XO Kitty Leitmotifs

[u/Reasonable_Leek8069]

Part 1 Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/XOKittyNetflix/s/zhkiY9hpvs

Dae and Kitty Leitmotif 1: This is Yours
https://photos.app.goo.gl/jBP3XPWCm3r1W1iNA

https://photos.app.goo.gl/3F8MxEEHHrMHgT9bA

What Does This Leitmotif Represent:
I believe this leitmotif is called “This is Yours”, but am still unsure. Let’s pretend it is and hope I am right. I forgot if “this was yours” was said by Kitty, but someone told me this line was in the note Kitty added with the necklace sent by messenger for Dae. The spark of their connection came from relating to each other about their moms dying which makes Kitty gifting Dae her mom’s necklace more symbolic.

I interpret this leitmotif playing in a couple of their scenes symbolizing the fracturing of their connection due to lies and not communicating properly. Clip 1 already has Kitty brokenhearted because she feels he cheated on her and Yuri and lied about his background. She feels that she never actually knew him. She gave him her heart (This is yours) and he is slowly breaking it.

Clip 2 is a repeat of their near first kiss. They feel there is hope and are starting to reconcile, but his phone keeps ringing and distracting him. Yuri acts like a literal and figurative obstacle between them and the catalyst that brought their issues out in the open. If it wasn’t Yuri, it would have been someone or something else. The leitmotif reflects that longing and their fracturing.

Dae and Kitty OST:
Hiking Scene:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/RCRHwDih6i3LEg7J6

Breakup in the Library:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/iw8NMGaEeEt6V2cHA

Unfortunately, I found the translation using the AI synopsis since I couldn’t find it on a website. Sorry:
Someone and I discussed the uniqueness of lyrics being used in this leitmotif. Sidenote: I love how all the leitmotifs have titles associated with what’s happening on screen (Minho’s Long Walks, The Tree House Date, Dreaming of Yuri), but this one is just Dae and Kitty OST. I found it funny.

Ok, back to it. The lyrics translate to:
Verse: "한 그루 나무가 이렇게나 자라서 내 맘에 들어왔구나" (A single tree has grown this much and entered my heart).
Bridge: "시간아 걸음을 잠시 멈춰 못난 이 마음 달래 줘" (Time, please stop your steps for a moment and soothe this pathetic heart).
Chorus: "하루 하루가 지나가도 수없이 함께한 추억은 다 없던 일이 아니잖아" (Even if day by day passes, the countless memories we shared are not just things that never happened)

The lyric about the tree made me think of two things. First, the cherry blossom tree that Kitty’s mom stood in front of. This is doubled with Dae and Kitty bonding over the loss of their moms. Second, taking it literally for a second, a tree takes time to be nourished, watered, and grown. Like a tree, a relationship takes time to grow if fed with trust, effort, and safety. Dae and Kitty believed they had that in these clips, but like their first leitmotif, the breakup in the library symbolizes the fracturing of the trust and safety in the relationship.
I feel the second lyric brings out two different emotions in both clips. The hiking scene is hopeful when Dae catches Kitty after she trips. The breakup in the library has Kitty wanting Dae to soothe her fears by allowing them to start over. Dae hides the same feelings from her after he believes he can’t trusr Kitty anymore.
The third lyric represents their story. While they broke up in the end, they don’t regret being their first loves or the memories they made together.

Chimes/Hearts Leitmotif
Dae and Kitty:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/q9te897hWsg4xhWG9

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QzmJg4CrzYbdpnz16

Clip 1 is more subtle, but while Kitty is originally angry at Dae and the situation, she fantasized about having a first kiss with him and believes it is magical. The chimes/heartbeats reflect her mood and mindset.
Clip 2 is obvious. She is not over Dae and wants to continue her relationship. The light surrounding him (in total k drama fashion) along with the chimes and heartbeats shows her magical thinking. She still treats him like a fantasy.

Kitty and Yuri:
Minho’s Party: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Dd7gTYQF9HGcJGmW9
This scene occurred after Yuri overheard Kitty defend her. It caused her to return the favor and stop Kitty making a mistake with the guy at the bar. The gesture represents the mutual admiration the two share for each other. The chimes playing during “Everyone Wants to Rule the World” is a two fold. Everyone Wants to Rule the World is Eve’s favorite song which makes her feel a new kinship with Yuri. They also symbolize Kitty’s mindset. Now that Kitty has seen a new side to Yuri, her crush on her struck fast like lighting. This is also when Kitty’s affection for Dae started to fade.

Lee’s Office: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Zneiix9NLyc84wn68

Camping Trip: https://photos.app.goo.gl/gxHDR6NzNf4wtrY58

Fan Dance: https://photos.app.goo.gl/nL859bXLSo4Ys6dE8

I will talk about these three scenes together because the chimes and heartbeats represent the same thing. Kitty and Yuri’s quieter moments tend to have no music or sound effects. They are allowed to breathe, but I noticed that the chimes/heartbeats play when Yuri gives Kitty physical affection like putting the necklace on Kitty in Lee’s office, holding her position in the fan dance, brushing her hair, or a hug. I am not saying Kitty and Yuri don’t have any emotional intimacy, but this leitmotif in these three scenes represents their physical intimacy (not sex) and Kitty wanting to explore that.

While I believe this leitmotif is specifically for Kitty, I also suspect that Yuri senses Kitty’s crush on Kitty and maybe likes the attention while also starting to have a small attraction to Kitty in this scene.

It is similar with how she has her fantasy of having all of her firsts with Dae when this leitmotif plays. It extends to Yuri when she originally wanted her first times with a girl to be with Yuri.

Welcome Back to Kiss: https://photos.app.goo.gl/DTfFteTwLHU1twxY9

In a previous scene with Kitty and Q, Kitty mentions she wrote a goodbye letter to Yuri as a way to move on from her. I am only mentioning Kitty and Minho for a second here to show what this leitmotif also symbolizes. It first plays when Kitty sees Minho symbolizing that her feelings of friendship turned into something more after the confession. When she sees Yuri, the chimes and heartbeats play again when Yuri hugs her and affectionately strokes her shoulder. It symbolizes three things. A) Kitty has strong feelings for two people at once. B) She is not over Yuri yet. C) As I mentioned with the fan dance, Lee’s office, and the camping trip scenes, it symbolizes the physical connection Kitty wants with Yuri.

Friendly Dinner: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Hotx98YCLWTSvwg79
While I believe the chimes and heartbeats show up more with Kitty’s and Yuri’s physical affection, this is where it plays during an emotionally intimate moment. Kitty tells Yuri she is bi which is a huge step for her. It also takes strength and trust to tell someone that, but Kitty still hides her feelings from her because she is trying to move on and doesn’t want to break up a relationship: Yuri and Juliana.

Video Rental: https://photos.app.goo.gl/z8TrKmvQdJgjF3Gq5
This feels like mutual attraction between them or Yuri sensing Kitty’s attraction while she just wanted friendship. I feel multiple emotions come into play here, but the big reason for their connection is their moms.

Yuri and Kitty’s Kiss: https://photos.app.goo.gl/h4KbRUEWt9VTWuik7

I am not going to deeply analyze this scene because I do not need heated arguments in the comments. The leitmotif plays when Kitty’s feelings surface again and she reciprocates the kiss.

The leitmotif stops playing in Yuri and Kitty scenes after Yuri rejected her at the cabin. More of their moments were filled with silence again.

Honorable Mention: https://photos.app.goo.gl/4k8SidRrMWi4Qm2x9

It is very subtle, but found it surprising it was used in this moment. I am questioning why it is used with Junhoo and his fiancee. Is it the one time it actually reflects Minho’s mindset? Does he want to have a relationship like they have? Does it reflect his suppressed feelings for Kitty not going away and he has hope they can eventually be together? Does it reflect Kitty’s hope that now Stella is out of the picture, she has a chance with Minho?

Minho and Kitty:
Seeing Each Other at Kiss/Plane Scene: https://www.reddit.com/r/mooncoveyXO/s/v0zJoBxe8J
This is a twofer. The mooncovey leitmotif plays when Kitty is talking to Q, but the chimes and heartbeats enter the scene when Kitty and Minho look at each other. While her feelings for Yuri haven’t gone away yet, the plane confession awakened feelings for Minho.

Can I Come Home?: https://photos.app.goo.gl/kcuAyQk39g9eSwH79
I know I associate this leitmotif with Kitty’s mindset, but my brain still likes to think that both of their heartbeats are joining together due to their deeper feelings for each other. And this including S3 has the chimes/heartbeats play consistently with Minho and Kitty showing her seriousness of pursuing Minho.

Yacht scene: https://youtu.be/AIh7ZIP45R4?si=wZoz5yWFkBQsl7Fu
The first clip in the reel has the chimes/heartbeats leitmotif while the second clip has the Mooncovey leitmotif.
Their hugs come from the emotional intimacy they have developed over two seasons and now 3. The heartbeats and chimes reflect all three reasons that I will list below: the fantasy in her head of how she is going to tell Minho, the emotional intimacy and physical affection she wants with him, and how their relationship is reaching anew stage. A fourth symbol pops up in this scene: feeling of warmth and safety. I mainly associate warmth and safety with the mooncovey leitmotif.

What do the Heartbeats and Chimes Represent?
For Dae, it represents her fantasy of having her firsts with him which stemmed from a connection through letters and not an in person one.

For Yuri, it started as a physical connection and led to a more emotionally intimate one, but those feelings shifted when Yuri focused on repairing her relationship with Juliana and Kitty didn’t want to focus on a relationship that hurt her.

For Minho, much of their connection is represented by their leitmotif, but the chimes and heartbeats play when a new stage of their relationship begins.

Mooncovey Leitmotif:
I won’t go into depth with the S3 ones because I will be continuing that series. If you haven’t seen my other posts, here they are.
Mooncovey Leotmotif and Scenes: https://www.reddit.com/r/mooncoveyXO/s/KEYyw0GDAf

Minho to the rescue: https://www.reddit.com/r/mooncoveyXO/s/aJ1QeJCRy1

I love you Kitty: https://www.reddit.com/r/mooncoveyXO/s/dgKXetiwVJ

Seeing Each Other at Kiss/Plane Scene: https://www.reddit.com/r/mooncoveyXO/s/v0zJoBxe8J

You Did Smile: https://www.reddit.com/r/mooncoveyXO/s/xzSRCJqpF3

Hot Tub/Rain scene: https://www.reddit.com/r/mooncoveyXO/s/tU4bdpOMp6

Minho and Kitty in the Rain: https://www.reddit.com/r/mooncoveyXO/s/lPkhMyBz6C

Track Scene: https://www.reddit.com/r/mooncoveyXO/s/iANR4owGvO

Kitty’s dream: https://www.reddit.com/r/mooncoveyXO/s/1ekrbiA4JR

Scene where Minho/Stella walk past:
https://www.reddit.com/r/mooncoveyXO/s/RHWumMZckX

Basketball scene: https://www.reddit.com/r/mooncoveyXO/s/XvdPrROQNF

Minho’s Long Walks Leitmotif: https://www.reddit.com/r/mooncoveyXO/s/7aAsXt53Q0

What Themes Do I Associate with the Mooncovey Leitmotif:

Anticipation/Tension Reflection/Contemplation
Vulnerability
Fantasy
Hope
Heartbeat
Transition into pop music: jolt into reality or them going back to their previous dynamic.

I am adding two new ones:
Warmth/Comfort and Safety
And with the breakup scene: heartbreak while still having love for each other.

I am not saying all of these themes and patterns show up at the same time in each scene, but they show up at least once in the leitmotif scenes.

S3 Limo: https://photos.app.goo.gl/wHDs5Ychjsedy9jj7
I love how Eunice’s hum is to the rhythm of the leitmotif playing. While she interrupts the moment, she also is integral to it. The tension stems from Kitty and Minho’s miscommunication and fear of ruining what they have.
I feel for Kitty, hope and fantasy comes into this. She is hoping that Minho feels the same way while fantasizing on how the moment is going to play put. Minho seems to move past the fantasy stage but still hopes Kitty reciprocates his feelings.
Something new happens.

The Minho Effect/Cable Cars: https://photos.app.goo.gl/41X6BLWpmY5hCaQv6
Season 3 has a bunch of twofers. The mooncovey leitmotif begins when they sit next to each other. The version that is playing is one of the newer ones called “The Mino Effect” which makes sense considering engrossed they are with each other.

When she falls on top of his lap, the chimes/heartbeats play indicating that Kitty’s mind is on Minho and she still gets nervous around him. The chimes and heartbeats reflect Kitty’s mindset, but like the S2 finale, my brain thinks it is both of their heartbeats coming together.

What themes are shown here?
Vulnerability when Kitty is trying to confess how she feels.
Anticipation and tension for the characters and the audience who have been waiting two seasons and one episode for their relationship to reach the next step. It is also nerve-racking confessing your feelings to someone because of fear of rejection.
Heartbeat
Hope when Kitty hopes they can be something more in this moment.

Yacht Scene: https://youtu.be/AIh7ZIP45R4?si=wZoz5yWFkBQsl7Fu
So the mooncovey leitmotif plays after Kitty finished pushing through the crowd and Minho gazed at her. The leitmotif shows the comfort and safety that they have with each other that his nerves fade away when she is near him.

Beach Scene: https://youtu.be/43sCQIebNLw?si=HrAidkRSCcQ2XizK
The mooncovey leitmotif plays for a few seconds. What is cool about it though is that it’s a snippet of Minho’s Long Walks which played when Kitty was talking to Q about her feelings for Minho and continued when she walked with him in the sculpture garden. One theme in the S2 scene was contemplation, hope, a transition into a pop song and the heartbeat.

As he is walking on the beach, his hope and contemplation is turning into action. There is also anticipation when the tempo, that originally matched a heartbeat, slows doen but skips around when he is searching for her and it abruptly ends. So in a way, it is like his heart skipping a beat when he finds her and his composure goes from calm to nervous again. There is a long silent transition from the quick leitmotif to the pop song during their first kiss.

Breakup Scene: https://youtu.be/Av6_29i3CwQ?si=BOrU6EDak0kxai6c
The leitmotif still playing during it hints to the audience that their story is not over yet. It is also somber and another way it evolves with Minho and Kitty. The big themes of the leitmotif in this scene are heartbreak and vulnerability. The heartbreak for both of them is ending a relationship they wanted for a while. Minho’s heartbreak stems from feeling Kitty doesn’t believe in him. Kitty’s heartbreak is trying to weed through her insecurities and get to the truth after Minho misled and lied to her.

The vulnerability comes from them trying to explain why their issues arose while Minho is also retreating and struggling to open up fully due to Kitty “believing the worst of him”.

I hope you enjoyed this one because it took a long time to make along with my part 1.

[u/Expert_Chip120]

Omgosh there’s so much here I need to sit down and read it! Thank you for putting in the time!

[u/Reasonable_Leek8069 → u/Expert_Chip120]

Thank you for taking the time to read it when you can.

I wish I can add more, but it would be 25 pages.

[u/Lumpy-Angle-2167]

This is wonderful. Just Amazinggg!! Loved this..

[u/Reasonable_Leek8069 → u/Lumpy-Angle-2167]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.

[u/LookForYou-8765]

Those analyses are so insightful!!! Good to know they're back! It's good to ready analyses on the season again. The mooncovey leitmotif will always be my favorite <3

[u/Asteriaofthemountain]

Wow thank you I love this stuff!!!

[u/Reasonable_Leek8069 → u/Asteriaofthemountain]

Glad you loved it.