Hey guys, first week back at school, and we are here to deliver everyone’s favorite part of The Lance: Hot Takes. I’m (Gracie) back and can’t wait to deliver all of this summer’s latest gossip. On this edition of Hot Takes we will be talking about the TV show of the summer, Love Island USA. This show was the hot topic this summer, and kept everyone on their toes. A group of the hottest singles enter the villa without any idea of the drama and romance that’s about to come with it. In order to win the 100,000 dollar prize, America must vote on the couple who they think shares the deepest connection. Before we get to all of the twists and turns in these relationships, I would like to introduce a new member of the Hot Takes community, managing editor Sofia Mangano! Her and I can’t wait to give you all of our raw opinions of this year’s Love Island USA.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!!
Favorite Couples:
Leah and Miguel
I think we can all agree that this unexpected couple truly won over our hearts this summer (Sofia and I can attest to this). Although Leah was in a long term couple with Rob in the beginning of the season, he betrayed Leah in a way that was unforgivable. I meannnnn trying to replace Leah with Andrea?! C’mon, that must be some sort of sick joke. Little did we know, Miguel would come into the Villa as a Love Island Bombshell and steal our girl Leah’s heart. It took us a little while to warm up to Miguel (I mean we have a right to be a little spectacle after the whole Rob fiasco, right??), but we are so glad they were able to find each other and are still together outside of the Villa.
Serena and Kordell 
From DAY ONE we just knew that Serena and Kordell were going to pair up. From the accidental twinning moment on night one, these two were meant to be. s They proved to not only the viewers but to themselves that they had a strong enough connection to work through their problems (Kordell’s mishaps during Casa Amor). As we have seen after the end of the show, Serena is truly Kordell’s whole world (AS SHE SHOULD BE), and we couldn’t have asked for a better couple to win the 100,000 dollar cash prize.
Jana and Kenny
Jana and Kenny’s relationship was another unexpected duo that we absolutely loved! It was honestly so refreshing to see our girl Nay Nay find someone who she actually had a strong connection with. It was starting to seem like Jana was totally out of luck, until our boy Kennyyyyy came around. Even though Kenny is significantly younger than Jana, he is just what she needs. Getting to watch Jana finally be happy in the Villa made our hearts full and warm. #WE LOVE KENAYNAY!!!
Least Favorite Couples:
Kaylor and Aaron
It’s no surprise that Kaylor and Aaron were our least favorite couple this season. In the beginning, there was no denying that Aaron and Kaylor had the strongest connection in the house. And good for them, but both of them were just super annoying… Sorry but someone had to say it. It was revealed during one of the challenges when Ariana Madix (Love Island Host) asked Jana which islander complains the most, she answered with Kaylor. And Aaron’s whole personality was just cringey, and he was truly hard to watch on TV. I know these reasons don’t have to do with the two as a couple, but they needed to be addressed. Anyway, Aaron went as far as to ask Kaylor to be his girlfriend, let me say it again, GIRLFRIEND, just to cheat on her when the guy islanders went into Casa Amor. Aaron then had the nerve to lie about it to Kaylor, but we all know the truth always resurfaces on Love Island. After all of this ongoing drama, Kaylor continued to go back and forgive Aaron (I’m sorry we just don’t have the patience for them). We are glad to report that Kaylor and Aaron are not together outside the Villa, THANK GOD. We just hope Kaylor can continue to move forward and forget Aaron ever existed <3.
Rob and Andrea
Moving on to the most dramatic couple of the season, Rob and Andrea. We think that the viewers can all agree on this. We will never forget the girl who broke up Leah and Rob. First Rob has the audacity to pick Andrea for the recoupling when he was already coupled with Leah? Big mistake. Let’s be for real here, Rob and Andrea did not have a better connection. I’ll say it and stand by it. Even though Leah ended up happily coupled with Miguel, there’s always that what could have happened? You could totally see after Rob ditched Leah and Andrea got sent home, he was immediately checked out. We honestly think that Leah and Rob would have been endgame and if they continued with the connection they were building, they could have been voted the winners of Love Island.
That’s all on this edition ofHot Takes. We hope you enjoyed our unfiltered opinions about this season’s Love Island USA. It’s only our first article of the school year, we’ll be back with more hot takes in no time!
XOXO,
Gracie and Sofia