The premiere of season 2 of reality TV show “Love Island Games” kicked off on Tuesday, September 16, with islanders arriving at the famous Fiji villa in style, being transported by boat, jet ski, helicopter, bus, and seaplane.
Introductions for the starting 14 contestants filled about half of the episode’s runtime.
Entrances and Introductions
Islanders Vickala “Kay Kay” Gray (“Love Island USA” season 5) and Andrea Carmona (“Love Island USA” season 6) were the first to walk in together. They familiarized themselves with the villa for the second time, going up to Soul Ties and joking around with each other, quoting Kay Kay’s viral “Soul Ties is crazy” moment.
From there, “Love Island USA” season 7 bombshell Andreina Santos arrived at the villa. She confessed to being contacted by several of the franchise’s previous contestants, naming Tyrique Hyde (“Love Island UK” season 10) as an islander of interest to her.
Tyrique was the next of two islanders to arrive alongside “Love Island UK” season 7 and “Love Island Australia” season 5’s Lucinda Strafford. Tyrique and Andreina got straight to flirting upon his arrival.
“There was only one person that I actually wanted to see, and that’s Andreina,” Tyrique said in his confessional.
Next to arrive were “Love Island USA” season 6 finalist Kendall Washington and “Love Island USA” season 4 finalist Isaiah Campbell.
Garbi Denteh (“Love Island Netherlands & Belgium” season 4), Mert Okatan (winner of “Love Island Netherlands & Belgium” season 2), and Nicola Gauci Borda-Warr (“Love Island Malta” season 1) were next to enter the villa.
Next up, Josh Goldstein from “Love Island USA” season 3 returned to the franchise after leaving his season prematurely due to his sister’s untimely passing.
“I wouldn’t be sitting here, right now, in front of you if it weren’t for my sister encouraging me to sign up,” Josh said in his introduction. “I feel like I never got to see the end in the villa, so I really want to make my sister proud, finish my journey, and really finish what she started.”
Josh arrived with “Love Island USA” season 7 finalist Chris Seeley.
Chris reflected on his breakup with co-finalist Huda Mustafa during the season 7 finale and his plans to move on from here.
“The biggest misconception people think about me is that I’m not a gentleman,” Chris said. “People were saying that when I didn’t carry Huda (in the season 7 finale). I’m not carrying you if you not my princess no more, that just doesn’t make sense to me.”
Gladiator Balloon Challenge
The premiere’s challenge was a game of “Gladiator,” where contestants were suited up in skimpy versions of Roman combatant armor and helmets. They competed two at a time in an obstacle course, fronted by an ancient-looking column display, to “rescue” the islander of their choice.
In the challenge, contestants’ goal was to collect four hearts by competing in mini challenges and carry them throughout the obstacle course to place in a column display at the end. The challenge was only won once the contestant “saved” and kissed the islander they had chosen. After everyone had competed, the ranking of best times determined the order in which the islanders got to pick who they would couple up with.
The girls picked and competed first, with the boys closing the challenge. Garbi and Chris were the top two fastest times, and, therefore, got to pick their couple first. They chose not to couple up with one another.
Episode 1 Starting Couples
- Garbi chose to couple up with Kendall.
- Chris chose to couple up with Kay Kay.
- Andrea chose to couple up with Josh.
- Tyrique chose to couple up with Andreina.
- Mert chose to couple up with Lucinda.
- Nicola chose to couple up with Isaiah.
A Promising Season
The islanders chatted up their new partners and strategized with each other about their game plan for the season, spending their first-ever or, for several, first night back, in the villa.
The episode ended with the entrance of bombshells Charlie Georgiou (“Love Island USA” season 7) and Solène Favreau (“Love Island France” season 2). From there, Charlie and Solène got to kiss the islanders of their choice. They would eventually steal an islander from their original couple to couple up with.
Solène chose to couple up with Mert, leaving Lucinda single and vulnerable to elimination in the coming episodes. Charlie chose to couple up with Andrea, also leaving Josh single and vulnerable to elimination in the coming episodes.
The next episode of “Love Island Games” season 2 will air tomorrow, Wednesday, September 17, at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
