix
September 18, 2020
February 4, 2024

Stark Trek: Picard
CBS All Access (Now Paramount+)
March 3, 2022 – April 20, 2023
February 19, 2023

Teenage Bounty Hunters
Netflix
August 14, 2020
October 5, 2020

Utopia Falls
Hulu
February 14, 2020
N/A (Unofficial Cancelation)

Warrior Nun
Netflix
July 2, 2020 – November 10, 2022
December 13, 2022

White Lines
Netflix
May 15, 2020
August 16, 2020

The Wilds
Amazon Prime Video
December 11, 2020 – May 6, 2022
July 28, 2022

Cowboy Bebop
Netflix
November 19, 2021
December 9, 2021

Fate: The Winx Saga
Netflix
22 January 2021 – 16 September 2022
November 1, 2022

Generation
HBO Max (Now MAX)
March 11, 2021 – July 8, 2021
September 14, 2021

Gossip Girl
HBO Max (Now MAX)
July 8, 2021 – January 26, 2023
January 19, 2023

I Know What You Did Last Summer
Amazon Prime Video
October 15, 2021 – November 12, 2021
January 7, 2022

iCarly
Paramount+
June 17, 2021 – July 27, 2023
October 4, 2023

Loki
Disney+
June 9, 2021 – November 9, 2023
N/A (Unofficial Cancelation)

One Of Us Is Lying
Peacock
October 7, 2021 – October 20, 2022
January 20, 2023

Sky Rojo

Netflix
March 19, 2021 – January 13, 2023
November 14, 2022

Young Royals
Netflix
July 1, 2021 – March 18, 2024
November 28, 2022

Alma / The Girl in the Mirror
Netflix
August 19, 2022
N/A (Unofficial Cancelation)

First Kill
Netflix
June 10, 2022
August 2, 2022

How I Met Your Father
Hulu
January 18, 2022 – July 11, 2023
September 2, 2023

Outer Range
Amazon Prime Video
April 15, 2022 – May 16, 2024
July 3, 2024

Paper Girls
Amazon Prime Video
July 29, 2022
September 9, 2022

Rebelde
Netflix
January 5, 2022 – July 27, 2022
May 6, 2023

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
Disney+
August 18, 2022 – October 13, 2022
N/A (Unofficial Cancelation)

Welcome to Eden
Netflix
May 6, 2022 – April 21, 2023
July 7, 2023

Willow
Disney+
November 30, 2022 – January 11, 2023
March 15, 2023

Black Cake
Hulu
November 1, 2023 – December 1, 2023
September 27, 2024

The Acolyte
Disney+
June 4, 2024 – July 16, 2024
August 19, 2024

Dead Boy Detectives
Netflix
April 25, 2024
August 30, 2024

While it also features incredible LGBTQIA+ representation, Heartstopper primarily focuses on the primary romance between Nick and Charlie, who are bisexual and gay, respectively. Furthermore, the representation among the secondary characters—including two lesbian characters, Tara and Darcy—often prop up Nick and Charlie’s romance. Other lesbian and sapphic shows Netflix has canceled include One Day at a Time, Warrior Nun, I Am Not Okay With This, Fate: The Winx Saga, Sense8, and GLOW.

As seen in the table above, Netflix is also not the only network to cancel shows with excellent lesbian and sapphic representation. Amazon Prime Video canceled The Wilds and Paper Girls and Disney+ pulled the plug on She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. There is a big problem with lesbian representation on streaming, with a particular emphasis on Netflix.

Netflix Must Take Action To Fix Its Lesbophobia Problem

There Are Several Steps Netflix Can Take To Improve Their Lesbian Representation

Netflix has a problem with how the network treats lesbian and sapphic representation, but there is a lot they can do to fix the issue. In terms of cancellations, a lot of the shows Netflix cancels barely receive any promotion or marketing. Netflix prides itself on the LGBTQIA+ representation they provide, but the community is much bigger than gay men and relationships. Netflix must truly allow sapphic shows and lesbian relationships to stay on the air by promoting them as much as possible and allocating enough time to give the shows a chance to thrive.

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As for writing lesbian and sapphic representation, writers should consult LGBTQIA+ women when writing these storylines to maintain authenticity and to ensure that the representation stands on its own and does not exist for heterosexual dynamics.

Despite this, Netflix has bright hope for its future. A future season of Bridgerton will feature Michaela Stirling in Francesca’s story, illustrating the two women falling in love. Other shows such as Heartbreak High will return for future seasons, while the streamer could also provide more emphasis on Tara and Darcy in Heartstopper. As for writing lesbian and sapphic representation, writers should consult LGBTQIA+ women when writing these storylines to maintain authenticity and to ensure that the representation stands on its own and does not exist for heterosexual dynamics.

How XO, Kitty Season 3 Can Improve Its Lesbian Representation

Yuri, Juliana, & Praveena Should Have Their Own Independent Storylines Outside Of Kitty & Min Ho’s Romance

The lesbian and sapphic representation is not lost in XO, Kitty, either. If Netflix renews XO, Kitty for season 3, then there are several aspects the show must fix to ensure the lesbian representation is excellent going forward. First and foremost, lesbian characters should have their own storylines without advancing romance between men and women. Yuri and Juliana are both main characters, and the story is just as much theirs as Kitty’s. If XO, Kitty has no plans for Yuri and Juliana to get back together, then the show should also focus on Juliana and Praveena’s newfound relationship.

Yuri should find romantic happiness, no matter who it is with. It is also important that XO, Kitty does not implement cheating for bisexual characters again. Finally, while it is highly likely that Kitty and Min-ho will end up together, it should not forget that Kitty is bisexual, which does not change no matter who she dates. Kitty’s sexuality is for herself and not for romantic drama.