This past summer, the hit British reality dating show “Love Island” came over to the United States. After nearly five years of fans binging episodes through Hulu to keep up with their favorite english couples, CBS picked the show up, hoping to deliver it to a broader American audience, with a (mostly) American cast.
“Love Island” is a much different television experience than some viewers were likely used to. For one, the show aired every weeknight, Monday through Friday. It wasn’t the usual weekly episode followed by days of recap and reaction. If you were going to keep up with the show, you had to invest in it every night of the week.
Now, I should clarify that I did not start this summer planning to watch “Love Island.” I had never seen the British version, though I had heard rave reviews from family and friends. When I saw CBS was airing a season here in the U.S., I figured I would give it a try.
I did not plan to enjoy the show at all. I thought I would watch maybe a couple of episodes before forgetting to tune in one night and then giving up on the show entirely. Certainly, I wasn’t prepared for my friends and I to make a nightly tradition of gathering around the television at 8 p.m. to make sure we didn’t miss anything. We had our favorite contestants and couples, as well as ones we couldn’t wait to see lose. It became an obsession.
What is it about “Love Island” that is so gripping? I think, in part, the simplicity of the show is its greatest asset. “Love Island” is not a game of strategy, of nuance, or of cunning your way to victory. It boils down solely to people socializing with one another. All the drama that occurred was created by the contestants simply being themselves. Thegreatest excitement came from contestants saying or doing something stupid, without really having a reason. Many times, my friends and would shout in unison, “YOU IDIOT!” at whoever it was making a fool of themselves and destroying their relationship.
Many moments left us wondering whether or not these people even realized they were on camera. To be fair, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise for them to fall into the rhythm of life in the villa and forget they were on a television show. In a world where our lives are constantly being surveilled or monitored, our data and habits collected and analyzed by tech companies and governments, we often forget ourselves that we’re being watched at all times as well. Not to suggest that “Love Island” is a harbinger for an Orwellian dystopia – though some have done so.
CBS has already announced they will be bringing “Love Island” back for a second season. It isn’t clear yet how long the show will stay on American airwaves, but based on its success overseas, it could be around for a while. The show is designed perfectly for today’s streaming environment, and fits nicely into the landscape of reality television. One thing is certain, though, that when the next season and islanders wash ashore, I will be tuning in the entire time.