SK STREAMING | S8 E. 1-4 LOVE ISLAND USA
PHOTO CREDIT | Peacock/Ben Symons
For those who are hear from Athleisure Mag, you know that over there we do recaps of every episode of The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, The Golden Bachelor, and The Golden Bachelorette. I’ve been thinking for awhile on what’s a show that we should recap over on my personal site. I love prestige shows, crime shows, and more. I also love reality shows and after much thought, I decided Love Island should be the show. Last year, I was at an Editor Event and I met a friend who loves watching this show. Since I follow her on IG, I read so many of her posts that I became intrigued and I binged all the seaons of Love Island US as well as Love Island UK. In terms of format we will do 1 post that will involve shows that air from Sat/Sun - Fri. Next week’s post may include the companion show as well as the events taking place over the course of the week. So the post will be updated through the week!
So when S8 dropped I have been watching it in real time and think this is the perfect one to recap and to hear your thoughts on this as well! Episodes are pretty much daily (not on Wed but almost daily at 9pm ET on Peacock) and I will drop my thoughts every Fri. This week, the first episode allows us to see what the new splashy intro is and of course, Ariana Madix (Vanderpump Rules, Dancing with the Stars, Love Island Games) is back to continue hosting on this show. I love the comments that she gives as well as the judgey statements that we are all thinking when someone deserves it!
We ended up meeting the original cast members: Anya, Trinity, Melanie, Kenzie, Sean, Beatriz, Sincere, Bryce, KC, and Zach, We get to see them learn about one another whether it’s talking or just kissing throughout the episode. As is the case in this show, they finally select who they will partner with. In previous seasons this happens where the women choose based on a first impression. But in a format twist, the selections were made between their cocktail mixers and then a kissing challenge which lets them see what their chemistry could be. Even though they are partnered with people, you do see people having chats with others so that they can to know more about them and you can see how some of them have a heightened interest and others are really making friends with one another.
Just one night after they all coupled up, the couples are asked to line up on either side of a row of doors. If they want to stay in their couple, they stand on the green circle and if they want to leave their grouping, they stand on a red circle! 2 Bombshells enter the Villa - Gabriel and Kayda. These bombshells made out with those that are on the red circle. Bryce and Zach (this left Kenzie out of a couple - single and vulnerable) made out with Kayda and walk away with her to know more about her and Trinity and Beatriz (that left Sean out of a couple - single and vulnerable) leave with Gabriel. Bryce and Trinity who were a couple, both of them opted to leave so that was pretty easy.
For 24 hours, the 2 Bombshells walked away with their interested people and by the time they came back the next night, Gabriel ultimatele chose Beatriz and Kayda chose Zach. This left the originally coupled Bryce and Trinity to come back into their duo after trying something different. Sean and Kenzie who were both shocked by not being part of their couple are designated as single and vulnerable.
The 3rd episode has a challenge where they pick a card of a fellow Islanders’ secret and see who it is about. Those who they think it fits, they are able to push into the pool. No recoupling ceremony takes place during this season.
Going into E4 we know there are a few tensions between Melanie and Sincere (he started talking with Kayda) and she let him know that he should do what he needs to because she will. He lets the guys know that when he talked with Kayda it wasn’t to be with her, he was talking about why he liked Melanie. We also know that Kenzie doesn’t want to talk with Zach or to hear her apologies because she was so caught off guard by him leaving their couple. The Islanders are debriefing about the secrets that they learned about one another.
It’s always interesting to see when couples get annoyed about people talking with other people - the whole purpose of the show is that there is a big chance that someone is always looking to see what else is out there. Very few couples lock in and truly stay in their bubble.
The Boardroom Challenge was wild and apparently, there is a Super Secret Bombshell that each girl gets time with that the men don’t see. They have the opportunity to make out with their office crush as well as to be coupled up with the person they are with. After the challenge the men talk about the challenge and the women talk about the secret man! Conversations are had between each other and in smaller groups. As they all come out at night looking glammed up, a text announces that another person will be joining them.
We officially meet Corbin who says hello to everyone and then says it is nice to see the women again! After the confused faces of the men, Corbin explains what happened during the challenge and then he pulls all the women aside to speak to them in a group. The men are not pleased and wonder what this will do to their relationships. Earlier in the episode when Beatriz and Kenzie chatted about what took place during the Challenge, they came to an understanding and Beatriz told her that she should be able to talk to Corbin first because she is single. When the girls chatted with Corbin, Melanie pulled him and everyone said that they were shocked that Kenzie didn’t get a chance. After Melanie chats with Corbin, Beatriz tells her that she did a lot and was cutting off Kenzie. Melanie tried to deflect and got very upset and walked away - we’ll have to see how it shakes out on Sunday night’s episode.
We’re looking forward to seeing Love Island; Aftersun where Ciara Miller, star of Summer House will co-host this companion show alng with Tefi Pessoa (they are replacing Maura Higgins and Sophie Monk). You can catch these episodes on Sat at 9pm ET on Peacock. This show premieres for this season on Jun 6th and will drop each week. They will talk about eliminations, coupling, and have interviews.
WHO IS PAIRED AND SINGLE (as of the end of S8 E4)
Each row represents the couples that exist at the end of the episode (ie Aniya and KC).
PHOTO CREDIT | Peacock/Ben Symons
Remember that throughout this season, you can vote for your favorite Islanders or couples on Love Island USA. You’ll need to download the official Love Island USA app on the Apple Store or on Google Play. The viewer vote influences who couples up, who gets to stay in the Villa, and who goes home throughout the season. You can vote on the cast while episodes are airing and voting registration is open now.
PHOTO CREDIT | Peacock/Ben Symons
