A Netflix original drama series set in Korea, “XO, Kitty” Season 2, has become a strong new contender against “Squid Game 2,” which previously placed first on the global Netflix TV show chart for 21 consecutive days .
Notably, “Squid Game 2” debuted on December 27 and held the global top spot on Netflix for 21 days, demonstrating its widespread popularity. It achieved an unprecedented record of ranking first in all 93 countries tracked by FlixPatrol within the first five days of release.
In its third week, it logged a total of 1.525 billion hours of viewing, making it the third most-watched Netflix series of all time, behind “Squid Game” Season 1 and “Wednesday.” As a sequel, it marked a highly successful performance, reaffirming the global impact of Korean content.
However, “Squid Game 2” was dethroned by the second season of “XO, Kitty,” another Netflix original series. This Korean-set teen drama hit the top spot on Netflix’s global TV show charts just a day after its release.
“XO, Kitty” tells the story of Kitty, an American high school student navigating love and friendships in Korea. In season two, Kitty returns to Seoul for a new semester, exploring her relationship with her first love, Dae, and new connections with other characters. The cast includes Anna Cathcart as Kitty, along with Korean actors Choi Min-young, Gia Kim and Lee Sang-heon, enhancing the show’s Korean authenticity.
Both “Squid Game 2” and “XO, Kitty 2” share Korea as a backdrop, but the tones and themes are very different. “Squid Game 2” delves into high-stakes survival and revenge, depicting a dark and tense narrative. In contrast, “XO, Kitty 2” is a light-hearted teen romance focused on love and friendship.
While “XO, Kitty” enjoys the benefit of being a spin-off of the popular “To All the Boys” franchise, it is difficult to attribute the success of “XO, Kitty 2” solely to the influence of existing fandom.
In particular, the global success of “XO, Kitty 2” demonstrates how Korean culture and storytelling continues to resonate with viewers internationally, especially with interest in Korea growing thanks to K-pop and K -drama.
Additionally, its fresh portrayal of Korean school life, relatable themes, and talented cast have captured hearts around the world.
As Korean dramas continue to gain prominence on platforms like Netflix, this latest development highlights the potential for a variety of stories to thrive on the global stage. The success of “XO, Kitty 2” and “Squid Game 2” not only signals their individual triumphs, but also reflects the growing influence of Korean content around the world.
