Love Island USA season 7 has been a totally different beast than previous seasons, and while I’m enjoying it, the show needs to fix these major issues if I’m going to continue to watch. Throughout Love Island USA season 7, it’s become clear that there’s work that needs to be done on the show. The format, usually shaped by viewers, has been formed by the Islanders.
Despite knowing that Love Island USA’s audience loves to be able to impact what’s happening to the Islanders, the show has given the Islanders way more power this season. With several Islander-run votes, Love Island USA season 7’s cast has been in the mix frequently. These votes have made the reality dating show feel more like a genuine competition than before.
While there’s been a lot of buzz around specific Islanders who are locking in strategic votes, like Ace Greene’s push to eliminate Jeremiah Brown, the entire cast has been more strategy-based than emotion-based this season. For Islanders like Ace, Huda Mustafa, and Nic Vansteenberghe, strategic votes could propel them to the end. Love Island USA’s current cast could ruin the show.
Love Island USA Season 7’s Trying To Bank Off Last Season’s Success
Love Island USA Season 6 Was A Series High
While we’re currently on to Love Island USA season 7, the last season of the series was an iconic, unprecedented season. Love Island USA season 6 brought the most dedicated viewership to the show than it had ever seen before, and with a twisty season full of Love Island hijinks, viewers couldn’t get enough. Throughout the season, many wondered how it could be topped.
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Love Island USA season 6 was unprecedented not only in viewership, but in the way the Islanders related to one another. Forging the most genuine, emotionally-stable bonds this iteration of the show has ever seen, Love Island USA season 6 felt aspirational for some viewers. Watching the relationships form was an emotional roller coaster, but well worth the drama.
Seeing the Islanders treating Love Island USA as a strategy game hasn’t been a good look.
While Love Island USA season 6’s cast will be returning to Peacock on Love Island: Beyond The Villa later this summer, the parent show itself had to go on with Love Island USA season 7. With so much having happened throughout the last season, there were high expectations for the new cast. Interestingly, I’m not sure yet if the current season’s living up to the hype.
Love Island USA Season 7 Is More Strategic Than Previous Seasons
The Islander Votes Have Been Based On Strategy, Not Feelings
Love Island USA‘s current cast has been striving to live up to the hype, but with some significant changes to the way they’re treating the game elements of the show, they’re not built the same. The new cast is spending a lot more time thinking strategically. Seemingly making calls based on who could win at the end, they’ve been gaming.
While it’s clear that a lot of the Love Island USA season 7 cast have made romantic connections this season, they’ve been playing a strategic game. Throughout the season, Ace specifically has led many of the cast members into votes that put him in a better position. Even Jeremiah, before his elimination, seemed more concerned about the $100k grand prize than love.
Love Island USA May Have A Prize, But It’s Not Meant To Be A Competition
The Islanders Are Angling For The Money
Yes, Love Island USA is a show that crowns a winning couple and awards them money, but the show isn’t meant to be a genuine competition throughout. While I think Love Island USA is meant to be more about the experience and the connections, the Islanders may see things differently. To me, treating it as a competition cheapens the results.
Seeing the Islanders treating Love Island USA as a strategy game hasn’t been a good look. I’m not interested in seeing the Islanders vote to better their chances at keeping connections who can make it to the end for a better chance at the prize. Instead, I want Love Island USA’s cast to search for love, leaving the money as an afterthought.
Love Island USA airs every night at 9 p.m. EDT on Peacock, except Wednesdays.
Source: Love Island USA/Instagram
