love island is proof we need third places
All season long I’ve been saying this to myself.
As we wait for the finale (that I’m not watching because this season got me effed up) I feel like it’s the best time to share this thought that’s been in my head through the season.
This season has been the most watched season in Love Island US history - which I think is part of its downfall but we’ll put a pin in this for a moment. While the season was going on, the digital third space was growing on platforms like Threads and Tiktok. As this was happening something became more and more apparent to me.
We need more places where people with common interests but different mindsets can come together to connect. Love Island gives us that opportunily and I think that’s what’s part of the draw, a show that seems simple off jump, allowed people all over to feel some sort of common ground, and give us something to talk about.
And that’s the beauty of third spaces, we can all be in the same space even if we don’t have anything else in common other than that. But that opens the door, or it can, to more connection. And in a time like this we need more connection than disconnection.
Another reason I believe Love Island proves to me we need a third space is because of how big this season got. I remember one poll in the app I saw 1 million people had engaged in the poll, that’s like .33% of the US population, not taking into account the people that don’t vote and watch - that’s ALOT of people, focused on one thing1.
I feel that because it was such an opportunily for connection coupled with the lack of a physical space to meet and connect with people IRL, we are emboldened to do and say things that in an ‘in person’ setting would not fly. Like imagine you’re in a cafe talking about the show and what’s going on and you say you’re going to call Child Protective Services on a cast member because you don’t like them?!?!?!! People are going to make you feel hella awkward for even suggesting something like that.
Third places give us a place to connect, feel welcomed, feel remembered, remind us of our humanity and remind us that this is a TV show for ENTERTAINMENT. So while this show can help us feel like we’re in a third place it’s not, but it can make way for one.
And this season, it kinda did. We saw my dream come true all season long where bars were turning off the sports and turning on reality TV! Bringing customers inside their businesses and creating a temporary community from the experience as well. We went to one viewing at our favorite bar and shared commentary with the folks sitting across from us and it was fun!
So while there’s a lot of things that were horribly wrong this season 2, specifically the treatment of the cast, especially the Black islanders (Jeremiah, Chelly, Ace, Olandria, etc.). This season was a clear indicator that as a society we want to connect to one another and we need the space for connection and accountability3.
If you feel like me I suggest you find a third space if you don’t already have one in your community. I know in my community outside of our favorite bar where everyone knows our name, our center for the arts just started hosting a “Third Space” gathering. I would be curious to see what’s going on in your community for connection and collaboration. Share some below.
Thank you for reading Beyond the Chichos. I hope Amaya or Nicolandra wins tonight! If you would like to support this slice of stack another way feel free to:
share this post with a cutie.
Until next time xoxo
we could be using that focused energy on other more impactful things but this post isn’t about that nor is it to shame anyone, just highlighting the magnitude of collective focus
Also want to point out the role the producers had in this being a terrible season, as well as our collective lack of media literacy as a nation.
This show is also a clear indicator that we have a root chakra imbalance but I’ll get to that in another post.
I may need to add this to my list.