Look, let’s not beat around the bush: The general consensus from the British public is that Love Island is well and truly over. At least in the sense of its cultural relevance. What was once ITV2’s juggernaut no longer feels like the unmissable few months of TV it once did. There was a time when even if you hated the mere concept and casting requirements of Love Island, odds were you’d likely plonk yourself down in front of the telly just to make sure you were involved in the inevitable discussions. If the viewing figures for the last few seasons are anything to go by, it’s clear to see those days are dead and buried. But the truth is, Love Island 2025 has just had one of the most gripping first weeks in the show’s history – and I have a pretty solid theory on why this year’s series is hitting so good.
And not only that, but why it deserves to be watched by way more viewers – even if that decline in viewership is lowkey exactly why it just got great again. Not that I’m about to gatekeep something as mainstream as Love Island, but this explosive 2025 beginning proves why we should kinda keep its excellence to ourselves. If you know, you know.
What a week!
Like the rest of the UK who actually bothered to tune in, and if the viewing figures out so far are anything to go by – that would be the least amount of UK viewers in Love Island history, I was strapped in for a borefest. The first week of Love Island is never anything worth getting excited by – the real juice and drama doesn’t boot off til the dynamics get far more established. And yet, this year, we are in a shitstorm of drama. Of course, some credit for this can go to the long awaited and very CORRECT ITV2 production decision to open the hideaway permanently. This allows Islanders to go in with anyone who they’re not coupled up with, which has been excellent TV in its own right.
via ITV
But the real credit here has to go to the Islanders , who are truly Islandering. There feels like a complete commitment to going after what and who they want, regardless of the ramifications. After a good few years of Love Island feeling so much more watered down than it used to be in the years of its breakthrough, it’s been an utter breath of fresh air. Anyone who’s tuned in over the past eight days will know that whether it’s been hideaway sneak offs, tense dumping decisions, full on fights and a very impromptu movie night that caused utter havoc; Love Island 2025 has been firing on all cylinders, and here’s my personal theory on what’s made it so great.
Love Island flopping has become its greatest strength
My theory on why Love Island 2025 is just slapping so hard? Because of the fact that this is no longer a fast track to influencer life anymore. There has been so much Love Island, so many Islanders and so many brand deals that not only is the viewership dropping off, but the guarantee that you leave the show to a million Instagram followers just isn’t the vibe anymore. I assume this cast know it now, and because of this they are throwing caution to the wind and creating better reality TV because of it.
Nobody is treading on eggshells and afraid to rock the boat. Bombshells are willingly bomb shelling and leaving devastation in their wake. Islanders like Helena have no qualms with sneaking off with Harry to the Hideaway despite the carnage and discourse that will make in the villa.
And the show is all the better for it. Those who don’t believe us on how great Love Island 2025 is, let them not watch. That smaller scale show is making the drama all the more delicious.
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Featured image via ITV
