I HAVE TO SAY…

Below is a slightly edited version of the podcast episode. You can listen to the full episode above, by clicking play, or listening wherever you get your podcasts.

Today, I have to say…I’m watching Love Island USA and I have thoughts!

This will be a recurring podcast episode all about Love Island USA Season 8. 

Some of these topics may seem like old news to you because I’m not able to live react with thorough discussions, but if you want real time thoughts from me you can check out my threads accounts @ihavetosaypod or @lyssa_posts_, whichever you prefer.

I’m not a new Love Island watcher, I used to watch Love Island and two of Love Island USA’s older seasons, but I did fall off somewhere and then get reinvested. 

This chat is NOT an in-depth recap episode, more like an overview and discussion of some of what’s aired and the conversations happening online.

I said this was going to be a bi-weekly chat, but here we are again. 

This episode will cover big moments and discussions from Episode 8 through Episode 13.

Episode 8

Episode 8 is after Melanie and Sincere have a talk and Melanie finds out Sol and Sincere kissed and she talks to Aniya about it, trying not to cry and using grounding techniques by saying “the trees are green” and describing her environment. That shit works by the way. I use it with my daughter all the time.

But then Melanie asks Aniya what I’ve been thinking, which is how exactly Melanie did him dirty and disrespected him. In the first seven episodes, maybe not all of them, but in a lot of them, Sincere complains to Melanie about how his feelings are hurt because of this thing or that thing, and it’s just hard for me to take him seriously when in confessionals he’s talking about how he wants to get to know Sol and how he wanted to get to know Kayda. Because he’s mad at some of the things Melanie has done while he is simultaneously trying to get to know other people. And again, it’s not the fact he’s exploring, it’s the way he goes about it and the things he says to Melanie while he knows that he wants to explore.

I said it last episode, but I genuinely believe everything Melanie did was reactionary, and I also don’t think she did anything that was that crazy. She was rude at times, and did a little much, but it wasn’t anything worth villanizing her over, in my opinion.

It makes me sad for her that she’s so quick to apologize to him and blame herself for where they are because I think Sincere (and the editing and audience reaction) shifted the blame onto her when Sincere has been at the scene of every crime. Sincere is complaining about being on a rollercoaster without acknowledging his part of that rollercoaster.

Like he really just says what he thinks sounds good to her whether he means it or not. People say he has people pleasing tendencies, but I struggle with that characterization because I don’t think he’s doing it to appeal to who he is talking to. I think he’s indecisive and he doesn’t want to deal with the consequences of being honest, because if she was asking for the truth, I don’t get how lying would be considered people pleasing…I think that he’s just a liar…but maybe I misunderstand what people pleasing is? I don’t know…I just know that Sincere is a liar and whether he means to or not he’s still a liar.

Sincere tells the boys he feels wanted by Sol, but with Melanie he had to chase her and that he hasn’t felt like how he did with Sol since being in the villa, and he’s just so slimy. I don’t think he’s being a people pleaser when he says stuff like that. I think he wants to have his cake and eat it too, like he genuinely wants both of them. I think if he didn’t have to choose, he would keep stringing both of them along as long as they’re willing to be strung along.

Moving on from him, Kenzie and Corbin are talking about how Kenzie isn’t used to a roster and she keeps saying that, but I’m like if it’s such a problem why did you sign up for this show. I don’t know if it’s editing or if it’s bothering her, but if it is bothering her, that’s she’s supposed to have a roster, then she’s on the wrong show.

Trinity tells Bryce she’s starting to like him a lot and she tries to gauge where he’s at. Based on what she said, it seems like he’s not that affectionate with her and she sees other couples that are more affectionate and Bryce says that makes him uncomfortable that she’s comparing them…I don’t know if it’s because she’s insinuation that she wants to be more affectionate on camera or if it’s just bringing out insecurities that come with compared to other people and not knowing what the other person is thinking or saying behind your back, but something about that really bothered him and he says they’re more affectionate now than before and she agrees it’s more, but in the confessional she basically says she still wants more from him.

Gabe tells Bea that he kissed both of the bombshells and in my opinion, Bea shuts down a little bit. She’s accepting of it, but she does have a little bit of an attitude because, though I don’t think she’ll admit it, I think she was a little disappointed. In the confessional she does say she feels like a dumbass because she didn’t think they were exploring like that outside of challenges.

Bea ends up telling Trinity, Kenzie, and Kayda and Bea says, “If all it takes is two shiny new toys to turn his head on the connection then so be it,” and says again she competes for medals not men.

Melanie joins them saying she has gossip and Bea tells her about Gabe kissing the bombshells, Melanie tells them about Sincere kissing Sol and then Kenzie admits she kissed Caleb and they’re all yelling jumping up and down and it was a fun moment, I’m not gonna lie.

I think this season is missing more of these moments, where we see people bonding and gossiping in a casual way. Everything that we see is supposed to drive the story and let us know what’s going on with the couples, but sometimes it feels like we’re missing context because we don’t see those moments where they’re just vibing with each other.

At some point in this episode, Zach tells Bryce Trinity doesn’t have the personality to match him and that they have more of a good time with Kayda than with Trinity and I did feel a way hearing that to be honest because there are microaggressive undertones to that in my opinion.

The next day, Bryce tells Zach he was bothered that Trinity compares them to other couples and he thinks that she thinks since they’re going slower, it means they’re stagnant, but he says that a lot of the couples there aren’t doing that great and that being more affectionate is something he can work on.

Zach plants some seeds, saying maybe Trinity is saying that because she’s not 100% feeling the connection and I don’t know what they see from Trinity, obviously because I’m not in the villa with them. But from the outside looking in, I really do believe Trinity is feeling him, so I don’t know why Zach thinks she doesn’t like Bryce. Like Trinity did his nails and she’s asking for more affection and you don’t do that with someone you don’t like. And even their conversations, that they have, there’s a comfort there between Trinity and Bryce, that you would get with someone you’re growing a connection with.

Sincere and Melanie have another talk about Sincere and Sol and Sincere says Melanie was adamant they explore, which wasn’t true to how we saw it, at least, because the whole reason why she was saying they should explore was because he was already exploring with Kayda.

Melanie points out that exploring other people doesn’t mean kissing someone else and this is the scene where Sincere is leaning away from her, resting on his elbow and Melanie is pointing at him while she’s going off, talking about how he thinks he can come back to her when he’s done having fun with Sol…

And I can’t believe people watched that and thought Sincere was scared.

Sincere was exactly where he wanted to be. He was covering his mouth because he was trying not to crack a smile because he likes that shit and I really believe some of what he does is to get a reaction out of her and in that scene he got one.

And then when he tells her he wants to be with her and only her, he hugs her and stares off into space because he’s lying! He’s a liar. But if he told the truth, which is that he wanted to explore both of them, she really would’ve gotten to know Corbin and I don’t think he wanted that either. Like he wants to do what he wants and he wants her to be loyal to him, is how I see it.

 He ends up telling Bryce and Zach after that conversation that Melanie genuinely isn’t a second option, and I really just don’t understand Sincere…

Because after that, he pulls Sol and they post up together and talk, which annoys Melanie because they just talked about how she was the only option.

We see Sincere touching on Sol and caressing her arm and they kiss again!

Sidenote: Kenzie is acting similarly to Sincere, but at least in this episode she’s honest that she still has a connection with Corbin and wants to explore it. But I do think that she’s leading Caleb on.

Meanwhile, Corbin is talking to Melanie and they have a more serious conversation, getting to know each other and their interests, before he does what he always does and ruins the vibe by asking for a kiss. She turns him down and says she wants to save it for later and kisses him on the cheek instead because she wants to talk to Kenzie first.

She tells Aniya what happened and in the conversation, Sincere stops cuddling with Sol, popping up on his feet to tell her a story. His back is turned, but Melanie can see him and she and Aniya talk about it and Melanie feels disrespected because what he’s saying isn’t matching what he’s doing and Melanie asks if she should go up there to interrupt their chat.

People are saying the Aniya encouraged Melanie to go talk to Sincere, but she was just continuing the conversation. She wasn’t saying, “yeah go up there.”  

You can see Aniya sigh when Melanie gets up and then KC ends up stopping Melanie, which was good on him because he could’ve chosen to stay out of it, but decided to be a good friend to her and stop her from doing too much.

Later Sincere vents to someone, I can’t remember who,  torn about what to do, and says that he doesn’t want to do tit for tat with Melanie because he doesn’t know what she has loaded up which gives what I was saying earlier, like I want to do what I want but I don’t want you to do what you want. Like I want you to be loyal to me and me to do what I want. 

The news travelled and Kenzie is mad at Corbin for trying to kiss Melanie, and she talks about how Melanie is just mad because Sol is going to take Sincere which is very petty of her to say and also, like the whole premise of the game especially since Sol is a bombshell. You need to be able to pivot if one of your connections doesn’t work out. She thinks Melanie is a hypocrite, and maybe she is, but maybe she just wants to be told the truth by Sincere and Sincere keeps lying to her and lowkey gaslighting her.

And on top of all that, Bryce does some fuck shit and tells Zach and Trinity that he wants to pull Kayda. Random. Zach literally laughed in his face and kept insinuating that he isn’t happy with Trinity, which why does he keep saying that?? Is Bryce wearing a mask? Are we not seeing his true feelings? Or is Zach being weird and trying to play the game, because I do think Bryce and Trinity are one of the top couples in the villa so far.

This stunt though with Bryce wanting to pull Kayda does feel like  production involvement.

In the chat with Trinity, Bryce seems worried someone physically more her type will come in but Trinity tells him that she does like him and I believe that she does.

Episode 9

Later in the next episode, Bryce does end up pulling Kayda and telling her that she was in his top two and that he feels like he should try to explore her to move forward in the process, but Kayda friendzones him and shuts that down.

It was pretty awkward and he says it was embarrassing, but you know what, in hindsight, at least he tried to talk to someone romantically in the villa because there hasn’t been a lotta that going on.

While this is going on, Trinity and Zach talk and they agree Bryce and this whole thing is stupid. Trinity tells him she really is gaining more feelings for Bryce as time goes on, but Zach questions if she would go for someone more her type if they came into the villa. Trinity says she would explore but she likes what she has with Bryce. Zach bringing this up to Trinity though does mean that this is a conversation that Zach and Bryce have had before and part of me wonders if Zach is projecting. Like, I don’t know if it’s out of fear she’ll leave him or if it’s because he plans to leave her when the opportunity presents, but for the most part, I do believe they have growing feelings for each other.

Before them though, Sincere and Melanie talk again and Sincere reassures her about wanting to be with her again. Melanie asks about the kisses with Sol and Sincere says he’s trying to see if there is chemistry which is a dumb excuse because you don’t really need to kiss someone multiple times to see if there’s chemistry there. He says he doesn’t carry that much weight to the kisses, which wow he was being truthful for once.

Melanie is clearly fed up, asking him over and over again what his plans are with Sol and Sincere avoids the question before saying he will choose and eventually apologizes and says he won’t keep kissing Sol.

Aniya is as fed up with them as I am. While they’re in bed, Melanie climbs in hugging Sincere and they’re both laughing. Aniya is telling them they’re fucking toxic, they have terrible communication, they argue every day and they’re shitty. And she was dead serious too, like she looked so annoyed, but Melanie and Sincere didn’t take it to heart. Even though they should’ve…I know Melanie is going to be sick when she leaves the villa and finds out everything he’s been saying to Sol.

The next day, Kayda says what I’m thinking, telling Melanie what he’s been doing is way worse than what she’s been doing.

Kenzie lets Sol know that she can confide in her and that she’s happy for her and Sincere which is pretty shady of her. I don’t know what her issue is with Melanie or if she’s just mad that Melanie is exploring someone she’s interested in, but it seems out of character for her to offer an olive branch.

Bryce and Trinity seem to deepen their connection. At night, Bryce had moved the pillow Trinity placed between them so they could cuddle, so during their chat he apologizes for pulling Kayda and they have a real conversation about how nervous they both are that their type will come in and it’s the first time we see race brought up between them.

For every interracial couple, I think it’s an important conversation and one that has to be had if you’re serious about each other and with Trinity and Bryce it seems like they’re both worried the other will leave for someone who is the same race as them, but of course they’re framing it as “your type” instead of saying “race.” I would assume Love Island frowns upon conversations of race which is why they’re framing it like that.

Bryce says all he can do is show her with his actions and I think that’s a mature thing to say because he’s right. We lowkey end up seeing this with KC and Aniya. Like you can say the same thing over and over, but until actions prove otherwise there will always be some doubt.

Two things I want to mention from the pie challenge. Jen said what needed to be said when she told Sincere “I know you’re sincere, but you’re not honest.” Because it’s true! And it’s scary that he doesn’t understand why she said that. Like he really doesn’t think that he’s a liar which is crazy.

The other thing I want to talk about in the pie challenge is that we saw Sol get pied a few times and eventually she breaks down when she is chosen most likely to break girl code.

Bea in the confessional says some of the pies she got should’ve went to Melanie, and I can’t say if that’s true or false because production obviously cut out the other pies. I don’t know why people keep saying production cut things like it’s a revelation or a conspiracy ‘cause I’m pretty sure they cut things from every single challenge.

But, Sol is upset and it seems like she’s frustrated, because she says in the confessional that she doesn’t think she “deserves to get pied for talking to the only person who has been open with her.”

Love Island has cut out a lot of context on what’s going on with Sol, so I can only base this on what we’ve been shown so far and what the conversations have been online and I think people really exhausted this conversation and lowkey I’m tired of women getting blamed for the actions of men.

I don’t know what the women did or didn’t do in relation to Sol, because they cut it, but I know for sure men pied her in the face, and I don’t know why the women in the villa were getting blamed for isolating her and bullying her when they weren’t the ones choosing who gets pied! 

It’s also worth noting that Melanie wanted to talk to her afterwards, but Sincere talked her out of it, which is grimy of Sincere, because the two of them really should’ve been had a conversation about everything and compared notes.

KC also wants to talk to Sol later even though she’s mad right now.

Sincere eventually talks to her and tells her not to lose herself in this villa.

Before the episode ends, Ariana comes in and matches Sol with Sincere, Jen with Gabe, and Caleb with Kenzie because that’s what America voted. Allegedly. Bea ends up getting dumped from the island, and she and Gabe share a sweet moment before she goes.

Bea leaving surprised me a little bit. I thought her and Gabe were cute, but Gabe was trying to play the field and I felt like it would’ve ended up with them separating at some point.

There are things I like about Bea and things I don’t, but I was a little sad to see her go. Better her than most of the other girls though in my opinion.

Episode 10: After Sun

After Sun got a revamp, and I saw a thread about it being a glorified podcast, which I agree with. I have no real opinion on either of the hosts, but I do like getting to see the islander’s experience post villa and hearing their thoughts.

It’s pretty clear After Sun’s agenda is humanizing the islanders. Ciara said it herself.

Sean and Bea both recorded getting their phones back and going through their social media for the first time and hearing the things that have been going on since they were sequestered. They both talk about how old friends, classmates, or acquaintances were in their DMs.

Sean learns about what the mayor said about him and seems bothered about it, but he kept it cute, talking about how the switch up surprises him, and later even mentions he understands that there may be pressure he had to speak out, which i thought was undeserved empathy he offered, so Sean really does seem like a good guy. 

His mom tells him he wishes he got more time with Aniya and all throughout the interview he’s talking about how blown away he is by Aniya. It’s interesting they didn’t show any of that, but I lowkey feel like they didn’t show it either because Aniya wanted KC or because none of their conversations were romantic enough or interesting enough. Like they weren’t being direct about coupling up eventually.

People say that we were robbed, but a part of me feels like they weren’t going anywhere fast enough for it to be shown. Like he was kissing Kenzie for breakfast in the morning…but you know, I’m never going to knock the idea that they were just being racist and didn’t want to show a Black woman in a love triangle ‘cause that could be true too.

His sister tells him what Bea said behind his back, that having a kid is a red flag, and assures him he has options when he leaves the villa.

In the interview with the hosts, Sean says Gabe is different in person on tv and that he’s gotten a bad rap, which I believe. There’s been speculation that he’s more comfortable talking in Spanish, and I think that and the obvious stereotyping is why we don’t get most of him outside of being sexual.

Bea even says he has a computer science major and is down to earth. The way Bea talks about him, it’s clear that she really grew feelings for him and she liked the way he made her feel, liked that she could be soft around him. 

Bea learns that people think she’s gay and she talks about how people always think that because she’s more masculine and an athlete, but she’s just a tomboy. 

She says in the villa she did feel left out sometimes because it was hard to relate to everyone, but she fucks with Trinity and Kayda.

She also admits that she was hoping to talk to Sincere but was worried about the villa being set on fire because of Melanie, which…I’ll get back to that in a second, but her friend tells her how inspiring the disability representation was for other disabled people. Later in the interview she says she was worried people would think she’s the diversity hire, but she’s glad that people have the representation she didn’t have as a kid.

She also says her confidence is a strength and a defense mechanism, which I can definitely see. From what I’ve seen, I think that what people see in her that causes them to label her as emotionally mature is really her not allowing herself to be truly vulnerable and emotional. Not exactly this but kinda like intellectualizing her feelings instead of feeling them and I only peep it because I am like that sometimes.

I just cannot get behind her being emotionally mature, because an emotionally mature person would not lie on national television and say that Sol and Sincere are the best couple in the villa. I find it super hard to believe that she actually believes that and people say that she’s in the villa so she knows them better than we do, but that’s not 100% true and she’s even said herself there are things she hasn’t seen. She knows their personalities better, but she doesn’t see what they say in confessionals and gossiping in there is a game of telephone, so you don’t really know what goes down on 1-and-1 conversations. Unless Sincere told her directly himself who he was feeling, there is no way she could know forreal they both Sol and Sincere showed up in the villa and if she was talking to Sincere, why was she not shooting her shot since she said she was interested in him?

So either Bea was being messy and petty because of whatever feelings she has towards Melanie or she just doesn’t know how much of a liar Sincere is, which would mean she actually doesn’t know the people in the villa all that well. 

Episode 11

In the next episode, Gabe is still sad about Bea leaving and is crying over it. Jen comforts him, but she also says she’s also pretty happy to be coupled up finally.

Kenzie tells Caleb that it’s a yellow flag he’s younger than her and people have pointed out that Corbin is also younger than her, and I fact checked that and it’s true. Corbin is two years younger than her, so she is either infantilizing Caleb or aging up Corbin and all of this could’ve been avoided if she just said she wasn’t feeling Caleb.

Sincere is excited to share a bed with Sol, who is also happy.

Corbin feels like he’s in a shitty position and Melanie tries to see the bright side of things, saying that she feels like this is how it’s supposed to be since they’ve been playing with the idea of getting to know each other.

Corbin tells her she can’t crash over Sincere and Sol though.

Sincere tells Aniya he wanted it to be Melanie and he confuses me…i don’t get him.

Sol and Melanie have a chat that finally makes it on the show. Melanie says again she really likes Sincere when Sol mentions she feels tension and Sol understands and they end up hugging. Melanie also asks if they kissed and Sol said they did and because she’s overwhelmed Melanie tells Corbin she’s going to sleep in soul ties, which I think is pretty mature of her.

It’s not really Sincere’s fault or Sol’s fault that they are coupled up together, even though it is Sincere’s fault for kissing Sol, and Melanie seems to know that, but it doesn’t mean she’s okay with everything. She acknowledged that and went to bed alone instead of making it other people’s problems.

I don’t like that KC said she did it for attention, because if she really wanted to be petty or do anything for attention, she could’ve easily loudly made out with Corbin.

Also at night, Zach tells Kayda he doesn’t want to do too much in case someone he’s interested in comes in and I mean…he could’ve been joking, but it’s not funny! It’s not a funny joke.

In the morning, Melanie has seemed to come to terms with the fact that Sincere is not sincere, but this revelation is pretty short lived and changes nothing because she always forgives him for lying. She even said that herself the previous episode. 

Later she talks about wanting to talk to Kenzie about Corbin and is still upset because she knows she can’t trust Sincere. In the confessional she says she lost herself in the villa and wants to find Melanie again. People were saying Melanie was like Huda, but I think that Sincere gaslights Melanie and tries to villanize her in their story to absolve what he wants to do, and him mind fucking her makes her do the most.

KC and Sol have a little chat where KC kinda insinuates he was interested in getting to know Sol, but that he didn’t want to step on Sincere’s toes, when Sol says she didn’t feel like anyone except Sincere was open to talking to her. KC confirms it would take a lot to turn his head. In the confessional KC says if they talked earlier things would be different, but everything happens for a reason.

And I’m a very big “everything happens for a reason” person because I believe in fate. Like what’s meant for you will find you and nothing can stop it. It’s the definition of fate.

But sometimes your effort level is the reason something does or doesn’t happen and because KC took so long to actually shoot his shot, things ended up how they did. But some of that is getting into future episodes.

Kenzie and Corbin agree they didn’t want to break the couple and it’s hard but they have to play the cards they were dealt. They toy with kissing each other or not and eventually go kiss in soul ties away from everyone.

Their relationship is just lust honestly. It could be editing, but again, I have to go off of what I know and what is shown, and they don’t seem like they talk about anything except their sexual and physical attraction and chemistry. Which is fine, but annoying to watch on this game show that pretends to be about building connections.

Kenzie and Melanie talk after and Melanie is looking for a green flag to pursue Corbin. Kenzie lowkey insinuates that Melanie is the type of person who would pursue her friend’s ex and Melanie has to confirm that she isn’t the type either and she knows the situation isn’t okay, but she’s kinda stuck until Kenzie gives her a green flag.

Kenzie gives it and I think it was pretty mature of them to have this conversation, but I also didn’t like Kenzie’s reluctance to letting Melanie get to know Corbin romantically when it’s the whole point of the show. Melanie doesn’t actually need Kenzie’s permission if we’re gonna be honest. This game is cutthroat. But she asked for it anyway out of respect because that’s what they all came here to do. And I guess that’s also part of the game too is navigating your feelings, because knowing that doesn’t make it easy. 

Zach and Kayda talk about Zach’s comment at night and their conversation about wanting to wait to do everything in case a bombshell comes in, trying to say it would make the whole situation harder. A part of me understands what he’s saying, but at the end of the day if he was really about Kayda, this wouldn’t even be a thought in his mind, so it’s suspect that he would say that when they’re supposed to be locked in and when they’re one of the couples that you can tell at least one of them has real feelings involved.

The only thing worth mentioning from this soccer challenge is that Kayda and Zach said KC acts like he already won the league, that he’s too comfortable and that him and Aniya’s relationship hasn’t been tested and that KC avoided exploring because he thought it was safe to stay with Aniya.

I do agree with the takes online that Zach was being a game player a little but, but I don’t think he lied. I thought it was true at the time and every episode since this moment has confirmed that Zach and Kayda were right. KC is playing it safe and he’s said in a conversation with Aniya before that he tends not to be a risk taker and we can see it here.

This whole thing really bothered Aniya because she doesn’t want to limit his experience, but I think she also worries that he’s not being truthful about his feelings and intentions with her. 

KC does end up talking to Sol about the challenge and admitting it’s scary to leave something that’s good, but Sol says he’s robbing himself of knowing if they have something or not by not shooting his shot.

We don’t know how long they’re talking for when Aniya pulls KC from the chat and tells him that she doesn’t want to be a safe option. KC says she’s confusing “first option” for “safe option.”

But she says in the challenge he said he didn’t pursue Sol because of Sincere. KC says if he wanted to pursue Sol that he would’ve…and I think he was too scared to to be honest. We see him talking about her ass cheeks a couple minutes before, like clearly he’s attracted to her and Sol is right, that now he’ll never know because he didn’t make the first move.

Melanie and Corbin both say that  they have intentions of moving on from their past couples and getting to know each other, which, spoiler that’s a lie.

Caleb voices to Kenzie how uncomfortable it makes him that she and Corbin are still affectionate, but he doesn’t ask her to stop and she basically says that she has no intentions to.

Episode 12

In episode 12, Aniya vents to Trinity and Melanie about her conversation with KC and how she feels like he contradicts what he says and never takes anything seriously. Both Trinity and Melanie seem to think he does like her though and Trinity tells her not to overthink and to sleep on it and Melanie tells her to talk to him.

I don’t know why a narrative started that Aniya went to Melanie because Trinity didn’t tell her what she wanted to hear when 1) islanders have the same conversation a million times just with different people and 2) they basically said the same thing which was just to talk to KC.

Kenzie and Corbin still struggle with not being coupled up but having lust for each other.

Corbin decides he wants to explore Melanie, I think since Kenzie is exploring Caleb and a rumor starts that they kissed during this talk which makes its way to Melanie and she ends up sleeping outside again. Except this is the one time that Corbin refused a kiss and it was out of respect for Melanie and they do clear that up with everyone in the morning.

Zach and Kayda are in the hideaway and it looks like after they hook up Zach makes another “joke”,if you can call it that, about if she will kill him for exploring a bombshell. Kayda didn’t laugh because it wasn’t funny.

KC and Corbin have a chat and KC says he’s getting mad because Aniya still doesn’t want to talk to him. Corbin says she’s in her head and KC explains she feels like she’s a second option and he’s settling with her when he really wants Sol.

Corbin opens up about Kenzie and says they have sexual chemistry and they have done stuff in bed which leads to KC saying Aniya and him haven’t done anything and he yells out Grandma while they laugh.

Which is also not funny. I think Aniya will actually be pretty hurt once she sees that KC called her a grandma and I think he quite obviously was talking about how they haven’t touched any of the bases. This is one of the few times I don’t know how people could interpret anything else from this conversation, especially because after that he says he told her he’s a touch person and it’ll make him start exploring more. 

I also think that he’s playing this up for Corbin a little bit, like this is just locker room talk. Not to say that it doesn’t bother KC that they haven’t been that physical, but KC has literally had so many chances to talk to Sol and just didn’t do it. I think he was just locker room talking, but it doesn’t make it okay.

I also don’t think Corbin is getting enough smoke for playing both sides because he said that the ball is in Melanie’s court but then later said the ball is in Kenzie’s court and  I don’t know if it is editing or if he’s just trying to play both sides and not pick like Sincere did.

Caleb again brings up that it’s hard watching Kenzie and Corbin and wants to know when she’ll make a decision because it’s hard to watch, but he’s been relatively nice about it. He’s not pressuring her but he’s applying pressure and I do feel like Kenzie has been leading him on. Based on what we’ve seen, which I know isn’t everything, it doesn’t feel like she likes Caleb at all. Kenzie even encourages him to explore, which we know she wouldn’t do if she felt something for him because she was pissed about Melanie and Corbin and Zach who she knew for like 24 hours.

She tells Jen she wanted to kiss Corbin and she and Jen make a comment about how Melanie isn’t being honest about who she wants to explore and it’s making it harder on everyone else…I’m thinking okay. Melanie has main character energy because what do you mean Melanie’s choice dictates yours? I’m confused.

Sincere tells Sol he’s going to pull Melanie for a chat because they never talked after the recoupling and I feel like the wheels in her head were turning but she was outwardly chill about it. And I have to ask…why didn’t Sincere give Melanie the same courtesy when he pulled Kayda? And when he pulled Sol? So much drama could’ve been avoided.

Kenzie tells Jen she’s done with Corbin if he doesn’t kiss her because she’s mad that Corbin is prioritizing Melanie’s feelings over hers which is just petty for no reason. Feels like a secret competition she’s in with Melanie that Melanie doesn’t know exists and it’s weird.

Aniya and KC talk and now the conversation is more about how he’s always joking and doesn’t take things seriously sometimes. I feel it in my soul that this conversation and fight between them got spliced up to make it look like Aniya is trippin. Like I just feel like she said something and he cracked a joke that pissed her off even more. But based on what we know, I get both of their arguments to be honest. Sometimes you do need to be serious and it’s so…invalidating to say how you feel and a mfer laughs in your face. Like that’s annoying. I get where she’s coming from. But I also understand KC not wanting to be serious all the time and I know people use humor and laughing as a defense mechanism. And something about knowing you shouldn’t laugh makes you laugh sometimes…so the conversation did make me question their compatibility. 

And they talk again about how she feels like a fallback and there’s also clearly some unhealed issues coming up with her too.

Onto Gabe, it felt like Kayda and Trinity were trying to check Gabe a little bit because he moved quickly with Jen. Like they slept together already and Bea just left, but Gabe says that Bea left and he has to explore his new connection in the villa and that he and Jen have a lot in common and that he really likes her and is attracted to her.

While Sol is hyping up Sincere to Kenzie and Jen, Melanie and Sincere are talking and Sincere basically says he never wanted to close the door on them and that he wants to talk to her and misses hearing her voice and her talking to him and that he feels a type of way when she doesn’t walk down the stairs to greet him. Melanie seems to be moved by it because she does really like him, and I think if she went in for a kiss, they would’ve kissed.

It was cute and I would be rooting for them if they weren’t so toxic to be honest and if Sincere wasn’t a liar.

Corbin pulls Kenzie and after a back and forth he ends up kissing her and they agree not to tell anyone.

Episode 13

Not a lot really happens in the 13th episode. It’s a lot of chatting about the same things and then a recoupling happens.

Aniya vents to Trinity about what happened with KC and says she just wants him to be serious 5% of the time and that she never restricted him from Sol. I think she’s hyperfocusing on this because she knows KC is interested and it’s frustrating for her to think that he’s stuck with her because Aniya wants someone to want her for her and not just because of circumstance.

In the confessional she says if he wants to do what he wants to do, she’s just gonna be a bad bitch in the villa. People say that she’s putting on a character because people online have found her to be insecure, and I do think she doesn’t feel secure with KC and that’s really the root of their issue, but I think even if she was faking her confidence, faking confidence is how you become confident. I don’t see the issue if it is a character that she is putting on..

KC tells Bryce and Zach that he just values Aniya more and doesn’t think that Aniya understands that but he also doesn’t want her to feel a way if he does talk to someone, which is confusing to me, because do you value her more or are you scared of her reaction or are you just scared and she’s an easy explanation for why you’re not going for it?

I can’t lie, sometimes I think Aniya is overthinking, but sometimes I also doubt KC’s intentions and feelings and I’m not even in the villa with them, so a part of me can understand where she’s coming from even if she isn’t handling it the best way and overcommunicates.

KC also says him and Aniya click, but he wants it to be more like Zach and Kayda, so now I’m thinking are you saying affectionate? Are you wanting to touches and the kisses because Trinity said that Zach and Kayda are a very affectionate couple and super lovey dovey couple in the last episode. 

KC also says that being serious is boring and it feels like a job and I’m like…I don’t know…something about that bothers me. And I just think it’s because it’s not fun and games all the time. There are times you have to be serious, but again I think it’s a compatibility thing. 

Zach is worried Kayda expects him to be closed off now that they’ve been in the hideaway together, and I just don’t understand why he keeps mentioning this unless he wants to get to know other people, and if that’s the case he’s being a game player by not being upfront with Kayda about where is head is at. If I didn’t know that Zach was saying all of this, I would consider them one of the strongest couples, so by keeping it to himself and not letting Kayda know where his head is at, he is being a game player because he doesn’t want her to start exploring and being open. Obviously she’s going to be picked up if she explores.

Kenzie for whatever reason didn’t want to tell Sol that she and Corbin made out last night and all I will say is her true colors are coming out…infer from that what you will.

Zach asks Sincere again about who he wants to prioritize and he said him and Sol are growing more comfortable but it hurts seeing Melanie come down the stairs and not go to him and he doesn’t know who he would pick, which feels more possessive than anything else in my opinion.

Corbin gave both Kenzie and Melanie breakfast, and Melanie said it’s weird and she doesn’t want to be in the way, but then Corbin tells her not to self-sabotage and not to be afraid of stepping on toes, but sir…you and Melanie got together by chance. You’re actively pursuing someone else. The respect that he said he had for her in not kissing Kenzie lasted for like half an episode. And Melanie doesn’t know this, but you just showed her you weren’t over your situation with Kenzie, by giving Kenzie breakfast, so…yeah, she’s gonna be wary.

Sol says she doesn’t have to guess with Sincere and appreciates his honesty, which is foreshadowing.

Zach tells Kayda he thought he would explore more when she asks if he thought he would come in and find someone quick and you can see her wheels turning, but she plays it off saying that she agrees.

I’m gonna be honest, after Trinity gets a text about the recoupling, I kinda zoned out until they started reading the letters. I didn’t feel like going back to watch, usually I will, but it seemed like it wasn’t going to matter that much. 

The letters in showed us a more vulnerable side of the islanders and just reminded me that we really don’t see everything within these connections, so while it wasn’t my favorite challenge, I do think it served a purpose.

Trinity really likes Bryce, like while he was reading her letter, she was cheesing hard. She said she was nervous on how they would click but she was happy they got to know each other and that he makes her laugh even when he tells jokes others don’t get, which is like the highest compliment in my opinion. And she said that his personality makes him more attractive.

Bryce wrote to Trinity that learning their love languages brought them closer and that he feels butterflies like he did when she chose him and from the first kiss he knew they would have something special. He looks nervous as he reads it, but I think of he’s nervous of her reaction, but I guess casa will tell.

Jen and Gabe’s letters to each other were actually really cute. All we see of them is them making out and like hooking up, so the letter told us more, and I do think they actually enjoy each other. They are both surprised they connected so fast and Gabe writes cultural differences are a small detail they can make work. He talks about getting lost in her eyes trying to figure out what color they are. And he leaves a sentence in Portuguese and she leaves a sentence in Portuguese to him too. I’m like wait a minute, there’s actually substance here between them and we’ve been robbed of it. Their letters were most romantic to me honestly.

Aniya and KC talk about their childhoods. Aniya says she felt like a princess and has been waiting for her Prince Charming and that her past makes it hard to believe people want her for her and not what she can offer. KC says humor was how he escaped because life wasn’t easy growing up, and they both express feeling connected to each other and bonded.

KC calls her beautiful from her beautiful dark complexion to her smile…people have been saying he seems a bit hotepish, and I can see it lowkey…would you say that to someone you’re interested in if you weren’t on tv? Would you tell them you love their dark complexion or skin? I’m not saying it is performative, but I get why people think it’s performative and like…I just…I have conflicting feelings about KC ‘cause I do doubt his intentions sometimes. And when he says stuff like that, it does give like…I know I’m on tv. That we’ve seen at least, he’s never like, oh Sol I love your skin or whatever…he only does that with Aniya. It’s suspect…I don’t know.

Kayda and Zach’s letters didn’t move me as much as the others, but Zach did open up a little writing that in the past he overthinks in relationships but Kayda puts him at ease and Kayda wrote that she feels like a little kid with a crush and she gets butterflies looking at him across the villa.

Kenzie gets two letters, both complimenting her energy but she wrote back to Corbin saying that the distance made her heart look fonder.

Caleb looked pissed that Kenzie didn’t write back to him and I really think we might see a different side of him in the upcoming episodes.

Sincere got two letters, one written by Sol that rhymes and talks about how they’ll be together for a while and one written by Melanie talking about a childhood memory of his and saying she loves learning about him and his family and she always thinks about him and she didn’t think she would fall so fast.

Sol is disappointed but said she had a feeling her mailbox would be empty. I do feel bad for her ‘cause Sincere couldn’t be honest about where his head was at until he was forced to. He got Sol and he was still thinking about Melanie, and I think that was sign enough, just like 

Kenzie. She had Caleb but was still thinking about Corbin. I think they both led on their couples, except I do think Sincere might’ve felt something for Sol in the beginning. I don’t think Kenzie actually liked Caleb as she got to know him.

Sincere wrote to Melanie that there was something real and it fell apart and talks about their first date outside of the villa which is exactly what Melanie said she described and he acknowledges his mistake and says home is with Melanie.

Their letters would’ve moved me if I didn’t think Sincere would do the same shit again. If he doesn’t wild out in casa, he would have surprised me for once.

Final Thoughts

My final thoughts on these episodes of Love Island USA season 8.

I’m over Kenzie. Get her off my screen immediately! I do think she was leading Caleb on and we at least didn’t see her genuinely exploring both of her connections. Kenzie and Caleb gave coworker. Like we’re stuck together so let’s be cordial for now. I wish she was honest with him about where her head was at, which was obvious because of how upset she got about Corbin not kissing her.

And lowkey I think Corbin gravitates towards Kenzie because she’s the only one who would kiss him outside of challenges. Imagine what would’ve happened if Melanie actually did kiss him earlier when he first asked. They kissed one of the nights, but that was like two days after she slept outside…it was kinda too late in my opinion for them.

I wanted more from Sol as a bombshell. I think she’s one of the baddest bombshells, but she kinda flopped and I don’t think it’s 100% her fault, but I also don’t think she was aggressive enough to be a bombshell. I’ll talk about the bullying stuff that’s been talked when I actually watch those episodes, because I haven’t seen those yet. 

I will not take any Aniya slander, I’m sorry. I’m actually shocked how people are taking KC’s side when it’s clear we aren’t getting a full picture of their dynamic. For now, I’m gonna stand beside her because I just have a feeling that Aniya is justified in how she feels.

Sincere is still a liar.

I also feel like something is missing. These couples aren’t giving a fair shot to exploring and it’s kinda like last season. Like they’re saying they’re open with words but not with actions and I think that’s where some of our frustration is coming in as viewers. Yes the point is to find a genuine connection, but if you don’t test it, how do you know it’s genuine?

I think there wasn’t enough bombshells, like the pacing was off, which sucks because when I look at this cast without thinking about their roles in the villa, I like most of them as people. Like they’re fun, but it’s just not translating in this environment…

With the islanders remaining at the end of Episode 13, I would say…

My favorites are Trinity, Melanie, Aniya, and Kayda. I do think they’re the core four and it makes me SICKwe might have to lose one of them to shake things up in the villa sometime in the future. I just need Melanie and Kayda to wake up!

I like Bryce for now…I do think he’s feeling insecure about their relationship being interracial and for now I will accept that as the reason for why he was being weird, but I’m keeping my eye on him.

I like KC for now too. I do think he’s a little immature and I also side eye him, but on screen, except the grandma comment which was one comment we saw him make, I don’t think he’s done anything too too bad, though I do think he’s ruining his own experience for himself.

I feel indifferent about Sol. I wanted more from her, but I know the environment didn’t make it easy for her…I just don’t know why she thought Sincere would move different with her than he did with Melanie, but at the same time he was her only option so…I don’t know…like I said I gotta finish before I have my full thoughts.

I’ve had enough of Zach honestly. I’m done with him.

I’m tolerating Sincere and Corbin for now because I want to see how they move in casa.

Jen has only grown on me a little bit and it’s only because of Gabe and their letters, though I’d be happy if she left. 

I think Gabe and Caleb are fine. I don’t feel one way or another about them.

And I need Kenzie gone immediately! Free us from her!

That’s all I got for you today.  Thank you for reading! I’ll pull you for another chat in one or two weeks!

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