Season 6 of the hit reality dating show Love Island USA has skyrocketed in popularity this summer among all social media platforms. It has currently become the most talked-about season of all reality-dating shows. It has even surpassed the UK version in popularity, a cultural sensation since its release in 2015, as it was the original version of Love Island. Now, this new topic has some people wondering: What was so special about this season? Let’s talk about it.
Cast
The cast of Season 6 appeared to be like no other. Fans have been posting on Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram like crazy since its release. Each cast member, from the guys to the girls, seemed to have such strong and unique personalities, which made each of them stand out in their own way, which society hasn’t seen in a while on reality-dating TV.
The bonds between the cast members, even simply friendship-wise, were truly impactful for America to see on such a cliche and dramatized show. One of the friendships that stood out the most to America was the trio dynamic between cast members Leah, Serena, and JaNa. From the very first day they entered the villa, they were inseparable and had each other’s backs throughout the crazy ups and downs of being on Love Island.
Another important friendship in this season was between OG Islander, Kaylor and Season 6’s very first “bombshell”, Liv. “Opposites attract” is a saying that truly represents this friendship, as Liv is more of a tough and hard-headed young woman, while Kaylor is extremely emotional, naive and wears her heart on her sleeve, which she has received mounds of backlash for on social media.
Drama
The amount of drama and unexpected twists in this season was extreme. From the recoupling each week to the crazy challenges and choosing which person must go home, this created a lot of talk on social media, where people began throwing their opinions out and debating with strangers about it. One reason this occurred was the very first time the Islanders were told they would be responsible for choosing one boy and one girl to leave the show and return home. Any decision they made would have upset someone, but their decision to choose Andrea, the girl Rob was coupled with, set many of the islanders off, especially Rob, as they believed it was unfair.
The new host & the spin-back of previous Islanders
Vanderpump Rules’ star, Ariana Madix, has taken over as the host this recent season. Hosting this show acted as Ariana’s “big one” after divorcing her ex-husband of 9 years, Tom Sandoval, when he was caught having an affair with one of their castmates on Vanderpump Rules. Many fans of hers loved to see her confidence shine through their screens as she flaunted her iconic looks in this recent season of Love Island’s host after going through the heartbreak and betrayal Sandoval left her with. A few of the Season 5 Islanders also appeared on the newest season, one even being an OG. Rob, who has an insane obsession with snakes, from season 5 returned to the Fiji Love Island villa as an OG islander, as well as Kassie, the gorgeous and hilarious OG from season 5, and Harrison, the “real-life version of Thor”, returning as bombshells to arrive and shake things up. Die-hard Love Island fans were excited to see these returns, familiar faces, and their rise in fame.
Returners Kassy (Left), Harrison (Middle), and Rob (right)
New host Ariana Madix
The Couples & Betrayal
A majority of the couples in Love Island were enjoying deepening their connections and looking forward to their futures outside the villa towards the middle of the season until Casa Amor hit. Casa Amor is a seasonal tradition of the Love Island show, where all the men are given an option to leave to a separate villa with six new girls, leaving their current girls behind. Almost every season, all the men give in and choose to go, which tends to stir things up and break couples up. An unexpected twist occurred this season, where even the strongest couples betray one another. This resulted in numerous fights, tears, and forgiveness.
The reunion & returning to life outside the villa
The final aspect that brought attention to this hit reality-dating show was the reunion, released on August 19th, less than a month after the season wrapped up. Let’s just say things weren’t looking too good for couples Aaron and Kaylor and Kendall and Nicole when truths finally came out after leaving the villa and reentering the real world. These truths sparked extra drama and conflict at the reunion, where almost the entire cast was brought to New York to sit down and speak on the show and give the viewers updates on their lives and relationships since leaving the show. Viewers have speculated that some of this drama brought to the reunion resulted from “clout chasing” from the cast members, meaning they were allegedly intentionally bringing up conflicts in the hope of getting attention because of it. There have also been numerous podcast interviews of the Islanders spilling all the tea, sharing their feelings towards the experience, and speaking on unseen moments from the villa. Some of the major podcasts that brought the drama out of the islanders were “Chicks in the Office” and “The Viall Files.”
Season 6 of Love Island USA was truly a big one, and even a month after the reunion, many are still talking about the shocking fame it brought to all the Islanders, even outside the villa. We all hope this will continue into the next season of Love Island.
