Love Island Usa is all about drama, and season 7 episode 24 gave us just that with the Heart Rate Challenge that everyone has been waiting for. This famous game, when Islanders act to boost each other's pulses, is always meant to be a little bit of fun, but this time it turned into a test for the newly reunited couples, revealing raw feelings and hidden tensions after the pandemonium of Casa Amor.
After the traumatic recoupling, which left some Islanders open to new relationships and others vulnerable, the villa was already a powder bomb. After the last episode, Olandria Carthen and Elan Bibas were still single, and many of their relationships were still weak. I enjoy a good challenge that pushes limits, but I was astonished by how much this one really strained the Islanders' friendships and allegiance. It showed that the Heart Rate Challenge is more than simply a game.
The Heart Rate Challenge caused jealousy and fights that no one saw coming.Some Islanders Went Too Far With The Challenge
The Heart Rate Challenge is simple: Islanders do sexy dances for one other, and a sensor keeps track of whose heart rate goes up the most. It was supposed to be fun, but in episode 24, it rapidly made a lot of Islanders very angry and insecure. I could feel the tension rising as Huda Mustafa sang for Ace Greene, and Chelley Bissainthe's reaction was quick and fierce.
After Casa Amor, Chelley got back together with Ace, but she was clearly disturbed by Huda's performance and how "provocative" it was, even if she had done identical motions for Chris Seeley. This is a classic Love Island move that shows how rapidly feelings may change when someone feels insecure. Even though Chelley is with Ace, it's clear that she still has feelings for Chris, and Huda's actions merely made those feelings come out.
Nic Vansteenberghe was also very angry with Elan Bibas for his over-the-top performance for Cierra Ortega. Nic and Cierra were trying to reconnect after Casa Amor. At first, Cierra didn't appear to mind that Nic was exploring things with Olandria, but Elan's directness in the challenge plainly irritated her and, by extension, Nic. It reveals how weak these new or revived relationships really are and how easy a game that seems innocent may break them.
After the craziness of Casa Amor, Love Island USA Season 7 Episode 22 had a violent recoupling and startling dumpings, showing that loyalty doesn't last long in the resort.
Olandria and Taylor's problems with each other were made clear.
It was hard to see that Taylor didn't feel bad about what he did.
The breakup between Olandria and Taylor Williams was one of the saddest stories to come out of Casa Amor. Taylor opted to remain with Clarke Carraway even though they had a deep relationship before Casa. Episode 24 made it brutally evident that Taylor didn't regret his choice, even though his pulse rate still went up for Olandria during the task. This makes it much more interesting to think about how much of his choice was based on real connection and how much was due to the stress of new arrivals.
Olandria, on the other hand, really appeared ready to go on, even if she felt weak and didn't have a strong connection in the villa. She even said she kissed Nic, even though she didn't feel any chemistry. There is no question that Olandria deserved better than to be left hanging by Taylor, especially considering how rude he was. The Heart Rate Challenge was just a last, public validation of where their relationship really stood, or rather, didn't stand.
Love Island USA season 7 started off OK, but now it's a disaster with producers getting involved, forced connections, and people looking for fame instead of love.
The Challenge Showed Who Is Really "All In"
Some Islanders are still dating around, and it shows.
The best thing about this Heart Rate Challenge was that it cut through the niceties after Casa Amor. Islanders may declare they are "all in" with their new spouses, but the challenge typically shows what they really want. For some, like Huda and Chris, the intensity was too much, maybe because it made them face feelings they weren't ready to deal with.
The tension on Love Island USA is getting more intense, and this task was a big turning point. It reminds us that every activity in the villa, even one that seems like fun, can have severe effects on relationships. I'm looking forward to seeing how these new feelings and tensions play out in the next episodes, especially because Chelley and Huda might fight.
Every night at 9 PM ET, except on Wednesdays, new episodes of Love Island USA season 7 show on Peacock.