If the last few episodes have given you 'Love Island' fatigue, you're not alone. While this series had resounding praise at the beginning, it's reached the point in the show that always pisses people off.
The last few episodes have showcased such truly awful behavior from some of the men on the show and to be honest, it's pretty universally draining and infuriating to watch.
The thing is, no matter how great the first month of the show is, we always reach the same conclusion that the format perpetuates towards the end; the gaslighting, manipulation, and poor behavior.
At the beginning, it does give us what we want; good, clean, fun, and some digestible drama that doesn't run too deep. So the question is, what can be done to 'Love Island' to make it better?
Give it the chop
But don't cut it off completely. Eight weeks is a long time in the villa for islanders and audiences alike. It's not an excuse for bad behavior, don't get us wrong, but everyone's tired and stir-crazy at this point, including us. We don't want to watch Luca kick off every second night.
By shaving a few weeks off the end of the show, we'd argue that islanders can wrap their heads around it a little more, minimizing the risk of suffering with mental health issues by limiting the time isolated from "the real world".
To that end, something like a week long reunion show after a month "on the outside" could add a contextual layer to the show, showing how the couples got on in what is truly the biggest, most genuine test of their relationship.
Weekly Therapy
Producers on the show are the first to promote their efforts behind the scenes to ensure the well-being and safety of their contestants. So, why not show that?
Weekly check-ins with a couples therapist post re-coupling could add a much needed layer of reflection to the format, and in fact, it's likely to spark the famous "growth" both producers, islanders, and fans are looking for.
'Married At First Sight' do it really well. Specialists chat to the couple and encourage them to share their feelings in a safe place. But they don't let people off with poor behavior. Instead, they point it out, encourage them to change those patterns, and be a better partner.
Often, it does work. For contestants and viewers — we're given a chance to get out of the black and white thinking that these kinds of shows elicit, and that people are not all good or all bad. It also prepares contestants slowly for potential backlash points once the show is over.
Say goodbye to Casa Amor
Every year, viewers are quick to clap their hands together, giddy and naive about Casa Amor (us included). But we're also quick to forget about the aftermath of it... and just how gross it feels.
The whole thing is set up to cause the damage that spoils the last few weeks of the show. Every. Single. Time. So, why do we need it again? Oh, yeah, apparently it's "the ultimate relationship test". Except it's not.
If Casa Amor is a relationship test, the food challenge is an immune system test. Casa Amor is to break-ups what creatine is to body builders. It's not a test, it's an encouragement — one that relationships as we know them, don't have or need. So why do contestants "need" it in there?
It never yields any positive results; most contestants who are added to the Casa Amor pot are seldom taken seriously by their fellow competitors, rarely make it to the villa, and are quickly dumped. Plus, it causes all that toxicity that we loathe so much in the final weeks.
Ultimately, the show format, the contestants are flawed, and both parties have responsibility for their actions. That's not to say we recommend throwing the baby out with the bath water. But for 'Love Island' to work better in a 2022 world, it's important for the show to remember that "Be Kind" can go both ways.
Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on Virgin Media Two and Virgin Media Player.
