Everyone knows the men of Love Island love a test, from series 5’s Jordan Hames, to series 4’s Adam Collard, they’re weirdly obsessed with any opportunity to push their relationship to its limits. This year is no exception, and Toby Aromolaran is championing this movement.
But is a test really needed to solidify a relationship? Or is it just code for keeping your options open to justify a wandering eye?
Some might argue that in the age of social media there is temptation and tests at every turn. With a swipe of your finger, you could meet a new match on Tinder, or stumble across someone closer to your type on Instagram. But to others, as Hugo Hammond so passionately voiced in his iconic speech, “tests are complete bullshit”.
Last night the nation braced themselves for the start of the highly anticipated Casa Amor. 6 new guys and 6 new girls entered each respective villa to turn the heads of the islanders. As the guys were settling into their new home of Casa Amor, the lad chat began. 5 minutes into the conversation the words “ultimate test” was being chucked around by none other than Jake Cornish …
Yes, Jake who just asked fan favourite Liberty Poole to be his girlfriend just 24 hours before.
When you put an exclusive label on your relationship, using a test as a way the play the field is not even an option. The grin on his face said it all, he was entirely too happy by the sight of new women for someone who is newly off the market.
Before the Casa Amor drama unfurled, we saw the most classic example of the test concept in action last week as bombshell Abigail Rawlings strutted into the villa, causing ructions between Toby and Chloe Burrows.
During a tense chat Toby stated, “You want to just coast in here with no tests,’ adding, ‘do you really think we can say no to every single person that comes in here and then work on the outside? It does not work like that.’
This sounds like a lot of deflecting and a lot of knowledge for someone who likes to put as much of his bad behaviour as possible down to inexperience. If you have truly found the person you like, the thought of another woman coming into the villa wouldn’t even make you flinch. It only further solidifies that a test is just a cover up to allow the men to continue playing the field.
The use of this word is also a way to leave the door to temptation ajar and to steer away from commitment. Toby is always open to the idea of the next best thing meaning he never deeply explores who he is with in the present. To go from being all for Chloe to jumping ship to bombshell Abigail within 24 hours was actually scary to watch.
We also saw Hugo’s conduct a screeching U-Turn in last night’s episode. Last week the teacher spoke very passionately about his disapproval for tests during his recoupling speech, but it seems the tables have turned.
Now Casa Amor has come around, he is not as vocal as he originally appeared to be and is suddenly all for tests. Hugo even joins in egging Teddy Soares on to let loose on this lad’s holiday.
Perhapsex- islander Georgia Townend’s opinion on Hugo’s speech being “performative”rather than because he disagrees with the Toby’s behaviour is spot on…
What is clear is that tests have become a part of Love Island terminology. However this series as the bar for good behaviour amongst the men has only dropped lower and lower, tests have also become an excuse for bad behaviour.
The grass isn’t always greener on the other side, lads.