In this week’s handle with care, the most recent season of Love Island. Plus, celebrity couplings and breakups, and the return of The To-Do List.
It’s now been one month since the ninth season of Love Island came to a close, and a few weeks since I, a Hulu watcher, caught up. Many thoughts were thunk, so I jotted some down while I watched to share now.
Overall, the politics of Love Island have changed a lot since the earlier seasons. I’ve watched every brain rotting episode since season 2, and the characters in this season were just… bananas. As with many reality shows in the Instagram and TikTok eras, they serve as launching pads for budding influencer careers. It doesn’t matter what kind of reputation you get while you’re competing, a SheIn deal will be secured.
But with Love Island, if you leave the villa in a couple, there’s even more incentive to produce and profit off of content. I’ve noticed a self-awareness of this in the contestants since season 5, which is widely-regarded as the best one, if you’re curious about where to start watching. These single men and women are not only trying to find their perfect match, each couple has to be likable enough to the public in order to win the cash prize. And if they can’t win the money, they’ll find it through spon-con.
This season after Casa Amor — when the couples are split up and introduced to new people — it got crazy. Olivia wasted no time talking behind everyone’s back to other people, and she projected her insecurities on every person in the villa. When Kai recoupled with Sanam instead of going back to Olivia, she wanted her girlboss moment because she thought the public loved her and hated Kai. When Miss “It’s Telling” also recoupled!!! It’s amazing how the UK banded together to make sure Kai and Sanam won the whole thing. They were my favorite couple! A teacher and a social worker winning the prize money… IKTR!!!
I couldn’t believe Shaq and Jessie going back to their respective partners, Tanya and Will, after Casa Amor. Tanya and Will were both unfaithful: Tanya after telling Shaq she loved him, and Will after having sex with Jessie. But they both made very public declarations of regret in front of everyone in order to get back in Shaq and Jessie’s good graces. It just didn’t sit right with me, and felt manipulative. Like they were pressured into forgiving them. There were times when I hoped Shaq and Jessie would just couple up out of spite, but it never happened!
By the end there were factions within the villa, which did make it entertaining. Usually when a season is about to end, it gets very boring. And since these people are cut off from society for at most two months, they were stir crazy. Plus, there were fewer public votes this season, which really played into their delusions. They argued over being sore losers and winners on Sports Day, calling each other fake, making up whole conversations… I was seated in the evenings watching it all go down.
This is the first year they will be airing two separate seasons of Love Island, this winter season, and the usual summer season. If you were curious, my favorite seasons are 3, 4, and 5. I’m excited for my little post-work treat to come back in June!
The relationship circuit
Taylor Swift (singer) and Joe Alwyn (Pisces) have reportedly broken up after six years. Sources told People that "they've grown apart," and had “differences in their personalities.”
Swift is currently on her Eras Tour, and she recently swapped some songs in her setlist which fans think is because of the breakup. At her stop in Tampa, Florida this weekend, she introduced her song “Lover” by saying, “Some of these may be songs that started out being written about my life or something that I felt at one point.”
As Bowen Yang said, “Where were you when you found out about the Taylor and Joe breakup?” I had just gotten back from a lovely brunch and museum day with a couple of friends. I brushed it off, because why the hell would the couple “invisible string” is about, break up?? Well, at least Alwyn got a Grammy from writing on folklore.
Millie Bobby Brown and boyfriend Jake Bongiovi are now engaged. The Stranger Things star, 19, and son of Jon Bon Jovi, 20, shared photos on Instagram.
Celebrity gossip Instagram account, DeuxMoi, recently spilled that Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet are dating. I’m anxiously awaiting Coachella photos of them, but TMZ caught her car at his house.
Finally, Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello seem to be back together after being spotted kissing at Coachella on Friday night. The couple dated for two years before breaking up in November 2021. Not even him doing Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile could keep them apart.
There was no reason for it to take me a year to watch three seasons of Succession, but I’m all caught up now. While Roman Roy is a slimy person, Kieran Culkin is charming. His Hot Ones interview got me, and some others.
Of course, there’s a Roy-esque presence to him; he’s self-deprecating and can’t take compliments. He recounted being a messy eater while on his first date with his now wife, his experience hosting Saturday Night Live, and returning to the variety program to play his character in a Father of the Bride sketch. He ate all the chicken off the wing!! Not just a nibble. A To-Do List worthy effort from a petite prince.
Hi! I was seated this weekend watching the Coachella live stream. I caught MUNA (who brought out boygenius for “Silk Chiffon”), Wet Leg, Charli XCX, and BLACKPINK’s sets, and I’m hoping to watch people I missed next weekend. I also watched Ana de Armas and Karol G’s episode of SNL last night, and now I need to get into Karol G’s music. I’m excited to watch back to back Succession and Barry tonight, too!! Okayyyy, I’ll see you next week! Thanks for reading 💚