The Rise & Fall of Love Island (an unhinged deep dive)

IT'S HERE! i've been working on this video for almost a month and can't believe it's finally up :) please enjoy this completely unnecessary deep dive into the history of love island & a look into the rise and fall of the show
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timestamps:
00:00:00 - intro
00:03:09 - the history of of love island
00:06:33 - the format of love island
00:09:01 - the return of love island
00:14:22 - the start of love island
00:23:56 - the rise of love island
00:35:28 - the peak of love island
00:38:16 - winter love island
00:54:37 - the break of love island
00:58:43 - the re-return of love island
01:14:41 - the fall of love island
01:27:18 - is love island dead?
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[@user-ci2sy5jb2j]

Love island literally ruined itself. All they had to do was, never do winter series. Have REAL casting not influencers and friends of love islanders. That’s literally it but they insist of bringing in fame hungry people

[@dancerbabe02]

And football players’ daughters like WHY?!

[@Bilmoe]

Don’t forget about Danica! Danica later came out on a podcast and talked how badly Luca and the other guys treated her. I felt so bad 😟

[@jamesbagley2937]

I hate that season 1 is forgotten. Probably the most raw and dramatic season in history if you really think about it.

[@serenawilliams3475]

I would have to agree, I think season 2 still had that rawness too though

[@asyahussain7560]

Season 1 had such an awful mean streak though? Everyone was HUGE on slut shaming. I literally had to stop watching from how bad everyone treated each other, specifically the way the guys treated the women. But the girls were sooo cut throat with each other too. S1 should stay forgotten...it was just bad.

[@jennieballard2905]

Yes completely agree it was horrible to watch how misogynistic it came across

[@skurinski]

​@@asyahussain7560no such thing as slut shaming. If you act like one, you deserve the shame

[@TheFrozenOne97]

Chris Williamson from season 1 is a famous KZbinr now

[@AA-qb7ni]

I actually LOVED this season and in my opinion it was the best one since S5 with Molly and Tommy. The cast were so entertaining and there was non stop drama. However, it had a disappointing ending with Jess and Sammy winning 😏 Two seasons a year is too overconsuming and unnecessary. Having it once a year gives us much more anticipation.

[@simplybintz]

Jess and Sammy have ruined this season for me

[@connormacgregor1531]

We all know why they won👀

[@user-ci2sy5jb2j]

This season was so over produced and the wrong couple won. And letting molly come back after seeing the public opinion wasn’t a good idea she brought nothing to the show. So many story lines manipulated

[@4cory]

I agree, this was deffo my favourite season since 2019, Jess and Sammy winning was the only part that ruined it a little

[@michellek4349]

@@user-ci2sy5jb2jexactly. When I saw Molly walking back into Casa I turned off my television. They don’t understand what the people want.

[@beccamay693]

I didn't realise olivia invented 'My type on paper' honestly that season was iconic

[@pixiestxNyomouf]

I miss that phrase. "Great banter(a)" got turned into "Grea chat"....not the same 😅

[@AJ-pu9jq]

I wonder if it ended up influencing other dating shows because I hear it now kinda can’t often

[@juliai8258]

Does anyone else think they need to start giving us unseen bits in the regular episodes?? Like I don’t need three getting ready montages, I rather watch them freak out about bugs HAHAH

[@juliai8258]

Also I want the good convos about personal preferences like serious stuff, jobs, religion, family idkidkidk

[@nerissawladich2162]

Lewys, one of your best vides yet. So knowledgeable and articulate-- you could present this at a university conference on media culture!

[@summerlouise1059]

love island s2-5 will always be iconic

[@lookingforlewys]

yurrrrrp

[@andrewlocke3053]

Not Season 4

[@lilac1691]

the way this video was so good it literally only felt like 20 minutes long

[@lookingforlewys]

❤❤❤

[@danaslitlist1]

I’ve only seen a handful of episodes of Love Island and every time I’ve baffled by how average a majority of the guys are and then the girls are like “oh yeah she’s an engineer and has a law degree, speaks 8 languages, volunteers at this charity, etc” 🤣 but seriously eating this video up!

[@emmasadler5607]

i’m going to watch every single second of this

[@lookingforlewys]

period a real one

[@BarbaraKibira]

I actually have a theory why Winter Love Island didn't do well in the ratings. I feel like Love Islands fans are around the age group of 16-21 years old. So these ages groups are probably sitting exams like GCSEs, A-levels and under grads around January.

[@vanessa_lmao8219]

It's kind of the same for the summer one tho

[@8jazz8]

GCSE and A Level students have their long summer after exams are over so they’re free to watch the summer one, I don’t think they’re sitting exams in winter but they are studying

[@PonPonFizzy]

I was sitting my GCSEs during LI 2019. We sat our exams while the season was broadcasting and still had time to watch so I kind of doubt that is the problem.

[@beneesodeinde5170]

It’s true I remember trying so hard to watch the first season but I had mocks for my GCSE’s and I couldn’t keep upppp

[@brookeheartsbeauty1]

I can’t even explain how much I just enjoyed watching a deep dive of love island history as a super fan! Thank you for this gift 😂

[@poppyclaire3967]

Love island will always have a special place in my heart despite never having watched an episode. I went to an all-girls high school and I have such fond memories of getting into form time at 8.30 every day and everyone would be huddled round talking about last nights love island episode. Everyone had the love island water bottles with their names in pink cursive on it and it was weird because people who would usually never talk to each other would be friends purely because everyone wanted to talk about the show. I never watched the show but would still chat to people - usually forming my opinions on who to like/dislike based on my friends who did watch the show. There's something very nostalgic about the show but also kind of sad because now I've left high school and the love island seasons now feel so different to the show that I grew up hearing about but i still have such an attachment to the show because it really was everything to us at the time.

[@juliadenny2780]

I constantly talk about THIS. They are influencers now!! Season 2 will always be the best!

[@chan8199]

Ever since influencers became a thing reality tv has changed because people are trying to please the audience but I think with love island it messed with the show so much because the show more than others relies on parasocial relationships and relatability with the whole daily episodes thing. It's much easier to watch someone play a character for a few episodes than it is to have to see it everyday. Even if you think you're doing the right thing by being PC love island fans by this point can tell that you're not being natural. Like Molly Marsh in season 10, she was basically perfect but nobody cared about her as a cast member past the first 2 weeks. Like when they brought her back but she didn't do much and so nobody cared. I'm so glad Ekin-su was so chaotic that season because you can see new cast members are at least trying to do something for the most part.

[@chalkandcheese1868]

Lmfao, it's just a show for sexually repressed British people to watch naked people in the sun pretend to like each other.

[@mollysalter3257]

Am very much not a super fan of love island, but this is produced and made so well!!. Can tell how much work you put into this

[@ephrasiemuliro]

Someone give this man a PHD in love Island 🏝️ Rent was due honestly loved this ❤

[@cat.733]

Yes please do an X Factor video! I was obsessed with it when I was younger and then one year I found I was completely over it

[@user-fe8uq9zp2g]

Another thing...the girlies brand deals are not even that big anymore. Ekin Su's Oh Polly was the MOST expensive yet and they dropped her. Also her and Davide were supposed to have a rumored cooking/traveling show it never happened. I think people clock on that a lot of the couples seem just contractual after the show. Indiya/Dami ended up doing more outside LI. You know LI has gone down hill when you DONT watch the season and you have no idea who the winning girl was this year. I didnt watch and I havent heard of a brand deal yet with the biggest LI star.This wouldn't have happened a few years ago. You could've not watched Season 5 back in the day and you STILL would've known Amber won and who she is and what brand she got a deal with. Season 8 was the only thing that kind of came close to the peak love island.

[@nikkimay7]

Molly did not win

[@user-fe8uq9zp2g]

You're right sorry I was confused it was Amber but still she had a huge brand deal that everyone knew about and recognized her even if they didnt watch Love Island @@nikkimay7

[@meuforever123]

it did happen

[@Dauerglotzer123]

Ekin and davide did have a show

[@marissaraedickman9103]

I’m an American and I’ve watched every season of UK, and I started in in May of ‘22. ☠️ literally turned superfan so fast. I was so against the US cause I hated season 1 and 4, but this current season is INSANE. Im obsessed. But UK will always have my heart, and honestly season 1 is SO iconic. I love this video so much Lewys AMAZING job

[@emi7916]

love island season 5 was truly one of the best seasons of reality tv ever. molly's treatment on the show and people saying she was in it for the money is so funny looking back, because she was kinda open that she was, but is one of the few islanders to find love on the show and be in a sucessful relationship. there was also maura who was hilarious. another interesting thing i think about season 5 was how boring it was at the start compared to other seasons. i feel like about a quarter- half way through it turned into something the producers didn't predict which made it feel a lot more fresh

[@mayabaker6020]

omg Lewys please keep doing video essays - this is so good

[@lookingforlewys]

thank youuuu! i will ❤

[@felixszn2606]

I was binge watching the first 2 seasons like a year ago and it felt like watching Geordie Shore, so it’s understandable why they did have to town it down. Ty, Sammy, Mitch etc got a lot of shit but the likes of the Italian twins, Josh Ritchie, Adam (S2), Tom, Terry were 100x times and the misogyny/double standards was wild back then. It’s a shame it feels more filtered nowadays though.

[@Maramontoyax]

This and mikes mic videos are single handedly saving my attention span

[@xlxslxlcxlx]

who is mike? this sounds right up my street - could you link pls? 🙏 ❤

[@saturnineyyy]

@@xlxslxlcxlx his channel is “Mike’s mic” and he has amazing longform videos about TV shows, I think his Pretty Little Liars series is iconic, hems also done glee, lost, among others

[@Jawiggi]

I kept waiting for the Maura/Tom Hideaway moment to be mentioned lol. Great video!

[@Emily-sm6px]

LOVE the longer content Lewys!!! please upload more we miss u🙏🙏🙏

[@lookingforlewys]

thank you! miss you guys toooo ❤

[@TheMaddyallen]

This is giving university dissertation vibes haha so knowledgeable and articulate!

[@LVSwift]

Only just discovered you and love your deep dives, keep up the good work!

[@chloyoung123]

Absolutely loved how though out and detailed this timeline was and you better know I watched every second😂🥰

[@shinelle924]

CLASS video! well done lewis 👏🏾loved every minute of it

[@mollynathan1363]

MORE VIDEOS LIKE THIS!!!!!!! this was the best thing i’ve ever watched, a masterpiece x

[@lucypatterson9208]

I was so invested the whole way through! More videos like these!!

[@Caroline-li1gz]

watched it from the beginning to the end and dont regret any minute. keeping such attention for over an hour shows your skill in this!

[@oliviamaynot]

probably my fave video of yours would love to see more deep dives xx

[@Lolathebluesmartie]

thsi is so good lewys!! more of these if you can - you are a natural at this! xxx

[@Haleytsimon]

the work and effort and how amazing this video was deserves all the praise

[@Swaggerpede]

i have no interest in watching this show- but i love watching youtubers talk about things they care about in detail, im happy to experience it through you!

[@Kaylaaylacontrayla]

Half way through and wow! Such thorough research! I’m a huge fan of the show and still feel like I didn’t know much based on this video. When you put the archetype pics next to eachother I GASPED!

[@bostongirls7029]

This was suchhh a good deep dive. I agree with everything u said except ur opinion on the season 10 casa recoupling. For me this was one of the most shocking recouplings to watch, seeing Ella walk back in with Ouzy made my jaw droppp (and seeing scott be all sad made me tear up). I'm from the U.S. and literally me and my friends were talking abt it and sending each other edits abt it for dayssss. The whole Catherine and scott thing was crazy. Also whitney was the most relatable islander to ever come on the show and I think that is notable. Another thing I would add to this is how the reason casa amor doesn't feel as important anymore is because the people who recouple literally dont face any consequences anymore. Like its not as shocking when there's a 90% chance the person who recoupled is gonna get back with their og partner (chloe, toby, indiyah, dami, liam cheating on millie, andrew and tasha, ella, probs more that I don't remember). It would be a lot more impactful if recoupling and cheating had more permanent effects, but instead the drama lasts like a week and then the couple is back to normal. And the people who come back from casa are so forgettable, even sanam who won season 9 is barely rememerable because the viewers don't have enough time to learn about them and get attached. I think that abi is the closest a casa girl has come to being a memorable and impactful islander. (besides ovie)

[@smallcheryl15]

The work you put into this video is amazing! New sub! Can't wait to watch more of your videos! 👏🫶

[@emilyLula]

This is amazing!!!! Such a good video about love island 🩷

[@livrose3567]

I don’t know how they haven’t done a fully bisexual/ pansexual season yet. It would make for amazing tv AND be good diversity

[@lawriem7747]

Lovestruck High on Amazon, while short and corny I feel like has good LGBTQ representation, and it’s quite cute

[@lawriem7747]

Lovestruck High on Amazon, while short and a little corny, I feel like had a good range of diversity in terms of orientations, and it was quite entertaining :)

[@heddadybvadskog-nebb5603]

I do not personally watch LI. I don't think that makes me cool or gives me a moral high ground- in fact my mum (56) and younger sister (16) love the show. So for the past 3 seasons I get so frustrated at not understanding what they're on about, that around week 3-4 I try binging it to catch up and I get so exhausted I fall off around episode 14. I just do not have the attention span for it. BUT I do have the attention span for this video and it was great! Thank you for providing me with great info and opinions that I can now utilise to connect with my mum and sister hhahaha

[@TheRachaelhussey]

I watched the season1 as I broke my leg that summer&had no life.was the highlight of my summer😂no one I knew was watching it,it was so good and raw but season2 was fab as well.i knew it would never be like that again when it’s just raw and wild❤

[@charlii_tvMMVI]

When you think of Love Island, the first things that come to your head are Iain Stirling, the Mallorca villa, the islanders becoming celebrities (famous for being famous), the late Caroline Flack 😢, Casa D'Amour?, "pied" etc. What I think of Love Island is Fiji, Calum Best & Paul Danan's most known TV appearances, Bianca Gascoigne, Patrick Kielty, sun, sea, palm trees, sand, bikinis etc.

[@lucytizard8720]

love love loved this, will be looking forward to the x factor video

[@softangelicbaby]

Can’t wait for this watch. Btw I loved watching your holiday with mollie and carmie 💀 you were such a vibe made it 1000% better

[@julialiliana3519]

this video was so enjoyable. a true exposé!

[@ping82002]

loved this video! i actually learned some things about the earlier seasons. but it is so interesting watching it after love island games has finished airing. because in my opinion love island games did revive the show as a whole. it was so well produced and edited, had a great cast of entertaining islanders, switched up the format but not too much and honestly is one of the best seasons of reality tv I have ever watched.

[@fatimaben1099]

Very well rounded analysis. I’m excited to see what the new big brother brings

[@dancerbabe02]

OMG!! I LOVED this video so so much, thank you so much for your work! I came in at S5, dipped out as 6,7,8 and came back for 9 and 10 the history was so fascinating❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉

[@midnightly7918]

I have never seen an episode of this show but you made me feel all of the emotions as if I was there! Loved this video- thanks for your work!!!

[@sxfiya6181]

cannot wait to watch this lewys xx

[@angelle_rose]

I need to re-watch season one, I forgot how good and unhinged it was!

[@miakeith8836]

This video was sensational Lewys 👏👏👏👏 luv x

[@OmgC4]

These longer vids are defo ur thing. Didn’t get bored once

[@aoifec-t5646]

So glad youve made this. I completely agree that its declining and is no longer relevent

[@rosea8138]

being praised for making it to the end actually made me so happy, loved the vid!

[@evieajones.media.]

Omg been waiting since you mentioned this on the podcast! Can’t wait

[@lookingforlewys]

purr!!

[@th3rrr]

love a video essay from you!! pleasantly surprised to see the notif and thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing!

[@lookingforlewys]

thank youuu ❤

[@sabrinamoore6184]

First time seeing one of your videos in my feed and “unhinged” is accurate but in the BEST WAY POSSIBLE I slammed follow after seeing the clip in the beginning you added if you watching last recent finale of Love Island istg 😂❤

[@awanderfullifeblog]

this was EPIC and agree w it all! Great VID!👏👏👏

[@lolamay9574]

i’ve never even seen love island but this video was literally so interesting that it has convinced me to watch the next season 😭

[@josieblack5666]

Really enjoyed this video! ❤

[@char6755]

Absolutely loved this!

[@leyahndayisaba3194]

loved this video !!

[@AlM22]

Season 2 will always be my favourite! I liked s3 a lot too

[@larabaidengan2123]

Loved this!!

[@OmgC4]

Yes I did watch this whole thing. Such a good vid

[@seanthomson5068]

Really, really informative video from somebody who doesn't watch love island. This is your work of art Lewys.

[@georgialfreeman]

As someone who only just started watching love island with season 10 this was very helpful

[@whoissimi]

amazing detailed video!

[@alliediallo1945]

Loved this video!

[@s.m7150]

Amazing recap💛

[@lc1715]

1:05:15 Whoever came up with Move Night is brilliant. We know it's just heating up the drama leftovers from Casa Amour, but we eat it right up, and gladly.

[@luvhappening4]

i luvd this video king

[@sweetlikebubblegum_]

i've never watched LI but you made me so invested

[@tomhayes413]

so excited to watch this

[@cheese5633]

It's giving British Mike's Mic

[@ellabrown3506]

this is so mikes mic coded! loving it

[@asiahuq9590]

This is amazing!!!

[@pearldark6026]

Loved every second

[@meganlyons6205]

This was phenomenal - Lewys to host next szn

[@tasheve3015]

we defo need a deep dive into i’m a celeb next!! peak reality tv

[@mavisusername]

I never see ANYONE talking about 2005 Love Island (online or irl), it’s as if it never existed! People I’ve talked to don’t even remember it, I felt like I was the only one that remembered it lol

[@aoibheannbyrne6398]

I used to watch it too!!! Feels like a fever dream 😂

[@luketalbot7253]

You said Series 7 was viral for its jokey memes (which there were) but there were serious issues discussed such as Hugo’s “fake” comment and how Faye and Shannon reacted, I remember twitter was very divided, as well as Millie and Liam’s relationship also being very 50-50

[@summerlouise1059]

no omg i am so excited for this

[@lookingforlewys]

YAAAAAY

[@ciarae8708]

This video was so amazing, I watched the whole thing!! *turns notifications on. Can't wait to see more like this ah!! ITV producers listen to LEWY xx

[@olivia6496]

A 1.5 hour video from Lewys??????? SLAY

[@jesslovatics]

omg so ready for an x factor deep dive !!

[@lolhill1293]

Geeze dude your editing is jarring

[@poppyfw5120]

did you edit this yourself it's such a good vid :)

[@teddytots12]

I love season 1 so much 😭

[@beyzb4155]

Great video!

[@laurenszafranek445]

Love this so much thought an detail 👏🏻 please do xfactor!!

[@arisellouk692]

Loved the videooo

[@loissutton7216]

Looove this video style

[@Iamtsholo_]

Loved this 😊

[@hannahmcneilly7516]

This is amazing