Netflix’s latest season of ‘Temptation Island’ proves once again why reality TV fans love originals. The messy couples, who wanted to give their relationships a second chance, were maybe better off fixing their issues off-screen. Because oh boy! This was an experience that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.
Here is a review of the show we all know and love. Watch out for the spoilers…
What’s the show about?
Netflix brought back one of the most dramatic reality TV shows, and we are grateful for the entertainment. ‘Temptation Island’ has been around since before I was even born! And I love every second of it. Now its 9th USA season is here after 2 years.
This show is about four couples who have issues on the outside. From trust to infidelity and toxicity, you name the issue, and they probably have it. These couples believe that instead of going to therapy like normal people, bringing their partners to a reality show will definitely help them decide their futures together. They are separated by gender at the beginning of the show and placed in different villas filled with attractive singles who are there to fall in love and make a connection with one of them, or in other words tempt them. The couples have a bonfire at the end of the weeks. They are there to see small clips of what their partners were up to. Safe to say, that some failed miserably, and the temptation proved to be way too strong.
Meet the couples
Lino and Alexa
The 28-year-olds have been together for 3 years now. They came to the island to work on Lino’s trust issues and Alexa’s co-dependency issues. Alexa wanted to assess whether she truly wanted Lino in her life or if she needed Lino in her life.
Alexa and Lino wanted to get married, but before walking down the aisle, they wanted to be 100% confident in their connection.
Ashley and Grant
Ashley and Grant are 28 years old as well, and they’ve been in an on-again, off- again relationship. Their past involves Grant cheating sometimes which makes this kind of the perfect test for him. The couple wanted to come to the island so that Grant could prove to Ashley that he had changed, grown, and would definitely not fall into temptation. He would not betray her trust like he did in the past.
Spoiler Alert: He completely failed to do so.
Shanté and Brion
Shanté, 29, and Brion, 26, are definitely something. Brion had been taking Shanté for granted for the year they had been together, but she doesn’t seem to mind. Much like Ashley and Grant, they came into the island due to infidelity issues in the past. It was Brion’s idea, in fact, to come to the island so that he could prove his loyalty and love for Shanté. I’ve got to say…If he had done to me what he did to her on this show? You’d never hear from him again.
Tayler and Tyler
The couple came into the Island so that Tayler, a 30 year old woman who’s ready for a greater commitment, would be sure she isn’t second best in regards to Tyler, her boyfriend, 27, who came out of a six year marriage straight to their relationship. Tayler wanted her partner to find himself with this experience and choose her at the end. Tyler wanted the same. He wanted to understand and work on himself… He for sure did that.
The messiest contestants
The whole premise is simple: don’t cheat. But something as simple as that proved to be VERY, VERY hard for 3 out of four of the men in the cast.
Grant – The Hypocrite
Grant’s purpose was to prove to Ashley that he was a better person than before. That is until he completely forgets his goal. Not only does he have sex with one of the singles at his villa (Natalie, tempter on the right) by the end of episode 3, but he also cried, threw a fit, and had a pity party when he saw Ashley giving up on them. After Ashley saw the clip of her boyfriend having sex on international TV, she started exploring other connections in the villa with the singles and that ‘hurt’ Grant and probably his ego.
Tyler – The Relationship Hopper
This man gave up on his connection with Tayler for a girl that looks exactly like…Tayler?
You see his former partner highlighted the fact that Tyler has a pattern. He doesn’t know how to not be in a relationship. After his six-year marriage, he started dating Tayler (whom he met while he was still married). Then he did the same to Tayler and jumped into his new venture with the single 25 year old, Kay! You lose them how you get them.
Spoiler Alert: He thinks he is in the right and left the island with Kay. But much like Grant, he, too, felt ‘hurt’ once he noticed that Tayler gave up on him. After she saw the clips ,of him cheating on her that is.
Men…
Brion – The Manipulative Cheater
In my opinion, He was the worst. Brion started off this journey by promising Shanté he was going to prove to her that he was a better man. He can be friends with girls without doing too much.
They were actually the only couple who came in with rules for each other. No kissing, no sex, and basically no nothing. Brion then proceeded to cheat on his girlfriend with not one but two single cast members at the same time.
He had a threesome on international TV and showed no remorse whatsoever!
Brion, even doubled down on the bragging about how his girlfriend was definitely going to forgive him! According to him ‘That’s just who she is,’ and he is grateful to have a woman like her in is life. He even added the fact that it would have been worse if he had had sex with only one girl. He said it would have felt more intimate, and it would have only hurt Shanté more.
Shanté- The Biggest Disappointment (Spoilers Ahead)
She was not a messy person. However, I felt like adding her here to highlight my thoughts on her behavior.
Even though I was certain that Shanté was going to stand up and choose herself as most women in Temptation Island do, she didn’t. It was a great disappointment. Never would I think that after everything she saw, she’d forgive him no matter what.
I felt as though she was helpless. No amount of love could allow such disrespect! Her reaction to the clip of her boyfriend having a threesome should have been a hint to her future decision. It felt like she was already expecting him to let her down, which is even worse.
Was ‘Temptation Island’ worth the watch?
Yes! Despite the predictable formula of this show, I enjoyed every moment of it!
It was great seeing some of the women grow and believe in themselves. It was also great seeing some of the men (Lino) realize how much he and Alexa are meant to be. This show is addictive, and it was a bummer to see no reunion episode.
If you’re looking for some more messy reality TV, tune in and watch ‘Temptation Island’ on Netflix.
