Love Island Terms (Closed Off, Exclusive, BF/GF) ... let's get on the same page.

Clearly there's been a tonne of discourse over the last 48 hours regarding terms on the show, so as a fan who's been watching since UK Season 1, let's break down what each of them actually mean..

Feel free to give your input if you disagree, this is purely based on my perspective.

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Coupled Up - You're in a couple, getting to know each other because you're both attracted to one another, but in LI terms there isn't any expectation any loyalty. This can be challenged because in later years "couple island" has become a thing, where exploring has become frowned upon or "disingenuous".

Closed Off - The easiest one to understand. You've both committed to one another, while in the villa, that you wont explore anyone else. Even if a bombshell walks in. You're locked in.

Exclusive - Here's where lines get blurry. Usually reserved towards the end of the show, exclusive means that you've both agreed to continue dating on the outside world, to see if your lives are both compatible. This is extremely common in the UK show, as most contestants realise that the villa isn't the real world. Like adult dating, being exclusive is dating with the intention of becoming boyfriend / girlfriend if your non negotiables still align after being on the outside.

BF/GF - A lot less common until recently. This obviously means that you're 100% committed to that person on the outside, that you truly believe what you have in the villa translates to the real world. Historically, this secures a couple to winning the show, as they perform grand gestures that win public approval. However creates a tonne of backlash when they inevitably break up in the real world.

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Bonus: Situationship

This one has been causing the most discourse and so I'll just throw in my two cents.

A situationship, imo, is when two people are in an intimate (sexual/romantic) relationship that has no clear boundaries, or intentions. Where neither party clearly communicates what they want. There is no agreed status. The simplest explanation is that nothing is clearly defined.

Perhaps in recent years, there's a generational discourse around the word because the younger generation view anything outside of being "bf/gf" as a "situationship". However as an adult who communicates clearly when dating, it's very obvious to me that there's a clear difference between a "situationship" and "dating with intention".

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How does it play into the Kayda & Zach situation?

Their conversation about "being exclusive" was regarding how they intend to move on the outside, not within the villa. Obviously becoming exclusive in the villa means literally nothing in the final week. There's been a lot of people pointing fingers at them for that statement, but anyone who's watched the show as long as I have knows that it's very common, and a conversation they needed to have.

Obviously they both feel insecure about what dating on the outside looks like. So they're not in a rush to jump to BF/GF, for the sake of "Love Island progress". From what I saw it was a mutual agreement, they defined their terms for how they intend to move outside the villa. They defined their intentions. So by definition, it's NOT a situationship. It's simply "dating" or "going steady".

Did they need to have a big announcement about it? no. But production probably needed a talking point and so they pushed it. Kayda was obviously upset by the reaction, and so production magnified the conversations around it.

How does it play into the Trinity and Bryce situation?

They both agreed to become BF/GF outside the villa. Simple. They will move accordingly, and it's guaranteed them a spot in the final. However, if they leave the villa, realise their lives don't align, and decide to break up there will be massive outcry. Tonnes of think pieces. Bryce will probably come out of it as the villain for being 30 dating a 22 year old.

Do I think they moved too fast in becoming BF/GF in the villa? No, and yes. I think it's clear how they feel about eachother, and the villa amplifies everything they're feeling. All Bryce wanted to do in Casa was come home to Trinity. That's real. Trinity adores him too. She's vocalised it. It makes for amazing TV, and all our hearts melt seeing them on screen.

However... their lives on the outside are very different. One of the first comments Bryce made when discovering her age was "I don't want to take away her youth". They're both in very different places in the real world. Trinity is freshly legal drinking age, and is likely going to want to be out clubbing with her friends enjoying the new found fame. Bryce is 30, and slowing down eventually looking to settle. Not saying it won't work out, I hope it does because they're cute together. It's just something that personally I would have slow burned to see if we were compatible outside the villa bubble. Bryce got excited and wanted nothing more than to make her his girlfriend. Impulsive and sweet.

Bonus insider info

This stage of the show, the producers actually encourage the islanders individually to "lock it down" with their partner, leading up to the final. Which is why we're seeing all these acts / conversations of "becoming exclusive" in the last week. I bet Dylan & Kenzie are up next to do it, then Melanie & Sincere. It tidies things up before the final dates and gives incentive for the viewers to vote. It's all hunger games after all.