Review: Should You Consider Watching Love Island USA?

Love Island is a new addition to the already crowded group of reality dating shows available in America. Inspired by the show of the same name that first aired in Britain, Love Island USA tries to entertain the ever-hungry viewers with young couples and relationship drama. But does it manage to stand apart from other dating shows?

1. Quick Review

Love Island USA is the formulaic dating reality show. It does not add anything new to the story other than very minor changes.

2. Series Info

3. Is It Worth Watching?

Love Island is nothing but a tired concept that is being rehashed again and again.

I.Plot

Random (good-looking and surgically enhanced) strangers, from all walks of life, are selected to be the participants of each season. These Islanders are made to stay in a villa on an island in Fiji, removed from the rest of the world.

On the first day, the participants choose a partner on the basis of first impressions. As the season progresses, the pairings change. Sometimes, the couples are formed on the basis of romantic feelings, friendship or pure survival instinct.

All those who are not in a partnership are eliminated or, ironically, ‘dumped’. The viewers can also vote out a couple during the show.

In true reality television-style, some events are scripted to create an atmosphere of tension, where one Islander’s elimination depends on another.

The Islanders also have a phone with them to communicate with their partners and receive updates about tasks and challenges which test their abilities (or compatibility).

If a couple succeeds at these challenges, they are given a prize, mostly in the form of dates with their significant other. Most of the time, these dates are within the island but occasionally, the couple is allowed to move out for the duration of a day.

In the last week, the votes from the audience are tallied; the couple with the most votes is declared to be the winner. They receive a grand prize of a hundred thousand dollars.

II.Detailed Analysis

Love Island USA is a show that is built on the same framework as most other dating shows – putting up strangers together and forcing them to fall in love with one another. Only so that people on the other side of the screen are entertained by the two-bit relationships.

But these shows would not continue if there was a lack of participation. So what do the participants get to take part in these farcical shows?

 If they are lucky, they take home a huge cash prize. If not, they get media attention for life and a massive following on social media. These days, that is as great an incentive as any.

If all scepticism and disbelief are kept aside, Love Island does make for good, simple-minded television. It does not engage any part of the brain and is a great option for easygoing pleasure.

However, even on that count, Love Island USA falls short.

One big reason why Love Island in Britain was such a success was because of its unfiltered footage. It promised a tantalising and sexually explicit show and it delivered perfectly. So many tuned in just to witness the raunchiest reality show on television.

But Love Island USA censors the show so much that the manufactured-ness becomes very evident. This might be because broadcasting rules are different in the two countries but unfortunately, it takes away an integral part of the show.

Another reason why the UK show was a hit was because of its participants. They were given a lot more time to develop on screen. As a result, the audience could vote on the couples based on their personalities.

In addition, the voice that narrates the show is immensely better in the British counterpart. There is no snarkiness or personality in the narration. It can do very little to keep the viewers invested in the show.

There are certain things that Love Island USA does better. The villas on the island that the participants stay in are positively gorgeous. Those capture the audience’s attention more than the events going on in the show.

Also, the host Arielle Vandenberg does a good job of enhancing the drama between the participants but sadly, there is very little drama to begin with.

4. Grade

5. Final Thoughts

To answer the question in the title – in short, the answer will be no. If you do wish to watch dating shows, there is a vast array of dating shows that are categorically better than Love Island USA. However, if you do wish to take a look at this show, the second season, which has premiered in August and is still airing, is a slight improvement from the first season.