This week of Love Island USA started out with some disappointing news. Unlike what we all were expecting, the reveal of the first vote of the season has been delayed until Friday’s episode. So instead, we begin the week by watching the drama unfold as the bombshells are bombshelling. Sol Mýa is quickly turning Sincere Rhea’s head, and Melanie Moreno isn’t happy about it; Gabriel Vasconcelos has taken it upon himself to become the unofficial Brazilian tour guide and kiss both Sol and Jen Terry as they roam the villa; and cowboy Caleb McDaniel has certainly caught Kenzie Annis’ eye.
By Friday, drama is brewing, and what better way to stir the pot than a challenge? This one is hosted by guests Ciara Miller and Tefi Pessoa, this season’s Love Island: Aftersun hosts. If they ask a nice question, islanders will seal their answer with a kiss; if it’s a naughtier question, the islanders will lock in their answer via pie to the face. Honorable kisses include the ones shared between Kenzie and Caleb for him being the most likely to remember his couples coffee order, and Gabe planting one on Beatriz Hatz for being the islander most likely to stick up for her friends when they’re not in the room. Our biggest crash–out from the pie game comes from Sol, who’s been in the middle of a love triangle with Sincere and Melanie. First, Corbin Mims gives her a pie to the face for being the islander most likely to “ghost” the villa, and her breaking point is Zach Georgiou, who declares her as most likely to break girl code.
After cleaning up and getting ready for the night, narrator Iain Stirling announces that the votes have finally been tallied, and it’s time to find out who America wants to couple up with the three new bombshells. With all of the tension and corny background music—and what seems like hours of dramatic close up shots—Ariana Madix announces that America has voted to pair Jen with Gabriel, Sol with Sincere, and Caleb with Kenzie, leaving Beatriz, Melanie, and Corbin single. Ariana then reveals that since there are two single girls and one single guy, Corbin again gets to take his pick between the ladies. He chooses Melanie, which means Beatriz is our second islander dumped from the villa.
On Sunday evening, our islanders compete in another lovely challenge chock full of weird innuendos; for example trying to swallow a hot dog whole, and, of course, lots and lots of neon green goop. It wouldn’t be a Love Island USA challenge without ruffling some feathers, though, and this soccer–themed game caused tension between an unsuspecting couple: Aniya Harvey and KC Chandler. Again, the culprit is Zach, planting seeds of mistrust when he claims that KC is “too comfortable in his couple”, and “didn’t explore” something he wanted to. Luckily for him, though, he is chosen by the islanders to spend a night in the Hideaway with Kayda Bosse, so he didn’t have to deal with the repercussions of rocking what appeared to be the most stable boat in the villa.
Monday night’s episode is filled with ups and downs in preparation for the recoupling on Tuesday night. Caleb and Corbin begin to get fed up with Kenzie for not being able to choose between them, and other islanders are starting to get annoyed with her behavior as well. As for Melanie, she finally seems to let go of her grips on Sincere, and, instead of sleeping in Soul Ties, finally shares a bed with her new couple Corbin. Much of Monday’s episode focuses on the drastic shift between KC and Aniya. While Aniya feels like he’s not serious enough about their relationship, and is only with her to sail by and make his way to $100,000, he feels as though she wants him to be something he’s not: serious.
Tuesday’s recoupling looks like something we haven’t yet seen on Love Island USA, and it certainly made for great TV. In the morning, the islanders were alerted of the recoupling, and were told to write a letter to the islander they’d like to couple up with. If you received a letter from the person you wrote one to, congrats! You are now coupled up. If an islander’s mailbox is empty, they are left single. Despite all of the drama, some couples remain the same, and we get to hear some heartfelt letters that remind audiences everywhere why we keep on watching the dumpster fire that is LIUSA. Bryce Dettloff and Trinity Tatum, Gabe and Jen, Zach and Kayda, and even Aniya and KC remain couples and send each other love letters.
Next, Kenzie opens her mailbox to learn that she has received two love letters. One from her current couple, Caleb, and another from her former flame, Corbin. When Caleb opens his mailbox, it’s empty, meaning Kenzie has written her letter to Corbin, and they are now a couple. After days of back and forth between Melanie and Sol, it is now time to reveal who Sincere has chosen to be in a couple with, and he picked Melanie, leaving Sol single. However, in an ironic twist of fate, Ariana Madix saves the day. Instead of sending someone home, she decides to pair up the newly single Caleb and Sol, who entered the villa just last week together as bombshells.
Now we’re left to question: will Kenzie stay true to Corbin or keep Caleb in her back pocket? Is Sincere actually starting to live up to his name, or will he continue to lock lips with Sol in the speakeasy? And what could Caleb and Sol possibly have to talk about now that they’re coupled up? All these questions and more will hopefully be answered Thursday night, when Love Island USA finally returns to our screens.
