Just when we thought we could escape Summer 2020 without getting sucked into yet another season of Love Island, Tik Tok has arrived, with other plans.
That’s right, there’s currently a season of Love Island happening live on TikTok, with all the clichés, contestants and controversy of the original ITV series. Under the TikTok account, @KGLoveIslanders2020, five boys and five girls are dating virtually, all subject to the same plot twists of Love Island itself.
And when we say boys and girls, we truly mean it… because they’re all between the ages of 16 and 19 and typically introduce themselves with the line ‘I’m in year 12’. So you know, if you didn’t feel old enough watching the original series, there’s this. Age doesn’t stop them from repeating the same tropes we always see though, including one contestant Kieran who announced in his introduction video ‘I’m not just looking for a temporary thing, I’ve had too many of them now.’
Announced last week, the TikTok account was on a whim started by Kieran Gray (hence KGLoveIsland) who posted a TikTok suggesting the idea and asking people to send audition videos to him. Dueting them on the app, he chose contestants personally, most of whom already have large TikTok followings.
The account has already amassed 165,400 followers providing ‘daily updates from the Snapchat villa’. Contestants started by posting intro videos of themselves and then their reactions to others before there was a live recoupling on the account. After the couples were chosen, the account started posting screen recordings of their conversations over Snapchat, where only voice-notes are allowed to keep the conversations as authentic as possible.
Every day, the couples record updates of how their relationship is developing, not seeing the other person's reaction until their put live on the account – making for quite the interesting commentary when one is seemingly more into the coupling than the other.
The classic Love Island games are all there - like answering awkward questions about who else someone would couple up with if they weren’t with their partner (which made for some tension between Poppy and Rhett, the current favourite couple). The virtual Love Island sees contestants ask people ‘to go for a chat’ on the Snapchat group chat where they can then go into a private conversation, all of which is screen-recorded and posted on the TikTok account.
And according to the previews, there's also bombshells and soon enough, a virtual Casa Amor.
While the series has received a mixed reaction online, it’s certainly keeping viewers entertained during lockdown. Honestly, we’re surprised ITV didn’t think of it themselves.
Click through to see to watch on Netflix right now...
What To Watch on Netflix June 2020 - Grazia
1 of 14Keeping Up With The Kardashians
One word: iconic. Follow Hollywood's First Family in their first two seasons as we go all the way back to 2007 when Kylie was 10 and Kendall was 12. 1 June
2 of 14The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
The first two seasons of the iconic Real Housewives of Beverley Hills (and the first two seasons of the Real Housewives of Atlanta) are coming to Netflix this June. Keep your eyes peeled for appearances by Gigi and Bella Hadid before they were household names. 1 June
3 of 14Queer Eye, series 5
The Fab Five are back! The fifth series sees the boys travel to Philadelphia to help transform the lives of 10 (yes, 10!) different people, who they call 'heroes.' This is just what we need to get through the rest of lockdown. 5 June
4 of 14Lenox Hill
Fans of One Born Every Minute and 24 Hours in A&E will love this docu-series following four doctors (two brain surgeons, an emergency room physician and a Chief Resident OBGYN ) at New York's Lenox Hill Hospital as they balance their personal lives and their dedication to their patients. 10 June
5 of 14The Order
After watching Harlen Coben's The Stranger and Safe, now try his latest series, The Woods. Set in two different time spans, 1994 and 2019, this drama tells the story of a Warsaw prosecutor who is still grieving the loss of his sister who went missing at summer camp 25 years ago. Now, as new evidence is brought to life, there is hope that his sister could still be alive. 12 June
6 of 14Hereditary
Starring Grazia-favourite Toni Collette, this horror film sees the Graham family haunted (literally) by their ancestry following the death of their matriarch. 15 June
7 of 14The Politician, series 2
In the second series of Ryan Murphy's political drama, Payton (Ben Platt) fights to unseat Dede Standish (Judith Light) in the New York State Senate race, but actions by his mother Georgina (Gwyneth Paltrow) threaten to upstage him. 19 June
8 of 14Father Soldier Son
Following the family of Sgt. First Class Brian Eisch, who was injured while serving in Afghanistan, this documentary shows the effect military life can have on a family over a 10 year period. 17 July.
9 of 14The Sinner, series 3
Fans of the mysterious drama The Sinner will be pleased to see that Detective Harry Ambrose returns to trying to figure out why normal people commit heinous crimes. This series begins with a car crash that leaves only one survivor, but was it really an accident? 19 June
10 of 14Athlete A
Follow the reporters from The Indianapolis Star, who exposed Dr. Larry Nassar's history of sexual abuse in the US, in this documentary about the abuse of young women on the USA Gymnastic's team. June 24
11 of 14Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
See Cher, Meryl Streep and Lily James starin this sequel to everyone's favourite ABBA sing-a-long. 26 June
12 of 14Dolly Parton: Here I Am
Learn everything you ever wanted to know about superstar Dolly Parton in this documentary celebrating her extraordinary life, career and music. TBD
13 of 14Dream Girls
Beyoncé and Jennifer Hudson sing their way to the top in this incredible film with an even more incredible wardrobe. TBD
14 of 14Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
Travel across the globe with chef Anthony Bourdain as he uncovers little-known areas of the world and celebrates diverse cultures by exploring food and dining rituals. TBD