When the clock strikes 9 tonight and for the first time in 8 weeks, I’m not sure where I’m meant to be or what I’m going to do. They say it takes 21 days to make a habit and I just spent two months consistently sitting in front of a screen at the same time every night bar Saturday – and with the exception of a brief holiday – to watch Love Island of all things. For those of you who aren’t sure what that is, it’s where a bunch of men and women live in a fancy house in a sunny destination and ‘couple up’ to try and win money. If you are not in a couple, you cannot win the money so understandably, there is as much mind as well as the heart at play. As you can see, it has all the hallmarks of the ultimate in telly tripe.
To set this experience in context, I’m the friend in the group who favours a good Scandinavian crime series, a Sundance documentary winner or a Korean film over the Kardashians. I skim the premise of new reality TV shows to know what’s out there as a media professional, but I generally stay away from those that I feel are monetizing on people’s emotions or over sexualise and objectify people. However, that doesn’t mean I’m not an open-minded individual and after a lengthy discussion with friends I agreed to not knock it until I try it and watch Love Island 2018. After all, it has a huge following and to not at least watch it once, seemed like I was just actively ignoring a part of the current culture for many in my generation. So that’s what I did. As a complete Love Island virgin, I took to the couch like the millions of others and watched the madness unfold and here is what I learned:
1. It’s as Low Level As You Think
Women rock into the villa during episode one wearing heels and bikinis, much to my confusion and initial disdain and the men in their shorts. I had no clue what was happening and why any of this was necessary. I soon learned this was going to be the general attire or lack of for the rest of the series and people will do things like strip teases, lap dance, and get involved in crass innuendo fuelled games that involved women bouncing and men thrusting all in the name of entertainment. It’s off the charts stuff but soon, you’ll become passive to it which also highly unnerving. However, just because that’s not my jam and no one is forcing them to take part in these activities, who am I to judge and make claims about the kind of dysfunctional culture they are fuelling? That’s for another time but I do think of the children though. Oh, and they are all like supermodels too just FYI. You’ll never feel more like Santa Claus beside Naomi Campbell in a swimsuit contest than you are when you are watching it. It will also turn every cell in your body when you see someone have to stay in the same living and sleeping quarters as their ex and their new partner. I have no clue how they do that without any long-term emotional impact but its what people have voluntarily signed up for. I know, I’m really selling it. Bare with me.
2. You Will Become Addicted
I won’t lie, I found it difficult at first. I could just see everything that I hated about our culture as highlighted above but I persevered, left my assumptions at the door and let myself get wrapped up in it like all the others. I was even on holidays for a brief period, missed some episodes and felt like I may not return to it. Moments later, I was back on the train with fresh gusto. I now truly understand the addictive nature of the screen.
3. Nothing Else On TV Will Have So Many People Discussing It
I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a show have such a social media community. That’s half the entertainment of it. It’s on the UK chat shows, all over the papers and in the online groups. You have strangers discussing human interactions and matters of the heart like nothing else you will see anywhere else. Current affairs don’t appear to get near the look in, in comparison. Surely all of that must come to some good, right? People engaging in debate about opposing perspectives?
4. You’ll Get Up To Speed On All The Latest Buzzwords And Fashion
I now know what ‘pied’ ‘mugged off’ and ‘peng sort’ mean. I also had no idea that the latest fashion trends or at least what’s being pushed out there involve see through clothes for women. The whole thing brings you right up to speed. You’ll also feel strangely obliged to scream: “I’ve got a text!” every time your phone goes off.
5. How Humans Respond To An Environment Minus Work, Phones and Distractions
Everyone is fascinated by how quick everyone falls in love but why wouldn’t you if you were laying out in the sun on an 8-week holiday with no work, responsibilities, phones or distractions with a bunch of lovely humans. I’m pretty sure I’d be in love too but look how wonderfully so many human relationships evolved in that environment and appear quite genuine. I wonder what the same would be like off screen.
6. It Highlights Real Issues In Our Society
This is what kept me watching. Adam’s treatment of Rosie, in my opinion, was completely unacceptable and something many women and men have experienced at the hand of their partner. Women’s Aid issued a statement following Adam’s behaviour and it was broadly discussed across the media. This was really important. The show saw people be called out on their poor treatment of others and so many of us can identify with mistreatment in our relationships so of course, it’s going to be a hot topic as well as flagging what is ok and what’s not. This for me made the show very redeemable, casting the spotlight on these real-life experiences for people. In addition to this, Samira kept being overlooked by the men in the villa and many women took to social media to say this is their experience of life due to their race.
7. The Importance Of Feeling Secure In A Relationship
People were out with their social media pitchforks for Megan until she settled with Wes. Laura was also on some people’s hit list with her insecurity and even Alexandra was fast becoming what might appear as a highly sensitive over analyser but no, when these women were in the right relationship and out of the wrong one, they flourished. We saw their best self. Megan turned into an absolute melt, Laura was a sparkly gem by the live final and by the time her family came in and Alex was out the door, we saw the real bubbly Alexandra. If you are spending your time in a dynamic riddled with insecurity as many of them did, your focus and energy are going into seeking that stability while you wobble instead of having that solid support by your side to let you be your beautiful self. Never was it more apparent and something we should all be seeking.
8. Do Not Underestimate the Comedic Ability of Love Island Fans
The show is worth watching for the memes alone. I mean it. That is all.
9. How Misunderstood Female Intuition Is
I’ve been that woman who has had a hunch about a partner and when confronted, you are cast off as being insecure, reading into something or for the birds. Then you turn out to be right. This appeared so many times throughout the series where women said: “I just have a feeling that…” and they were always right. I liked how it came to the fore and we could see that these women were indeed not crazy but absolutely right to go with their gut. The same goes for the men too, obvs. Less ridiculing of people’s intuition please and thank you.
10. Love Conquers All
At the end of the day, behind the 8 packs and plastic, everyone in there is looking for love for themselves and for those around them. There is a real solidarity that connects them all wanting what’s best for one another and the same goes for every single one of us viewers. It doesn’t matter how different we are, how we chose to spend our life or what we think of others, love connects us all. It’s the most powerful tool out there and everyone rallies behind the couple who are actually in love. No matter what it sets out to be and obviously it crudely makes money from such an authentic thing, at the heart of it all and no doubt unintentionally, Love Island still reminds us what life is all about – LOVE!
