The new Love Island USA season was off to quite a start, when ten attractive men and ten gorgeous women greeted each other in a stunning villa on a tropical island. This reality dating show is based on the highly popular Love Island, which originated in the United Kingdom, but the American version seems to push the envelope in terms of its appeal. Moving the show from CBS to Peacock was perhaps the best decision, as producers can get away with racier content on a streaming service, as opposed to a TV network.
This love-centered show’s goal is to get cast members to couple up or explore their options, so they can eventually find the Love Island USA stars that they are the most compatible with. Competing in challenges, going on dates, and getting to know each other are just a few of the things that they must do in order to try and find their ideal matches. However, they often find themselves thrown off balance when new contenders are brought into the mix, as they are forced to redirect their energy towards other people.
When compared to other dating shows, this one is a little different, as it is being filmed in real time. Also, audiences help to move the series' action along, by participating in polls that they access via the Love Island USA app. Fans can vote on how relationships between islanders develop, and they also have a say when it comes to who should stay or go. However, at the end of the day, it is all up to Deb Chubb, Sereniti Springs, Courtney Boerner, Zeta Morrison, Sydney Paight, Jesse Bray, Andy Voyen, Felipe Gomes, Isaiah Campbell, Timmy Pandolfi, and the other islanders. They are the ones who have to make most of the decisions. Although the show is highly interactive and entertaining to watch, to date, there have been a host of awkward moments that are making fans says "yikes."
This Show Evokes Strong Emotions
Right from the beginning, the women get the power first, as they decide which guys they want to be with, based on the attractiveness of the male cast members. The females step forward, and the men choose whether or not they want to be with them or not. They can even couple up with Love Island USA stars who are already in partnerships. It is like an in-person dating app, where people match based on what they look like, and then get to know one another. However, in actuality, the show may be worse than an app, because cast members are stuck in a villa together, watching their crushes flirt with other people. Feelings get hurt, Love Island USA hopes can be shattered, and tables are always being turned. All of these things happened during the first weeks of the season.
To make matters worse, new contenders were thrown into the mix, not long after the couples were starting to get to know each other. Immediately, the guys had to decide which two Love Island USA men would go on a double date with newcomers, Valerie Bragg and Mady McLanahan. It made it painful to watch, as Jesse willingly switched from being coupled up with Deb to being in a partnership with Val. This occurred after the double date, since he seemed to like getting to know Deb from the start. This sparked a love triangle drama. Then, Tyler Radziszewski entered the villa, and all of the women started swooning. Some of the guys started to feel a little threatened.
To Love or Not to Love
Within its first week of episodes, Love Island USA definitely made an impression in the world of reality TV dating competition shows. However, part of its impact is all about viewers feeling secondhand embarrassment. It seems like these individuals were basically being set up to be humiliated on TV, as they watched their potential Love Island USA partners switch sides, or make out with other contestants right in front of them. It is safe to say that, while the show is highly addictive to watch, the series should be renamed "Yikes Island" because of the plethora of awkward moments, which mostly seem to revolve around the men in the Love Island USA villa not knowing what they want.
Love Island USA streams new episodes every day on Peacock.