A Guide to Love Island USA, Week 1: Dumpings, Bombshells, Voting, and More! (RECAP)
A look back at the record-setting first week of Love Island USA Season 8, only on Peacock.
Love Island USA Season 8 spoilers ahead!
Key Takeaways
- Early episodes of Love Island USA Season 8 delivered high drama with musical moments, standout conflicts like Melanie’s viral “Give me 10” scene, and the arrival of six new BombsheRead More
- Early episodes of Love Island USA Season 8 delivered high drama with musical moments, standout conflicts like Melanie’s viral “Give me 10” scene, and the arrival of six new Bombshells reshaping connections.
- Major shakeups included Ariana Madix’s notable style moments and the season’s first dumping, with Sean leaving after Corbin disrupted existing pairings.
- America’s first vote set up new couplings for incoming Bombshells, threatening several current pairs as Week 2 begins.
With a record-breaking 824 million viewing minutes in the first three days of Season 8, Love Island USA is back with a bang!
Peacock's hit reality dating series returned on June 2, officially introducing the 10 OG Islanders looking for love and vying for the $100,00 grand prize: Aniya Harvey, Beatriz Hatz, Bryce Dettloff, KC Chandler, Kenzie Annis, Melanie Moreno, Sean Reifel, Sincere Rhea, Trinity Tatum, Vasana Montgomery, and Zach Georgiou.
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From a Paralympian to the daughter of an NBA star, and even the younger brother of a Season 7 veteran, the cast has arrived at the iconic Villa in Fiji where they will remain for six weeks of makeouts, breakups, and makeups. And even though it's just been a week since the season started, a lot has gone down.
Catch-up on Love Island USA below with a recap of Episodes 1-6, below.
Love Island USA Week 1 Recap, by the numbers
A grand total of 62 songs were played in the episodes
In addition to serving up real-time drama amongst the Islanders, Love Island USA also provides a hell of a summer playlist. One of the show's many delights is its litany of perfectly timed and placed pop songs that are the soundtrack to the Islanders' highs and lows in Fiji.
From Episode 1 through to Episode 6, a total of 62 songs have already been cued up. "Say You Do" by Sigala featuring Imani Williams and DJ Fresh kicked off the season and helped introduce the Islanders. The 10 OGs appeared in a surprise music video lip syncing the track across Fiji, even showing off their dancing skills.
So far Love Island USA Season 8's tracklist has featured Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Dolly Parton, Britney Spears, and more. You can listen to it all via Peacock’s Love Island USA: The Official Playlist on Apple Music or on Spotify.
Melanie gifts us 7 "Give me 10s!"
It wouldn't be Love Island USA without a few tiffs between Islanders, and Melanie's crash out was the most memorable of the week.
It all went down in Episode 4 when Bombshell Corbin Mims officially arrived and got to know the ladies. As they all gathered around the 22-year-old Miami native to introduce themselves, Melanie was particularly enthusiastic, leaning forward and unintentionally blocking Trinity and Kenzie's view of Corbin. She also interrupted the group conversation to be the first girl to pull him for a private chat. This move was noted by everyone is the Villa, especially Beatriz, who voiced she felt the first chat with Corbin should have gone to Kenzie, who was single.
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Beatriz later confronted Melanie about the interaction, saying it was "excessive" and "rude." Though Melanie apologized and explained her actions were an accident, she felt Beatriz did "too much" by addressing her, and the conversation quickly spiraled. Melanie ended up walking away to calm down, though Aniya asked her to come back in order to squash the misunderstanding. This is when Melanie made it clear that she needed space in a now-viral scene:
"Give me 10. Give me 10. Give me 10. Give me 10. Give me 10. Give me 10. Give me f*****g 10."
Luckily, the girls made up in the following episode, but we now have Melanie to thank for — what is so far — the most quotable moment of the season.
6 new Bombshells entered the Villa
Bombshells are a must on Love Island USA, always popping up when the cast least expects it. So far, every single one this season has made an epic entrance, testing even the strongest connections in the Villa.
Gabriel Vasconcelos and Kayda Bosse arrived during the premiere in the first game of the season. They whisked away Bryce, Zach, Bea, and Trinity for a steamy night away from the Villa. The next day new couples were formed: Kayda coupled up with Zach, and Gabriel coupled up with Bea, leaving Kenzie and Zach single.
Corbin made his sneaky entrance during the first challenge of the season, "Boss B!tch," in Episode 4. He was hidden away in a secret room, with the girls finding and making out with him while the guys were none the wiser. Later that night, Corbin officially arrived in the Villa and revealed himself to the boys. He quickly came between Melanie and Sincere, while catching Kenzie's attention and leaving Sean vulnerable.
In Episode 6, Caleb McDaniel, Sol Dean, and Jen Terry entered the Villa as a trio during the messy sleepover game. As the OG girls were blindfolded and covered in paint, Sol and Jen mounted the giant bed and made out with all of the boys, leaving their own paint colors behind. Later on, Caleb shared a hot kiss with each of the girls as the boys watched on while handcuffed to the bed.
Jen has already caught Gabriel's wondering eyes, and the duo shared a kiss. Caleb is Kenzie's dream Southern gentleman, and Sol has made out with both Gabriel and Sincere, successfully turning the latter's head.
RELATED: Voting During Love Island USA Season 8: How Fans Impact the Villa
3 fabulous looks from Host Ariana Madix
Whenever Ariana arrives with some news for the Islanders, we know she'll look stunning. With the help of her stylist, Emily Men, Ariana packs more than 20 outfits for Fiji.
In the premiere, the newly brunette Ariana donned a scandalous black Tom Ford frock. Later on in Episode 5, the host rocked a blue polka dot Jean Paul Gaultier matching pant set. And to wrap up the week, she wore a playful baby pink PatBo gown with a crystal halter bralette and feather trim.
"You have all the outfits for the actual show, and we always know the top, big ones are gonna be the premiere, Casa Amor recoupling, and the finale. And then however many Aftersuns that I’m doing," she told Peacock Blog. "Then we have all of those outfits, and then of course, we have some backups or some wildcards in case they decide they want me to go in for a challenge or something changes, and all of a sudden, maybe I’m not feeling that anymore."
1 Islander was dumped
Sadly, we were forced to say goodbye to the resident Officer Sexy Pants, Sean, in Episode 5.
In the summer's inaugural recoupling ceremony the new Bombshell, Corbin, was allowed to pick a girl first. He chose Sean's strongest connection, Kenzie. From there, each girl recoupled with the boy of their choice, until Sean was the final Islander left single, vulnerable, and therefore dumped from the Island.
1 America's Vote kicks off the second week
Week 2 of the season began on June 9 with Episode 7, which unveiled the very first America's Vote of the season.
Viewers were tasked with choosing which Islanders the newest Bombshells — Caleb, Sol, and Jen — should couple with. This will inevitably leave certain cast members single and split up a current couple:
- Corbin and Kenzie
- Aniya and KC
- Melanie and Sincere
- Kayda and Zach
- Beatriz and Gabriel
- Trinity and Bryce
The only way to vote is via the Love Island USA app, with the poll voting window extended to 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT on Wednesday, June 10! Results will be revealed on Thursday June 11.
Watch new episodes of Love Island USA every day, except Wednesdays, at 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET on Peacock, with Love Island Aftersun dropping on Saturdays.
