u/Selle_la

This is my first time watching Love Island, but I was hoping to see some romance still, damn.

We're 25 episodes in, with only one date. The couples are locked in, but we really don't get much screen time with them enjoying each other's company, so we can see what they like about each other.

The drama is entertaining, but it's getting really exhausting to watch them only hunch and fight. When they do talk, the conversations are pretty lackluster.

Carl and Aniya this episode, and Trinity and Bryce last episode, were a breath of fresh air, right before they waterboarded us with drama again. I can't even tell if the latter couples are good or if I'm just starved for something positive atp.

I'm starting to feel bad for the Islanders. The producers don't make them do any bonding activities. Just a bunch of horny challenges and alcohol to stir up drama. Aren't they meant to find someone they like? How are they supposed to focus on falling in love in the midst of all this chaos? I'm legit worried for their mental health. This level of emotional rollercoaster can't be good in the long run.

Is this how it always is? Am I the only one who wants to see more dates, parties, meaningful convos, etc.?

I think Titi will try to talk to Carl. I have no basis for this except for a sneaking feeling that Titi is in a secret competition with Anaya. She seems like the type of person that only likes the man if she is competing with other women (like Kenzie). I think that she chose KC because he was liked by the public before Casa and she was winning over Aniya what she thought was the best man in the villa.

After the Cake challenge, she probably realizes nobody wants/likes him. Plus Aniya will (hopefully) move on with Carl so she will be bored because she will have no one to compete with for her man.

I pulled this theory completely out of my ass though but it’d be so funny if this actually happened 🤭.

Edit: Me saying Titi is in competition with Aniya doesn't mean that I think she came in hating her y'all or that there is beef. It just means that Titi is competitive (like Kenzie) and her competition is Aniya (another tall, extremely beautiful, black woman). I don't think Titi's taking this as seriously as she is (hence the laughing at the firepit situation) and the competition make the game (yes love island is a game) fun for her.

I think Aniya has low self-esteem and that's why she chose KC. I don’t think that all that crying Aniya did was because she liked KC so much but more so that she was really embarrassed and mad at herself.

I think Aniya wants a fairytale but doesn't think she deserves it. This is shown in two ways:

She made it work with KC because she could tell he's insecure too about being worthy (they were both chosen last and she could tell it hurt him). That's why she chose him every time because she was trying to heal his wound (and hers by proxy). It's also why she got so upset when he tried to explore Sol. He was moving away from being her insecure companion. I think when she said "I don’t want to be your safe option" it was projection. He was HER safe option. She is afraid of rejection (didn't explore anyone else after being rejected by Sincere) and wanted KC to settle for her too.

From the episodes I can tell she REALLY liked Carl. As soon as I saw him and heard him speak I knew he was perfect. And that's precisely the problem. If she doesn't pick Carl then she can’t get rejected by Carl later. She seems like the type to think he'll inevitably think/figure out she's unworthy and choose someone else like the other men she preferred (Sincere in the villa and possible others ouside the villa). I mean she was genuinely surprised he chose her first. I bet she just thought he was being nice to stay in the villa.

I don't think Aniya thought KC was a catch but she was trying real hard to make it work because she didn't think she deserved better. I think KC could tell and held a lot of resentment towards her because of this. Him being redpilled added grease to this hellfire too. He's definitely a coward for how he handled things but he made the best decision for both of them.