Mention It All - The Love Island Reunion Could've Been An Email | Love Island USA S8 Reunion

Episode Date: September 2, 2026

Dylan and Chris reunite one final time to break down the Love Island USA Season 8 reunion, which served up one giant nothing burger. Mama’s a liar, Melanie did get the most screen time, Kayda came ready to fight for absolutely no reason, and Sincere seemingly hired a PR team. If he did, someone please pass along their number to KC. Until next season, aloha, Island Time! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We heard that Caleb, you had a whole thing with Jaden. I'm like, how did that happen? Am I supposed to know that? Am I supposed to be keeping up with Jaden and Caleb? I forgot both of them existed. Hey, everyone. Welcome back to mention it all. Island time.

It has been a fair few weeks since we have talked about Love Island USA, but we are back to talk about the reunion. I am here with my good friend, Chris Burns. Aloha. It's getting Islandian here. It's getting Islandian here. It's very humid today in New York, so I feel like it's kind of... Yeah, I feel like we're in a tropical setting anyway.

We are not coming to you live from Universal Studios, Hollywood. Unfortunately. No live studio audience. We didn't get to ride any roller coasters. I would love to be on the Fast and Furious whatever the fuck coaster at this 10 a.m. time slot that we're recording, but here we are in the studio. Do you believe that they actually went on the same day? I was thinking about that actually Because I'm like

Trinity and Kada would have been in hair and makeup Like there's no way hours before they were out of Maybe they had them go to Universal Studios at like 8 a.m. Before it even opens When there was nobody there Yeah probably

And they were like okay Wake up get in like a soft daytime glam A quick glam Get on the roller coaster We film our little like product placement music video Of you like hands in the air Oh yeah, totally. And then you can go get in your, like, actual glam after that.

What did you think of all the glam of the looks? I thought people looked nice. I agree. It was, honestly, coming from watching, like, 100 Bravo reunions, where sometimes the looks are alarming and befuddling. I thought this cast, like, did a pretty... Everybody looked good. Kenzie's hair was something.

Kenzie's hair is the one thing that I struggled with. I was kind of into it, to be honest, because it was so... I did see a TikTok from her the other day where it was like, I want to look like Alex Earle and like at the salon and just like the big blonde extensions. I'm like, okay. And she clearly has gotten some... A little touch-up. Ejections, injections happening.

So we're here to talk about this reunion. Yes. It's been like six weeks since the conclusion of the season. Chris, how much have you spent time thinking about Love Island in the last six weeks? I rewatched it. Every single episode I've watched four times. No, I'm just kidding. Taking copious notes.

I've been keeping up on social, kind of. Kind of. I've been seeing Soul. I've seen the viral tweets and stuff of Soul being like, Bring it on! Mama's a liar. And then Melanie just like sort of becoming Beyonce. Sort of.

In her own minds. Right. Like, I feel like it's changed. Melanie's changed the most. Melons changed the most. I, okay, so I know this is your first season watching in real time. I feel like last year, there was so much more, like, juice around the cast after the season ended.

Like, I felt like all summer I was hearing about what's going on with Nicarlandria. What is Amaya doing? Who's got a new brand deal? Like, it felt very, like, these people are like the moment. Yeah, yeah. And I gotta say, this season, after that like first week where it was like, oh, they're out in L.A.

Oh, they're making TikToks. They're getting back on social media. I have not thought about most of these people in like a solid month. No, I mean, unless they pop up on my. And I just, I don't know if that is because this season was any less like buzzy. Because I know a lot of people watched it. But like, maybe I'm just like old enough. that the content that they're creating is not really coming across my desk very much.

Yeah, I mean, they had a lot of fighting about social media. That was pretty much the whole reunion. I think that is like, to me, that's kind of the problem with the Love Island reunion as a concept, is that they come out of the villa in like mid-July. It's, you know, they're in like the total vacuum of not being on their phones or whatever. They get back their phones. they're like, I have 1.1 million Instagram followers. Well, they only show the happy ones.

And then, right, I know we only get Trinity and Melanie getting their phones back. And then they have this like, you know, week or two where it's a whirlwind of just like, now I'm famous. And then there's not very much time between the season and the reunion taping. So what we basically get is almost no real developments in terms of the couples. Yeah. Everybody except for Parmita and Corbin that left the villa together is pretty much continuing on the same course for now. But we, all the substance and drama that we do have is like, I heard you say something on your live and somebody else was laughing or you like to comment or

you, you unfollowed this person. And it's like, I'm not saying that that has no like intrigue, but it's just like a little bit, who cares? It's a little bit who cares also. It's like, I hate when they fight about that. But then it'll be like, it's social media. It's not a big deal. I'm like, well, then why did you unfollow her? I liked that Che got called out for liking, like, shady comments.

He's like, I didn't know how to do it. And he was like, to be honest, I wasn't on Instagram before. So I didn't really know that you couldn't do that. And it's like, okay, but you maybe you didn't know that you would get called out for it. But you knew the comments were shady when you were liking that. Also, though, some of the comments, I'm like, you were just liking them because they were complementative of you. Right.

And so, for me, like, when I sit down and see that this episode is an hour and 57 minutes long, it's just, it's a lot of, it's a lot of, it's a lot of, we got, it's a lot of filler. It was a whole lot of filler. Also, I'm like, we didn't need all of the housewivesy type intros. Yeah. That Andy did, where they're, like, about to show a package, but they're, like, about to show a package, but then they don't show the package, and Ariana just launches into the questions. Yeah, it's a, the, the tandem reunion hosting is really interesting,

because I feel like Andy's role is sort of to do those more, like, bigger transition moments, to ask, like, some more, like, hard-hitting questions. And Ariana, as the one who kind of, like, knows them better, I feel like is doing a lot of that follow-up of, like, soul, how do you feel hearing her say that? Yeah. Melanie, what did that feel like for you? And I said that I don't like their energy together, Ariana. I didn't need Andy there. Yeah, it is a little bit like Andy feels out of place just like in this environment. It's like when you go to a restaurant and they're like training a server. I'm like I don't need you like it's just a little. You're like, can I just talk to the real one? Yeah. Literally I'm like, okay. They're like you're saying like what you want and they're writing everything.

the notepad. Like, you know, they don't have their little, like, shorthand yet. Oh, yeah. And they're like, okay. Um, sorry, Coke. So. Burger. Medium. Sorry, you said medium. Sorry, I'm looking for... Can you get the temperature. I'm looking for the option on the, on the little iPad. It's like, the other guy would just remember it. Totally. That's when, like, we didn't need Andy. And also, I felt like Ariana actually did a pretty good job. Like, I feel like that Eminem really boosted her confidence. Yeah. And it's also, compared to a Bravo reunion, something that they never do on Bravo, is they had a live studio audience at this reunion, which is like kind of fun. It's very like, I guess more of the dating shows do that.

Like The Bachelor always does. Love is Blind. You've been to a Love is Blind reunion. I just don't love the thing of like, okay, now anytime somebody like makes a point or whatever, the audience has to be like, oh, period, girl, yeah. And also it's not real because they, like, get all of those reactions, like, before. Right, or they're being prompted to be like,

okay. Yeah, and they even left it in some of the editing last night. Okay, let's get excited. Yeah. Like, I'm like, oh, okay, we're really breaking the fourth wall. Yeah. So, like, I don't know, because also there's so many people in this cast

that they have to, like, cycle up and out because they have the big, couches on the stage and then they have more couches kind of in front of the stage for like the second tier people and then we have a bunch of the like eliminated casa boys that are truly sitting like in the mezzanine that you don't even that you you they they're they're poking above the little railing why are they there if i was them i'd be like why i know that i wonder if they told them or if it was like contractual like you have to come i'm sure they weren't like so you're going to be in the regular audience like so you're not you're not going to

be miced up. You're not going to get to speak. We're barely going to remember your name. Yeah. But because there's so many people and, you know, different seating configurations, they are constantly shifting around who's being brought up onto the couches, who's sitting where, who are we talking to now? What, you know, what faction of the cast do we have to go to? Oh, totally. That's just a lot of like, transitions. It was, it was, yeah, I felt like, also we're watching this on Peacock, right? So most people watching it, I don't have commercials. Do you have commercials?

I watch way too much, Bravo. That's what I'm saying. I would waste years of my life if I had commercials on Peacock. I'm like, listen, the diehard fans, we're paying a premium price. Why do we have to fake that there's commercial breaks? Right, right, right. And I'm like, we know what happened. We're watching it.

I would love. The thing is. Thinking about being in the audience for this reunion and knowing how many of those transitions and reconfigurations they had to do on the stage, imagine how much time that probably ate up that day. That it's like, okay, okay, cut. Now we're going to have, okay, we need Jaden. Yeah, let's fly in Jaden.

Jada, Amora, Sydney. Okay, no, you're sitting over there. Okay, a little closer, a little to the left. And then when they sit there like, actually, wait, let's move her here and her here. Like actually, okay, we're gonna fix, uh, thank you. Now we're doing, I'm sure there's glam touchups happening. It's like, the, the idea of being stuck in that studio is like, when I went to the love is blind reunions, which were less people. Yeah.

But similar in like, now we're gonna talk to this couple. Now, yeah. Um, yeah, they would be like, the one I went to, I think was like nine hour taping and then where they take your phone. Right. And everything, you have to like raise your hand to go to the bathroom and. stuff because they're filming things. Right. Yeah, it's really a lot.

Yeah, I went to the Kelly Clarkson show one time and I truly don't think I have ever been hungrier in my life. Just starving. When I got out of that taping, it's like, I need lunch. Yeah, no, truly. The one I went to the Love is Blind that was outside, the reunion. It was literally like in the woods in a park. And then it was like a 10-hour shooting or whatever at nighttime.

So it ended at like one in the morning and I had flown in that day. And then at the end, they're like, oh, wait, we have to wait for the whole audience because we're going to do a shuttle to take you down to the place. And I was like, I can't. I'm walking. And they're like, no, you can't. I was like, you cannot keep me here. It's crazy. I was like, yeah.

So I'm assuming that's how those people probably felt because it seems like it probably took a really long time. A long time. And just like a lot. Just again, like so much just like back and forth about stuff that it's like, caring. Yeah. So let's talk about the couples, because in theory, that's why we're here. The big one that we were, that I was wondering was, is there going to be a Melanie and sincere breakup argument, anything?

And it's a big fat no. I mean, they're a united front. Melanie acknowledges. We're laughing at everything together. Right. They, they, she, the one time she sort of is like, acknowledging the, you know, negative stuff is when Ariana asks if she trusts him. And she's like, we're working, I'm working on trust. And I'm not going to give you like an easy, yes, but.

And it's like, okay, but you, you trust him enough to, like, still be doing this. Also, what do you trust him with? Because if you're not, like, exclusive or anything, how is trust being built? Exclusive, but not. Boy... Again, I just can't. I can't. They're not boyfriend girlfriend, but they're seeing how it goes.

I feel like Melanie has gotten a little too big for her britches. The fame has gotten to her head. Which is interesting because at the end of the season, we see her getting her phone back. And she's very excited about the 1.1 million Instagram followers. But she's also seeing, and so is sincere, the thing that was happening where all of these brands were like, we'll give you free, you know, Ben and Jerry's for life. Totally. If you leave that.

But she's like the hero. In her garbage heap of a man. She's the hero in that we see her FaceTiming with her sister while they're still in Fiji. And her sister's like, what do you mean you're still with him? And she's like, let me. Yeah. I have to, which I agreed with her in that moment where it's like she needs to come to the realization herself, but then we're seeing this six weeks later.

And it's like no realization has been come. No, totally. And I think that she obviously since the show has ended and has been home, like people have been very supportive of Melanie. Right. And she did get, I think, the most airtime. Yeah. And you can tell by how she's fighting with everyone. Yeah.

And she's a little bit too like, my shit doesn't sink. It does feel like we, even in the reunion, we get more like Melanie content than we do Anaya, Trinity. Kada. Oh, totally. Kenzie. Because we see Kenzie and Melanie have a whole, which was insane. Which was, yeah. We see the soul stuff Melanie is very involved in. We see that she is having, you know, back and forth with Amora. Like, there are, there are a lot of different dynamics that Melanie is like at the center of where I'm like, I feel like we kind of barely heard Anaya all night. Like it's, oh, totally. There, yeah, it's, it's not an even division and like, I don't, it does feel like Melanie is sort of like acting like she runs shit in this.

Oh, absolutely. It's not in the villa, but out of the villa. I feel like Anaya. Anaya and Carl. What do you think? I think the same thing I thought at the end of the season, which is like, I believe that they are, that they like each other. Kind of. Kind of.

Enough for now. But like they're not, they're not living in the same place. She's in Georgia. He's in Colorado. they're planning a trip to Nantucket. I'm like, yeah, me too, I guess. Like, who cares? What do you mean we're planning a trip to Nantucket also?

Like, are you going or are you not? Like, it's not really that difficult. It's hard because... We could go to Nantucket an hour. It's hard because the timelines and the relationship phases for these couples from this show are so different than, like, real world stuff. where like we're talking about Trinity and Bryce and Trinity, you know, flew to L.A. after the season. They haven't spent one night apart.

And she's squatting in his converted garage. He's not rich. He's not rich. But like they're basically living together. We know, okay, so on the reunion, Kada and Zach are still in their same phase of exclusive situation. But not boyfriend, girlfriend. Kada said on social media last week that they are now living with Zach

and his brother Charlie in L.A. It's like everybody's on like turbo speed in terms of like Dylan and Kenzie have, you know, are in love and whatever, which like I totally believe 100%. But Melania and Carl are the one couple that it seems like have kind of not really like... Well, I also feel like Carl's like...

Rearranged their whole lives. ...feels the pressure of like being America's sweetheart. I know. Which I also don't get. The bar is low. Who cares? I kind of, yeah, I kind of, I'm on, like, team Carl a little bit when he's like, yeah, like, I actually, like, have, I have made mistakes in my life. I think it's weird that everybody thinks I'm perfect.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because it's, like, based on what? Because I feel, and then she's like, yeah, our moms are actually closer than we are. Ha, ha. And I'm like, okay. So they're also like, okay, well, if we break up, we have to tell. But also Melanie and Sincere's parents now get along. Allegedly.

Allegedly. Allegedly. Sincere did, he apologized for the crazy shit that his family was saying on live. He was like, that's not my, that's like, they're like family, but they're not like. Yeah, they're a family friend. Like, they wouldn't be on his like Verizon family plan. And Ariana was like, yeah, I was catching strays too. It is so much of this comes back to what people say on live, which is just.

I'm like, who cares about a live? The thing is like, I. Who does lives anymore? I don't. To me, the window of the time when I was like, let me see who's on Instagram Live was like one week, March of 2020. Yeah, literally. And since then, I'm just like, oh, what's she selling today? Yeah, yeah.

I thought there was a lot more live talk than should have been given COVID isn't going on. Are we just old, though? But I'm like, are Gen Z people going on live? But the thing that's funny about it, though, is that the stuff that happens on live or, you know, kind of, like within these groups. The way they're talking about it on the reunion is like everybody knows about this. It's like, so, um, you know, like it, we heard that, uh, Caleb, you had a whole thing with Jaden.

I'm like, how did that happen? What, am I supposed to know that? Am I supposed to be keeping up with Jaden and Caleb? I forgot both of them existed. Jaden still looks like she has pink eye. And also Caleb is 21. That is the funny. I was thinking about this when like they're talking.

Okay, so Jaden and Caleb left the villa at the same time. We find out that they fucked at the hotel after the villa when they were still in Fiji. Yes. And then they were going to like keep seeing where things went when they got home, but they went home like separately. And they didn't see each other again until some later date in Hamptons. When Caleb told Jaden that he allegedly. allegedly.

Allegedly was like not looking for something serious or didn't have time. He was so busy. And then they fucked. And then they hooked up again in the Hamptons. I love that Ariana's like, oh, what happened in the Hamptons? Oh, what happened to last night? She's like... Ariana was really like coming for Caleb, it felt.

Yeah. And so then after that, when Caleb was on some brand trip with Jen... In like someplace it sounded exotic. They were in like Asia or something. Um, Caleb sent Jaden a text saying basically like breaking things off. Yeah. And you're a good girl, but I don't have the good time management skills. And now we're, and then Jaden's like, yeah, and like whoever wrote that text.

And Ariana's like, who wrote it? Who wrote the text? I thought it was going to be chat GPT or something. Well, that's the whole thing is it's like, they're asking if Jen wrote the text for him. And he's like, well, you know, we were together on the trip. And so I like asked her advice, but I wrote the text. And I'm like, chat GPT wrote the text. But also who cares?

If you're receiving a text from a dumb 21-year-old man that doesn't sound like he wrote it, it's not Jen who wrote it. It's Gen A.I. Yeah, Jen is dumber than him. Like, that was so funny to me because I'm like, it's. Way too much time spent on that. But yeah, and I'm like, they're like grilling Jen and Caleb about if they've hooked up. And I'm like, that doesn't sound like something that would have happened.

I also feel like it's kind of weird that they're always like, so, did you guys have sex? Yes. And every, but also it's like, clearly they feel comfortable asking people point blank like, so. How was it? Yeah. But everybody on the couch feels awkward like answering those questions because you have like, what was it? Sydney and one of the guys. Like, it's like, Ariana's like.

And how is it? Sydney, we heard that you spent some time, did you? And they're like, hmm, mm-hmm. And I'm like, am I supposed to know what's going on here? Or when she's like, Gabe, who would you choose? Your friend Jen or your friend Beah? Well, you know. He's like, I'm from a different culture, so.

But also, I'm like, and then they're like, so, how was it? I'm like, if someone asked me, how was the sex with someone who then later rejected me, Yeah. Like I'm not going to be quick to be like, it was amazing. So, Anaya, how did Carl handle that? Like, I'm like, she's like, he did. I fear he did, mama. I fear he did.

It is, it's like for a show that is so overtly sexual. Yeah. There is still this like weird, like squeamishness when it comes to actually talking about, like, having sex with someone. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Especially off the show because it's like, oh, I feel like people at the reunion are more like, now they're in this, like, brand man. management phase where it's like, if I talk about like whose dick I sucked on the couch, then suddenly maybe like X, Y, Z brand isn't going to be as excited to have me in like the

face of their campaign. Totally. And it's like, unfortunately, that's boring. Yeah. I mean, and yeah, we'll see how long those brands last. Like, I feel like there'll be a handful of successes from the season. Maybe. What did you think about, um, Parmita and Corbyn.

They're not together. I hate them as much as I did when they left. First of all, I didn't realize that Parmita wasn't already living in Miami. Yeah, me either. Because I felt like all they talked about was being in Miami. Wasn't she saying Miami is her town and she knows everyone there? But then Ariana's like, so Parmita, you moved from San Antonio to Miami. San Antonio!

She's like, it's hard to keep up with the fast pace. She's like, yeah, I'm adjusting to the city and, you know, and it's like, oh, is Corbin helping you adjust? And it's like, no. Also, I don't feel like Miami has like that fast of a pace. Well, if you're coming from San Antonio, you're used to running a horse everywhere. In fact, I find the pace to be pretty slow in Miami. You ever try to go to a restaurant in Miami? It takes forever to get anything.

You're waiting two hours for a table. I'm like, hello. Yeah, the thing with Parmita and Corbyn that, again, similar to what we were just talking about, people not wanting to say if they've had sex, Parmita and Corbyn, like, cannot come up with one shred of detail as to like why it didn't work out with them. Because in the villa, the whole thing to kind of like a comical extent was we're exactly the same. We're perfect for each other. We're literally the same person. If I had a dick, I would be Corbyn. Literally we're the same. And now, I mean, I'm not shocked that that didn't end up being like happily ever after.

Oh, yeah, of course. But it is just like, it's not that satisfying. to watch when it's like, oh, yeah, it didn't work out. And it's like, oh, like, what happened? It's just like, shit, man, it didn't work out. We're good at his friends. We're good at, first of all, I'm like, I don't believe you're good as friends. No, they're fucking, maybe. Maybe.

And it's like, are you friends? And the hope is that there's a relationship? It's like, no. She's like, no, no, no, no. Corbyn also was like 22. And she's young, right? Right. They're so young.

And fresh in Miami. And, like, they just both. both wanted to be on the show. That's the thing, too, about the idea of Love Island and, like, finding love is that all of these people are, like, hot and in their early to mid-20s and now, like, sort of semi-famous. Most of them, this is the exact time they don't want to be in a relationship. Oh, of course. And even, yeah, I thought there was a lot of interesting.

The O'Mora part when she was, like, talking to Melanie, and Melanie's like, Didn't you watch Sincere in the hotel? So why did you? I'm like, because you wanted to be on TV. Because, yeah, Amora says I would never be in that situation that Melanie is in. And I stand by it. And Melanie is like, well, that's rich. Because you got, you have to say the episodes, right?

When you were in the hotel. So you saw this whole thing and you still went after him. And that's, I think that's again, it feels like that's the one like fourth wall thing that maybe they're not supposed to break is that it's like, well, everybody was like pairing off in Casa Amor. And so I picked a pen. that was going to allow me to, like, have a storyline and be on the show. Yeah. It's not rocket science. There were six choices.

There were, you know, limited. 100% permutations of that. Like, that's just how the show works. It's the same thing as, like, when people get mad at bombshells for exploring or whatever. And it's like, everybody is here for the exact same reason. And I stand by Gabe. I'm like, why did they send Gabe home?

Yeah. So there were a few times during the reunion when they showed us, like, extended footage. or unseen, you know, moments from the season that were supposed to, like, add context or reveal something or whatever. And the Gabe sending home deliberation from the girls was one of those. And it was kind of, it went on for a long time.

And I kind of was like, what is my takeaway from this supposed to be? Because there, I guess the big reveal was supposedly... Yeah, there was no surprise. I guess in theory, it's that they were saying that Jen had been, like, talking about how Gabe was not... her ideal type. And so that they were like more using the thing of like, oh, the next guy that comes,

Jen is going to. Which I also love that. It's like, Jen's type is just Caucasian. It's like what they're saying. Yeah, if there's another blonde, but like not, not Bryce and like not Caleb, but like if there's another blonde. She's like, no, I usually like tall, financing guys, blue eyes, like blonde hair. Like Kyle Cook, but taller.

Aryan, but I wouldn't say Aryan. There's not that many, like, adult blonde men. Thank God. I'm not a fan. I was really blonde when I was, like, a little kid, and I grew out of that. Thank God. And I think that's correct. You know what it is with blonde men?

It's not the hair. It's when they try to grow facial hair. Tough. You were born with blonde hair. You shouldn't have facial hair. I'm sorry. Sometimes it comes in a little more, like, gingery on the facial hair, which I think is a little better.

But. it's wispy but like Bryce is not blonde but he doesn't really have facial hair does he? Caleb's not blonde Bryce had

it was like highlighty I love Bryce but like not these aren't like platinum blonde men no no

thank God no I think Jen likes yeah like a dirty blonde man from Westport Connecticut who yeah moved to San Diego on his parents dime

because he wanted to pursue surfing he's kind of wearing surfing as like a costume yes yeah Okay. Like something along Gall, who I think has really wealthy parents. Gall gets about seven and a half seconds of screen time in the reunion.

Which he's probably grateful for. We check in and ask how the coffee shop is doing and it's lines out the door. And that is about all we get for them. I wanted them to ask him because the day after Jen got eliminated, they were giving girls named Jen free coffee. See, that's the thing. It's like, that's fun. That is fun. That's funny.

Like, they should have said that. That would have made people. like Galmore. Yeah. What did you think of Seoul in general? Mama. Mama. Mama's a liar.

Mama. It's hard because Soul, yeah. No, Sol is the person who like, after the season, immediately came out of the, or during the season, immediately came out of the villa and was like really talking a big game on social media. She was on live.

She was in the comments. she was talking about how she was going to like bring all these receipts to the reunion and light everybody up and also just like really I think um creating or like feeding into this narrative that she was like done wrong on the show and I mean it in which she kind of was but it was by the circumstances in real time watching the show it was really easy to like kind of feel bad for her totally because she did not have a lot of options. when she went in as a bombshell. She had something going with sincere. She felt, yeah, it didn't work out. And then she kind of by default went home. But the thing is, it's like, I just don't think most of the stuff that happens on this show is like that deep. Yeah.

And so when it's two months later and you're talking about how many times you got pied in the pie challenge and you can't even, you're, you're so fixated on how you got pied more than twice that you didn't even stop. to go back and watch the episode. And everybody's like, baby, it was two times. It was two times, Mama. Mama. Why was she so mad at the girls? Right. About that.

They didn't do it. She's so mad at the girls. I love Anaya being like, we didn't pie you, mama. But then Ariana and Andy are like, we checked the footage. Oh, yeah. It was twice. Twice. We can confirm that if.

And she's like, no. Soul could have had such a more like flattering reunion if she just came in being like yeah I felt like I kind of got like screwed over just by the circumstances I got the short end of the sick I was in my head maybe a little bit maybe I thought people were coming for me more than they were and you know it sucked and I you know I had a thing with sincere it didn't work out I wish I would have had more chances to to meet other people but she she comes in with such a like chip on her shoulder of like, I'm going to like make other people the villain in my narrative. And I feel like there wasn't nearly enough heat for sincere.

Right. Like he did do you dirty. She's talking about how like none of the other girls were there for her. And we see a long, un-aired scene of her and Melanie talking to each other where their, you know, Sol is like opening up about a lot of her stuff. she's gone through losing her father, being homeless for a while. And, like, Melanie is, like, pretty intensely comforting her in that scene. And, like, you know, that's neither here nor there.

Like, that's, like, intense stuff to share. But it's, like, the reason that you went home is because sincere didn't pick you. Totally. And he led you on. Right. Um, I do feel like sometimes Melanie is just saying words. Yeah. She, I mean, she talks a lot.

I'm like, oh, so if Soul shows up. at your door. Hey, girls. Can I take you up on that? Well, it's the same thing when, let's talk about her and Kenzie because, so the root, the root of their issue, I guess, is that Kenzie said on someone else's live that Melanie got airtime, more airtime than everybody else. Which is not an insult.

Right. But also at the end of the season, there was like this awkwardness where Kenzie was saying that Melanie is like her best friend. and Melanie's like, okay, maybe like I'm your best friend, but like, I haven't felt that from you. And so it's just in general, they're not quite on the same page as people, I don't think. But then, you know, Kenzie's getting emotional because Melanie unfollowed, and Melanie never followed her on Instagram. So then Kenzie unfollowed her and she's like, yes, she should unfollow me. I didn't follow her.

Yeah. And so Kenzie starts crying. And I think that Melanie is like, she like sees an opportunity. in that moment to be like... The bigger person. The bigger person. The comforter, the mama bear, whatever. She's kind of like manipulative.

Because she marches across the stage and it's like, no, baby, that's the thing. We, I will always love you, Kenzie. We still are friends. Anytime you need me, I will be there. We'll get dinner. It's never that deep, baby. Give me the hug. And it's like, okay, so you have been out of the villa for like maybe a month.

You don't follow each other on social. media. You haven't spoken. You are upset about something she said on social media. Why, why are you saying that you guys are close and you love her? And that you'll be there. Right. Like, you guys aren't friends. Yeah. I'm like, she doesn't, you don't love each other. It's like, did you ever watch the drag race? Like, it's a viral moment when Valentina's like, you know I love you. And then Farah's like, you don't love me. Like, I'm like, that's what it is. I don't know if it's because of the fan base or because these people feel like they're just trying to like smooth everything over at the end of the day. But it's like there is this instinct of like, I might, I might truly

hate this girl, but I have to say that she's my sister and I love her no matter what. Which I'm like, why? And it's just like there are 15 women on this reunion. Not everybody has to be everybody's sister. Yeah, I'm like, it's like college. Some people click. Some people don't. I did. That was one thing I liked about the, um, the Parmita and Corbyn bit was like when Arianna, when they said that they weren't together. And Ariana is like, did any of you know?

And they're all just like, no. No, we don't know. Okay. It's like, yeah, none of you have spoken to Parmita in the last month because you're not friends. Um, also when they like do the compilation of Corbyn being a robot and then they cut to his reaction. His reaction is exactly what chat GPT's reaction. would be, or like, what OpenAI's reaction would be.

Like, ha, ha, I guess I do have some robotic features. Sure. So. I can count to 10. One, two, and then three and so on. Quadro? Yeah, it's, no, it's interesting. The other, um, the other thing that's interesting is when, is it a mora that says that

Kenzie, like, moved the exact same way as sincere? It's Corbin. Corbin. And it's just like, I don't... Do you agree with that? No. No. Because, like, Kenzie moved on with guys because she had to

because they didn't pick her for a couple of them. Oh, I think it was Amora said Kenzie was deceptive. That's true. Yeah. I don't think that Kenzie ever had anything with any man in that villa that was like as serious seeming as what Melanie and sincere had. And she wasn't saying half the shit that Sincere was saying. Right.

Kenzie was the girl in the villa that was the most kind of manipulative back and forth, whatever. But that's just because most of the other girls in the villa weren't doing anything. And I think like, yeah, Anaya, if Casey had come back to Anaya, she would still be with him. Yeah. The only explorations were happening out of four. force. Right. And so it's like when it feels like it's a true statement to say that Kenzie was like the messiest girl, but that's just kind of by default because nobody else was doing anything.

And so that doesn't make me- Like she was the messiest girl, but on a scale of not that messy. Right. Like on a-it doesn't make me feel like, oh, she's a horrible person. It just makes me feel like, oh, that means the other girls weren't very messy. Yeah, exactly. It's like when you do a bracket for something. I was just in Fire Island. And we did a bracket for Britney Spears songs. Okay. But like you can't compare. Like it's like I Love Rock and Roll got to the top four because of circumstance. Because like if you put stronger and toxic next to each other. Yeah. Then toxic is out or like stronger is out on the first round. You know what I mean? So it's all about the scale of mess. What did you think about um,

Kada's energy. Girl. I'm just here to fight. That was the energy. Yeah. Like, Andy is like, wait,

so why aren't you still? And she's like, yeah, like I said on the show. I was like, that was crazy. And then when Ariana was like, that seems a little harsh.

She's like, it's not that harsh girl. Oh, when she was like, Jada and why do you fuck him again? Yeah. It's not that harsh girl. And T, T, T,

like, you can pipe down. Yeah, I'm like, can you. calm what was that? Yeah. I think she was mad at America because America didn't really like... Well, that's the thing. And like, knowing that this is being taped after they've had a few weeks to sort of like start to figure out what's going on. Like, I guess there is still like a... I see people being like, oh, we love the core four. But like, I don't think anybody's like,

oh, we love Kada. No. I don't think Kada's really getting the like... She's sporty spice. attention that maybe like Trinity or Melanie are getting. Exactly. It's like she's my favorite. Like who, who? From Instagram following alone? Is Kada anyone's like favorite? That's like saying, you know, that's like Michelle is my favorite Destiny's Child member.

I know, it's an overused, uh. She was really good in, um, Death Becomes Her on Broadway. But is she better than Beyonce? Who would you rather see in Death Becomes her on Broadway? Michelle or Beyonce? I'll just say the tickets would be harder to get if Beyonce was. in the show. If Beyonce is in death becomes her, we all, things have fallen. The show would still be running. The world is fallen. And it's, Beyonce's grabbing its straws. But is the show closed?

It did. It did. It did. I'm not a fan of the movie. I love the movie. Um, what did we, um, I don't know. Like, was there anybody that, like, surprise? Like, I don't know. I just feel like, not to use Jen's former nickname. The whole reunion is kind of a nothing burger to me. Yeah, I agree. It could have been a lot shorter. I don't think we needed everyone there. Yeah.

I do feel like this show is very successful. They don't need, you know, they could do the exact same thing next year. But like, I feel like the reunion format could still use some tinkering. Yeah. Where it's like, I don't know if I need it to feel. like as much of a like recap of the season. I feel like we don't need the live audience. I want more like a summer house reunion vibe.

Yes. And I do think the live audience, obviously there was some, you know, arguing and and back and forth that happened. But I think the live audience makes that feel weirder. Yeah. When it's like, oh, I'm supposed to really go at it, but there's like 50 people there that are like chanting my name. Like that's a little, this isn't Jerry Springer.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. we're not going to have that vibe. But yeah, it's like a little, also maybe like a little too glossy. Like they're on this like giant stage with like Love Island printed on the floor and like, I don't know. It just is, it felt a little bit like sterile to me. And I don't like the live audience that can cheer at what people are saying because then it like changes the vibe.

I feel like like it gives confidence in it's someone who otherwise would not be as confident in their decision. Yeah. And I think like when you're, when you watch a summer house reunion or a housewives reunion, it's like, no, like you're out there alone and you're going to be in the hot seat until something else happens or until you figure it out. Totally. And yeah, it does on a, this feels more like a like reunion show where it's like, okay, that was the, that was that section and then we're moving right along. And now, and now we're going to have a montage of all the silly moments that happened this season. I did like the montage of Sincere.

Yeah. Because when they were doing the silly moments, I was like, what the fuck? They didn't even put in any of Sincere. And then when I was like, oh my God, he gets his whole own. He made more analogies than I even remembered. I'm also like, did he go through like some kind of media training or something? Because

he really took everything like water off a duck's back. I would say Sincere probably had the most like positive reunion. Yeah, he had the best night. Because from the season itself, he was like the worst one. Yeah.

And there was nothing really that obviously, you know, we relooked at some of his like tough moments or whatever, but there was nothing that happened on the reunion that it was like, oh, this fucking guy. Whereas like Casey had a little bit more of like, he still is defensive about certain things. He still is like, you know, clearly feels a way about how the women treated him after he came back from class. I'll say that. He looked good.

Yeah. I like, but like, I feel like he sincere found a better, like, tone to strike for the reunion, whereas Casey, I'm still, I'm like,

okay, enough. Yeah. And Melanie was yelling way more than sincere. Yeah. Jen, listen, I think this, Jen,

this will be a great blip in her life. I think Jen's going to tell her grandkids about this someday. She'd be like, Mommy was on TV. Mummy was everything bagel. My little blonde baby. One thing that I I guess I wasn't surprised they didn't bring this up

But I thought it would have been interesting Is talking to Kada and Zach about the Alana Situation Oh I know Because we got a tiny bit of that on the season when At movie night when they were like Where's the Angel Girl But I do think like

We don't really spend much time Like they ask why they're not like boyfriend girlfriend yet And Kada's like Andy did you watch the show but like we didn't get a lot of discussion of like the actual reasons that people were like skeptical of Zach especially yeah yeah and I just thought that would have been interesting I guess they don't want to like talk about Alana more than they yeah I feel like we really didn't get much from Zach no no a lot not a lot of boys really not a lot Bryce I feel like didn't have too much to talk about at the reunion

um I mean Dylan and Kenzie I just I'm like who the fuck cares Dylan and Kansy are going to be like You know that like the YouTube families Yeah That's the vibe eventually You think they're gonna have babies together I think that they would have babies together If it were to up the brand

I just saw Like remember those people that like adopted a baby And then got rid of him That was crazy But yeah no that I mean they're really like I'm not saying they would do that No we're like super like definitely in love

Oh yeah Oh, Elwood, yeah. This is not just for business. He, like, proposed to her to be his girlfriend at the top of the Empire State Building. And Andy even made fun of it. Yeah, he's like, that was a lot. Yeah. And he's like, it took me 50 years before I could ask someone that.

I will say, Gabriel, looking good as fun. Always. Always looking good. Always on his Instagram live. Or he's always on, like, TikTok live, trying to get spaceships or whatever. Thank you for the galaxies. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Think of it arose.

Who do you think Will? make it in the long haul. Yeah. I mean, that's, I think the part of the problem with this reunion is that, like,

I don't believe that more than one or two of these couples are going to be together for, like, a long time. But the reunion happens fast enough that unless you have, like, a blow up the day

after you leave the villa, everybody else is just like, yeah, we're still, like, seeing how life is outside of the villa. And I'm like, yeah, that's, that's what everyone's doing. Sure, great. That's boring. And so, I mean, like, do I feel like Melanie and sincere are going to be together forever? No. But do I feel like Melanie is now suddenly in a week and a half going to be like, and now I've made the decision for myself to leave this man? It doesn't seem like it. It doesn't seem, you know, I think Bryce and Trinity seem like they're doing well still. I mean, Zach has gotten his, U.S. visa and is living with Kada in L.A. Like, it doesn't seem like any of these couples are really, like, having drama.

So, I don't know. I mean, I, I don't, I just, like, kind of don't care. I don't care either, really. Which I feel bad saying, because it's, like, thank you for listening to this podcast. But, like, who cares? Yeah, about the show in general. I just don't care if they stay together. Yeah.

Like, I'm, like, more, I don't. And then they'll probably do. a third season of Beyond the Villa with these people. But I'm like, I don't watch that. Because that means you're going to have to watch more. Because you know who's going to be on Beyond the Villa making a

storyline is like Jaden and Caleb. Ugh. Right? Yeah, and Parmita. Right. Beyond the Villa is not just going to be Trinity and Bryce loved up. It's going to be like everybody trying to have their 16th minute of fame. Totally. And most of them just like don't

have the juice. Yeah. So I don't know. I don't think that I don't think that Zach and Keda. I could see Zach and Kada being like one of the first couples to break up. Yeah. Well, listen, they just actually officially got together. Right. So they've only been dating for two weeks or whatever. Right. They've exited the situation ship face. 100%. So we'll see. I don't know.

Who do you think we'll have the most like career success though? Like who's going to be like the girly? Trinity. Yeah. Listen, she's already in movies. She's a to be original queen. Yeah, I think Trinity and Bryce are like pretty clearly the winners. I mean, obviously they won the show technically, but like they're the A tier.

Yeah. The upper echelon, if you will. Yeah. For sure. I really like, it is crazy like watching a show five or six days a week and then going to zero. it's like, oh, I don't care about Kenzie at all. I don't need, I don't need Anaya. Like, it's just like, whatever.

Anaya too. I'm like, forgot. Like, Anaya was like the way that she was like a friend and like the core four and all of that, whatever. But it's like, Anaya as a singular person, I'm like, whatever. Yeah, I agree. We'll see. We'll see where everyone is in a year. In a year.

Or we'll forget that they existed. September. We'll be back here in September, 27. God willing. God, Ariana willing. Inchalah. Thanks for doing this with me, Chris.

Thank you for having me. I'm so excited for all, I guess. It's fall, y'all. I don't know. But summer's over. Tell everyone where to keep up with you. Of course, you can find me

at Fat Carrie Bradshaw, P.H., on any platform. You can follow me at Dylan Hafer, and of course, this is our last episode of Island Time, this season. But Mention It All is not going anywhere so you can listen to or watch Mention it all wherever you've been getting Island Time and we have lots more stuff coming up for the rest of the years. So don't go anywhere. It's island time has come to a close.

Aloha. Aloha. Mahalo. Mahalo.