Having finished watching the incredibly popular Netflix series XO, Kitty, I cannot help but write a praiseworthy article (akin to almost a journalistic fan letter) about Sang Heon Lee who played Min Ho in the series.
XO, Kitty, available to stream exclusively on Netflix, is a South Korea-set spinoff of “To All the Boys”; and, Sang Heon Lee plays this cool, rich, and initially somewhat emotionally detached as well as aloof character who does happen to care about his friends and express his feelings albeit in his own classy way.
Sang Heon Lee through the character he superbly plays, in my opinion, had some of the best, most memorable, iconic and quotable lines.
It has only been a few days since I completed the series but I have started using some of his phrases in my daily conversations already. Four of the lines that seem to be circling in my head are: “No English!”, “Gifts are my love language”, “That’s a you problem” and “I am friendly…to my friends”.
These lines are so iconic that they could only possibly be authentically delivered and said by Sang Heon Lee himself. His script, with all due respect to the other fabulous cast members, sounds so eloquent and yet as cool as a fresh breeze on an early morning in spring because it’s being delivered in his voice, in his style, in his crisp British accent.
Having done modelling before and studied at university in the UK, this was – and I still cannot believe this even though I am writing it – Sang Heon Lee’s first acting gig. All I want to ask is what took him so long to land a role?
I ask this question because a lot of people have been watching this series simply because of him. He is literally the hero of this series. There should actually be a series where Sang Heon Lee is officially the main character. This is no exaggeration. Whilst XO, Kitty is definitely worth watching, it has definitely received added value from Sang Heon Lee being in it because his character as Min Ho shows a human side to it – the potential to grow, to shift from not having feelings to having feelings, from not being expressive to being expressive.
My point about Sang Heon Lee being a major, in fact a huge, plus point about the series is illustrated by his Instagram, which has literally skyrocketed since the series was released on the 18th of May. And, his Instagram literally continues to grow as more and more people watch the series.
All I want to say is that I can’t wait to see Sang Heon Lee on the screens again!
_____________________________________________________________________________
Raza Hussain is an award-winning writer: the Extra-Mile winner of Newsquest’s Young Reporter Scheme and Young Writers also certified his ‘Talent for Writing’. Instagram: raza.hussain01
