Season 6 of Love Island USA set the bar high for the American spinoff. The reality show consistently brings in impressive ratings, but Season 6 rivaled the success of the UK version and smashed records for the network, earning the title of the most-watched reality TV competition show in Peacock’s history.
Fans were hopeful Season 7 would preserve the momentum and deliver another historic season. But that hasn’t been the case. While the current season is no doubt enjoyable, there seems to be a lack of authenticity. Fans are tuning in to watch the new bunch of islanders, but the public’s response to the current season is noticeably less enthusiastic. Here is why some fans are disappointed with Season 7 of Love Island USA.
Season 6 of Love Island USA cannot be replicated
It was hard to ignore the buzz about Season 6 of Love Island USA. Prior to last year, I had never seen a single episode of the US version and I never intended to become a fan. Six episodes a week felt daunting and the premise seemed a bit simple compared to other reality competition shows. But after watching my roommates glued to our TV screen night after night, my curiosity won out and I decided to give it a try.
It didn’t take long for me to become completely enthralled by the drama. I binged the season in less than two weeks in order to catch up for the finale, which is pretty embarrassing considering how many episodes are released weekly. I watched the finale with some friends at a local bar that was airing the episode on a projector. The room was filled with dedicated fans who cheered when Serena Page and Kordell Beckham won the $100,000 grand prize. It was like the Super Bowl but for reality television.
Sometimes a season has a certain magic that cannot be replicated. Sequels often pale in comparison to the original. Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot to like about Season 7. The cast is strong, the challenges are steamy, and the twists keep things interesting. But fans are not satisfied. It may be the constant comparisons to Season 6 that are responsible for the lack of enthusiasm, but there are also other factors that may explain why fans are disappointed.
Let’s discuss…
Love Island USA ratings are high, but fan sentiment is low
Season 7 of Love Island USA is still a ratings juggernaut for Peacock. Deadline reported that the reality show received “more than 1B minutes viewed across just nine episodes,” according to research conducted by Luminate data. The series has no issue attracting viewers, but the fan response to Season 7 has been less than stellar. Since its premiere, fans have been taking to social media to criticize the cast for being inauthentic. Many fans feel the cast is too aware of the cameras and suspect they are attempting to game the system in order to make it to the finale.
“The islanders seem too scared to leave their couple for something that might actually suit them better for fear of being left vulnerable. The couplings are stale,” one Reddit user wrote.
“Half of them are already influencers which ruins the fun of LI,” another user added. “Like I don’t want to see ads pop up of them WHILE they’re in the villa … seems fishy and the US producers are too hands-on compared to UK.”
Why fans think season 6 was a better watch than season 7
Comparison is the thief of happiness, which may explain why viewers are so unhappy with Season 7. The islanders on Season 6 felt authentic. Fans felt as though they genuinely wanted to find a match and weren’t concerned about the prize money or securing brand deals outside the Villa. It’s likely the Season 7 islanders witnessed the success of last year’s group and wanted in on the action. Viewers feel there are no real connections in the Villa this year, which is the whole point of Love Island. One TikTok user shared her frustration with the new season, saying it feels too “thought out.”
“This season [is] complete trash,” she said. “There is no genuine emotion going on in that entire Villa. Not one honest reaction [or] feeling. Everything is so thought out.”
Fans in the comment section agreed. One TikTok user wrote, “I feel like I’m watching Big Brother. Show has lost its way.” Another fan commented, “Casa Amor isn’t even exciting … because there’s nothing at risk.”
I believe Season 7 still has the chance to win back fans. If the cast stops worrying about the cameras and focuses on building real connections.
Love Island USA is available to stream on Peacock.
TELL US – WHAT DO YOU THINK OF SEASON 7 OF LOVE ISLAND USA? ARE YOU ENJOYING IT SO FAR?
