More specifically, Love Island USA Season 8 aka the ‘official series of the summer.’ Pulling in a whopping 19 billion views on Peacock, 35% of that being new fans. Making the show a cultural phenomenon across platforms, generations, and genders. 

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No seriously. Even reaching my hometown in the middle of bumfuck nowhere. Making this show that much more special to me. Because between watch parties, group chats, love island poppi's, and dance mom satirical pyramids, a community was formed. I mean when's the last time your 80 year old neighbor, 16 year old brother, and 55 year old 2nd grade teacher could sit around and agree on something? Like #brinity4ever or Melanie deserves better, because I can’t remember.

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I mean more people were voting on the love island USA app than they do in local elections. Terrifying but also insightful. Which begs the question, is our country as divided as we thought? Maybe the success of reality TV says something bigger about us. In a country where algorithms increasingly tailor our worlds to us, shared entertainment has become one of the few places where everyone is still watching the same thing, arguing about the same thing, and rooting for the same people. Rather than mindless entertainment, perhaps reality tv is the bridge to modern day democracy and a lens into what the future of connection, even elections could look like. 

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Crazy I know, but this show has helped me see the bigger picture within culture. Maybe Love Island wasn’t just the win America desperately needed, but the proof that we’re not as divided as we think. Now get to the polls and let’s recreate this magic for the midterms.