After another grueling 24 hours in the villa, Love Island USA season seven has hit its home stretch. In just nine episodes, 10 islanders are sent home, couples are broken up, and some are brought together, and one lucky pair wins a whopping $100,000 prize, along with the coveted title of America’s favorite couple.
This year’s twist swaps the typical social media challenge for a game of “Hate to Burst your Bubble,” where islanders discover how they rank in categories like “Most Genuine” and “Best Boyfriend Material.” Unsurprisingly, Taylor Williams finds himself batting last in the aforementioned titles, leaving his beau Clarke Carraway to take the fallout from America’s anger. Islanders also learn that Chelley Bissainthe and Ace Greene, who have been going steady since episode one, are low on the list of favorites as well. And although it’s no shock to viewers, it certainly shocked the contestants to find that Huda Mustafa and Amaya Espinal stand out as fan favorites.
When Ariana Madix hosts a LIUSA game, you know there’s something bigger in store—this time was no exception. After reading off the rankings for arbitrary categories like “Couple You’d Want to Go on a Vacation With,” she drops the true bombshell: these aren’t the only polls America is voting on. The bottom three girls and boys have been determined by viewers also, and the islanders must save just one from being dumped.
On the chopping block tonight are Gracyn Blackmore, Andreina Santos, Jaden Duggar, Austin Shepard, TJ Palma, and Taylor. In a tense vote, Taylor is saved, leaving everyone else in tears, and three newly single islanders.
Now, if I had two nickels every time a LIUSA season seven contestant was quietly dumped from the island because of icky internet behavior, I’d have two nickels, which isn’t a lot but weird that it happened twice, right? This time, it’s Cierra Ortega. On Sunday’s episode, narrator Iain Sterling vaguely cited “personal issues” as the reason for her departure, but Peacock has yet to comment on the situation. Cierra, on the other hand, has posted several online statements about the situation, including a public apology on Instagram. Her exit leaves Nicolas Vansteenberghe also single, alongside fellow islanders Iris Kendall, Olandria Carthen, Elan Bibas, Zak Srakaew, Pepe Garcia, and Bryan Arenales.
Most of Sunday night’s recoupling goes as expected; fans are pleased to see that Cierra’s surprise dumping sparks a second try at Nicolandria—a fan favorite ship since day one. With so many single boys, and a strung–out relationship with her current connection, the pressure is on for Amaya. All afternoon, single boys Elan, Bryan, and her current match, Zak fought hard for her affections (and another day of guaranteed screen time), but alas, she must choose only one. After last week’s “Stand on Business” challenge, Amaya decides that the boy for her is Bryan, the same guy who stood up for her when Ace, Austin, and Zak were calling her too affectionate and overly emotional.
On Monday the islanders wake up in their lavish Fiji villa to screeching and crying: It’s the baby challenge! To new fans, this may seem out of the blue, but the exercise is one that OG fans remember all too well. Contestants must care for life–sized dolls in a homage to high school health class. At the end of the day, one couple is crowned as the villa’s best parents! For Huda—the only islander with real parenting experience—the exercise dredges up some major PTSD. She takes the challenge quite seriously, while Chris seems to think it’s all fun and games. It’s here where we see the first major rifts in their relationship. By day’s end, Taylor and Clarke earn the title of Villa’s Best Parents—this must have really sealed the deal for Taylor, as he asks Clarke that night to close things off that night, with a made up cheer and some help from the other boys.
The dust is also swept out of the Hideaway, and for the first time this season, one lucky couple gets to spend the night in pure private bliss. The islanders choose Amaya and Bryan as deserving of a special night, so Amaya (dressed in the most intricate lingerie you’ve ever seen) and Bryan (sporting a wife–beater, boxers, and a can of cold foam) make their way into the Hideaway.
By Tuesday, production is really reaching for content, so the boys are sent off on a trip to play some basketball. It is kind of hilarious to watch, though: action shots of two professional basketball players drill layups alongside a group of male models who look like they’ve never seen a basketball before. The real meat of this episode comes at the very end: another surprise dumping. The “closed–off curse” strikes again, and Taylor and Clarke are sent packing.
In Thursday’s episode, the final five revel in their status with yet another raunchy game with no real challenge or outcome. Most couples are beaming, excited, and bask in lovey–dovey bliss, but Huda and Chris aren’t so steady. Ever the wingmen, Amaya and Bryan, hatch an elaborate scheme to get the two together on the dock, and although it works, their miscommunication issues aren’t fully resolved.
Also on Thursday night, Chelley and Ace earn their own Hideaway date. I guess nobody’s told them about the “closed–off curse,” because after a heartfelt proposal–poem, Ace pops the question and the two head to bed.
Friday is family day: one by one, each couple is greeted by a parent, a sibling, and even a few friends to introduce to their partner. For most of Love Island history, this is all done via video chat, but this year family day is in person! This event is a fan favorite, full of wholesome moments and whirlwind family hellos—a gentle reminder for the audience that these islanders are human; with feelings and loved ones, just like anyone else. After a whopping fifteen minutes of family time, everyone gathers to cook dinner, and the final four is revealed. In a predictable turn of events, Ace and Chelley fall victim to the curse and are sent packing. You’d think Ace would have seen the patterns all season, right?
Sunday night is finale night. All eight finalists are reeling in the moment, and it really is the most lovey–dovey we’ve seen this cast all season. The next morning, one by one, each couple will attend one final date to celebrate their successes: A private island brunch for Nic and Olandria, romantic boat rides for Iris and Pepe, a walk down memory lane for Amaya and Bryan, and a candle lit dinner for the couple on the rocks. Chris and Huda spend their final date talking about the state of their relationship, and for the first time ever in Love Island history, the pair decides to split up less than 24 hours before the winning couple is announced.
Even with a few bumps in the road, the finale ceremony is in full swing, as each couple reads out their declarations of love—or “just friendship” in Huda and Chris’ case. Everyone is beaming in anticipation, and host Ariana at last begins to reveal just how the final vote played out. For most, it was no surprise that Amaya and Bryan were the couple to take home the cake. Nic and Olandria landed in second, Huda and Chris in third, and Iris and Pepe placing last.
This season sure brought a lot of emotion for viewers and islanders alike, but if there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that our Amaya Papaya definitely deserved this win. If you’re sad about this season of LIUSA ending so early into the summer, there is one more thing to look forward to: a reunion! Following the success of last season, Season seven certainly broke records, and good ratings calls for a homecoming.
