Netflix’s ‘XO, Kitty’ Season 3 is now streaming, and showrunner Valentina Garza has opened up about the original plans for Yuri Han’s storyline, revealing the core theme behind her character arc in the final season.
The third season of the popular teen series dropped on April 2, 2026, bringing Kitty Song Covey’s senior year at the Korean Independent School of Seoul (KISS) to screens worldwide. Among the many storylines wrapping up, Yuri Han’s journey stood out as one of the most significant transformations.
Gia Kim‘s character, the former heiress who lost her family fortune in a lawsuit, faced a difficult year. She had to figure out who she was without money or status. The season showed her struggling to pay tuition, selling her clothes, and learning to work for the first time in her life.
Yuri’s Arc Focused on Personal Growth and Finding Herself
Garza explained that Yuri’s storyline was always meant to be about self-discovery, not just romance. The showrunner shared that Season 3 was very much about Yuri dealing with huge life changes.
“She’s dealing with really huge things. She’s lost her fortune. Her parents aren’t in her life. She doesn’t know if she’s going to be able to come back to K.I.S.S. and isn’t planning to until Kitty saves the day. But she’s really working on herself and trying to figure out, ‘If I’m not Yuri Han, the heiress, who am I?’”
Garza added that this season was about Yuri “reinventing herself.” Through this process, she becomes someone who can be worthy of the love she broke in the previous season.
Yuri and Juliana Find Their Way Back to Each Other
Yuri ends Season 3 getting back together with Juliana (Regan Aliyah). The showrunner confirmed this was always the plan.
“It felt very full circle to be able to get back to that place with Juliana.”
The couple had split in Season 2 after Yuri kissed Kitty. But after working on herself and facing her mistakes, Yuri grew enough to rebuild that relationship. The ending gave fans of the couple a satisfying resolution after a season of separation.
Kitty and Yuri’s Friendship Stays Important
While some fans hoped for a romantic reunion between Kitty (Anna Cathcart) and Yuri, the show made clear that their connection had shifted. Kitty spends most of Season 3 in an official relationship with Min Ho (Sang Heon Lee). The couple gets together early in Episode 1, breaks up mid-season due to a misunderstanding, and reunites in the finale at the airport.
Throughout Yuri’s struggles, Kitty remains a supportive friend. She helps Yuri find a way to stay at KISS and encourages her throughout the year. Their bond stays strong, but as a friendship built on mutual respect after the romantic confusion of Season 2.
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Gia Kim Had Previously Predicted the Direction
The show’s conclusion matches what Gia Kim said in a 2025 interview. When asked about the chances of Kitty and Yuri ending up together, she was honest.
“Just based on what I see mostly in the comments, I think the Kitty/Min Ho shippers are very dominating. I feel like that’s what the show is gonna give them because we don’t want to piss off too many people. There’s a higher chance of Kitty/Min Ho shippers getting what they want than Kitty/Yuri shippers I would say.”
She also noted that Yuri’s main focus in a potential third season would be dealing with her lost financial privilege. That is exactly what happened.
Lara Jean Returns to Support Kitty Through Everything
Lana Condor returns as Lara Jean Song Covey, Kitty’s older sister from the To All the Boys movies. Lara Jean comes to Seoul to help Kitty through her breakup and apply for early decision to New York University.
Garza explained why bringing back Lara Jean mattered for the season’s themes.
“Love is important, but at the end of the day, we have to look inside ourselves and figure out what it is just to take care of ourselves as a whole person. And there’s no one better to really help her with that than Lara Jean.”
Other Characters Also Get Their Happy Endings
The Season 3 finale tied up several storylines beyond Yuri’s. Q (Anthony Keyvan) and Jin (Joshua Lee) found their way back to each other. Dae (Choi Min-young) and Eunice (Han Bi Ryu) got back together. Alex (Peter Thurnwald) and Kitty’s cousin Jiwon (Hojo Shin) prepared for their baby.
Kitty chooses to attend NYU for college, following her heart rather than trying to logically choose between Seoul and New York. Min Ho supports her decision. The final scene shows the couple holding hands on a plane to Portland, ready for whatever comes next.
XO, Kitty Season 3 is streaming now on Netflix in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, and all other Netflix territories worldwide. The season includes eight episodes.
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