I have a confession. I have a guilty pleasure. 

Now first, I’ve always hated that term, “guilty pleasure”, which by definition, according to Oxford Languages, means “something, such as a movie, television program, or piece of music, that one enjoys despite feeling that it is not generally held in high regard.” While everyone is entitled to their own opinions about pieces of our culture, can we just agree to stop shaming each other for our likes and dislikes? If something inherently brings you joy and pleasure, why feel guilty or embarrassed? I have the solution, just don’t. But, back to my confession.

Why I Love Love Island

Over the last few months, I’ve found myself with an overabundance of free time that would otherwise be spent socializing. During quarantine socializing in person was difficult, if not impossible. Being from the generation that pretty much lives 24/7 online, the remedy to spending time with my friends clearly existed over the web, right? Thus the creation of weekly Jackbox.TV game nights, Dungeons & Dragons voice chat campaigns, and House Party social hours began. However, by far, my favorite find was Netflix Party and the more recent Watch Party feature on Hulu. You mean I can binge-watch great films and shows AND chat with my friends? Sign me up!

Love Island tv show

It didn’t take long for these hours of watching tv shows together to quickly dissolve into “what trashy reality shows can we watch today?” Herein lies my problem, I am now officially addicted to Love Island. 

I realize I’m a little late to the Love Island trend, especially seeing as I’ve started with the first season of the UK version which dates back to 2015. This show is trash, it’s a giant dumpster fire on the shores of Mallorca… AND I LOVE IT. Here’s why.

EVERYONE IS THE WORST …and I mean everyone.

There is something about watching a bunch of twenty-somethings shamelessly flirt with each other for weeks on end that makes me feel really great about myself. Sure, they know they are on a reality show and drama is the name of the game, but there are so many times when I find myself saying, “oh damn, I would never.” No matter how fundamentally terrible these people are, I root for their highest moment and their lowest. Secretly, you’re hoping that so and so totally calls out whatsherface for stealing her man and that it gets crazy. But, you’re also swooning when couples are cute together. It’s an emotional rollercoaster. Also, I have never seen so much self-tanner.

MY ENGLISH SLANG IS ON POINT

reality tv

Come on, mate, you couldn’t possibly think that I wasn’t going to talk about the crazy slang used on the show, right? I’ve learned so much over two whole seasons. Like grafting is flirting, geezers is a term not just relegated to the elderly, and if you’ve been mugged or pied, it’s not a good thing.

THE DRAMA IS OVER THE TOP

Over the course of six weeks, the contestant’s couple up, move on, recouple, break up, and couple up again tons of times. It’s so quick that you forget that it’s, in fact, only been SIX WEEKS since they’ve all met (disregarding the fact that people leave and new people come in). Being stuck in the villa has to be intense. The romance, the fighting, it all feels similar to a rom-com.

Want to read about another guilty pleasure of mine? Read up on what I think the cast of The Circle is reading.