Digital Editor Halima Ahad weighs in on the new Love Island spin-off, while finding the premise promising, the reality left much to be desired both in contestants and content
Spoiler warning: Love Island All Stars winners revealed in this review
Love Island, the concept of the show sounds dreamy at first. Finding love in a secluded villa on a warmer continent, in this case Africa. However, when real life hits hard, the All Stars version came with tumultuous turns with drama at every corner. It was very messy to say the least. When I first heard of the concept of Love Island All Stars, it sounded fun at first as familiar faces would be coming back for a second chance at love. However, the show was mediocre at best. Although there were numerous dramatic turns I didn’t see coming, the show was a huge disappointment in keeping me hooked throughout.
The show gave too much of a nod to Ex on the Beach as some exes came face to face after their breakups
When the ‘all stars’ started filing into the villa, it was exciting to see how many of them recognised one another but therein lies the problem. The show gave too much of a nod to Ex on the Beach as some exes came face to face after their breakups, the most iconic pair being Molly Smith and Callum Jones as the public vied for them to be together again.
I can admit I was part of the majority of the public who wanted Molly and Callum to reignite their relationship as they had only broken up 6 months before the show began. It was almost like they were meant to cross paths again. Their interactions and flirty banter made me very hopeful for them both to come together again but their individual couples were also nice too which is very hard to admit. This could be seen in their double date when they both banded together to make breakfast for their partners and put their past relationship aside.
Love Island All Stars was a pitiful attempt as it failed to bring back faces the public really loved from previous seasons of the show
As well as this, the All Stars version of the well-known reality show didn’t really bring back famous or ‘all stars’ faces. Love Island All Stars was a pitiful attempt as it failed to bring back faces the public really loved from previous seasons of the show, such as Ovie Soko who was on the fifth series. The term ‘game playing’ was thrown around numerous times across the show as the stars accused each other of not really being there for the sole purpose of the show, to find love. Also, the ‘outside’ was brought into play in All Stars as numerous bickers were shone a light on. For example, the off-screen feud between Georgia Steel and Joanna Chimonides which made their friendship awkward in the villa and for audiences to see.
However, besides all of this, one thing which I have loved (and which has been a constant in recent seasons of the show) is the advertisement of pre-loved clothes across well-known selling platform eBay. The concept of fast fashion slowly dying out and second-hand clothing being used by the Love Island stars is amazing to see and I hope the show carries this on well into the future.
In the end, Molly Smith and Tom Clare were crowned the first winners of Love Island All Stars and I definitely deem them as worthy winners. Molly had been through a lot with her breakup with former beau Callum and this was evidently seen throughout her time in the villa. She found love through Tom and I hope they carry their relationship well on into the future on the ‘outside’.
Rating: 3/5
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