Season 3 (2021).
After the bubble year, the show returns to a real tropical villa in Nīnole, Hawaii. Arielle Vandenberg hosts a confident post-pandemic season that restores the format's outdoor texture — and quietly closes out the show's CBS era.
The format finds the open air again — and says goodbye to CBS.
A rhythm worth tracking.
Season three leaves the bubble behind and returns to a real tropical villa in Nīnole, Hawaii. Arielle Vandenberg hosts a steady, confident post-pandemic run that restores the format's open-air texture and easy outdoor rhythm. It is the last CBS-era season and a clean one — solid pacing, the villa back where it belongs, the format running without strain. A reliable bridge between the show's network origins and the streaming reinvention that follows it.
The #05 slot.
Slot #05 of 6 in the Love Island US Editor's Canon. The neighbors below frame what we ranked above and below it.
5 moments, no spoilers.
- Ep 1 · The villa returns
The format steps back outdoors. Watch the show reclaim the texture the bubble season had to do without.
- Ep 4 · First recoupling
The recoupling rhythm settles in early, with the open-air setting back doing its work.
- Ep 13 · Mid-run twist window
A format twist arrives mid-season and the restored villa gives it more room to breathe.
- Ep 22 · Challenge stretch
A villa challenge run heats the back half as the season builds toward its close.
- Ep 29 · The CBS close
The final CBS-era arc lands — the last time the show airs under this network and host pairing.