Can’t keep counting down the days until the next season of “Love Island UK”? Over the manufactured drama of “The Bachelorette”? Though it may not be as acclaimed as its British counterpart, season four of “Love Island USA” is full of fun and mindless drama that will keep you hooked until the final recoupling.
This season “Love Island” made the switch from airing live on CBS to streaming on Peacock, which brought many changes to the show. Gone are the days of the editors trying to keep it as PG as possible, as now the show can embrace the raunchiness. A less welcome change however, is the switch in narrator with Lain Stirling replacing Matthew Hoffman. Stirling is the narrator on the UK version and still evokes the occasional laugh, but lacks the goofy energy that Hoffman infused into the show- his “Preeeeviously on Love Island” announcements are missed.
As for the actual islanders, this season is full of characters you will love (or love to hate). While this review is spoiler free it has to be acknowledged that for once, Casa Amor actually shakes things up- a lot. This season also sees the return of a former islander and while it is late in the season, it still is a fun nod to seasons past.
Is this season a step up from “Love Island USA” season three? I think it depends on what you’re looking for. season four tries harder to lean away from showing the girl drama (even when it is clearly happening) which makes it a little frustrating at times. That being said, the romance definitely shines through more this season. The show does a good job showing couples’ intimate moments and light hearted bonding, which make the relationships feel more genuine and easier to root for (last season received criticism that many of the final “couples” did not feel like such).
The challenges are entertaining, the tension is raw and the personalities are nearly as big as the Quay sunglasses the islanders wear in every episode. This season has a little bit of a slow start, but once you make it past the first few episodes, it’s extremely fast-paced – just as you think it is dragging a bit toward the end, a couple faces a shocking shake-up two days before the finale.
With 38 hours worth of streaming, season four of “Love Island USA” is sure to help ease the pain of summer ending, transporting you to a villa where the biggest challenge is choosing which supermodel-esque single you want to couple up with next.
Love Island is available for Streaming on Peacock.