The NESSENTIALS

Emma and Matt Willis are back on our screens, bookending the series’ different phases, and the pods are thankfully behind us now. As such, we have 5 engaged couples, as the show demands:

• Ashleigh and Billy
• Bardha and Jed
• Katisha and Javen
• Megan and Kieran
• Sarover and Kal

There’s media speculation as to who is still in a relationship – married or otherwise, but why don’t we make bold predictions as to who’s built to last on the edited impressions of Week 1?

Ashleigh and Billy

Ashleigh, a cabin crew member, and Billy, an army physical trainer, were the first couple shown to kick it off. Neither were seriously contemplating other partners, from what we could see, and keen to fall fast for each other. Billy had experience dating cabin crew before, which didn’t work because of lifestyle differences. However, Ashleigh offered to look at transitioning to a grounded role if it would become necessary. The previews indicated that Ashleigh’s father was not on board, and it got to her.

Will they make it? No, I don’t think so. While they’ve got a physical connection, and Ashleigh is very invested in making this work, they seem to be superficially aligned only. Prove me wrong!

Bardha and Jed

Bardha, whose family fled the Kosovan war, and Jed, a half-Lebanese Essex lad, were another couple that didn’t have any interlopers in their developing romance. Jed impressed on Bardha that he understood her cultural background, while Bardha demonstrated her dedication with a massive hand-drawn word search. In the previews, Bardha and Jed have their first significant disagreement, and Bardha’s contemplative figure in her wedding dress is the visual hook o the season.

Will they make it? Yes, and if they don’t, nobody will. Their cultural alignment primes them the most to make it work, but if there are differences in modernity or modesty, this could be a Tom × Maria repeat.

Katisha and Javen

Katisha, a Scottish nanny and MUA, and Javen, a physical trainer post-dashed football career, are the first couple formed of a previous love triangle. Katisha also drew the affection of Demola, an accountant. Katisha admitted that Javen’s mystery intrigued her, while Demola’s open affection was an unusual experience. Javen’s commentary, both In The Moment (ITMs are the scenes filmed in the neutral space) and among the men in their living quarters, was confident, and even deceptive compared to what he said to Katisha based on the edit. Demola demurred when Katisha took back her previous assurance that he was the one, and Katisha is now fully committed to Javen – though the previews show Katisha meeting Demola upon her return to London.

Will they make it? No, I doubt it. While Kal’s defensiveness about Katisha not picking Demola will make Katisha double down initially, she might be open to others’ observations about Javen’s coolness. The only other option is they are married, and she triples down in the face of what she sees at the reunion (also known as an “Amanda”, from Love is Blind: Sweden, season 1)

Megan and Kieran

Megan, a fitness instructor and dancer, and Kieran, a self-described games entrepreneur (also self-described as a games marketer), are the second couple formed of a previous love triangle. Sophie, a corporate manager, however, takes herself out of contention when Kieran gifts Megan a token, as she recognises Kieran’s feelings are not equally strong, after making peace with Megan. While Kieran has come across as a little insecure, ultimately he seems happy enough with his choice, while Megan is fully committed. In the previews, we see Sophie return, though her appearance may not just affect Megan and Kieran, but possibly also Katisha and Javen.

Will they make it? No, not in my opinion. Both look to me like they aren’t ready to make a lasting commitment, and Kieran’s head feels easily turned. I’m also wondering if a marketer saw a marketing opportunity, for himself or otherwise, with this show…

Sarover and Kal

Sarover, a medical company co-owner, and Kal, a gym owner, have much in common, though there’s a crucial difference. While they share a passion for running businesses, and both have South Asian family, Sarover is Indian, while Kal is half-Pakistani. Kal has previously only dated white English women, while Sarover has strictly dated within her culture, and knows about Kal’s past experiences, which comes up a lot as soon as they leave the pods.

Will they make it? No, I don’t think so. Kal’s body language has been in complete opposition to the declarations of devotion he has been making. Sarover’s family may clock that difference, and are likely to influence her to not commit.

What will Week 2 bring?

I am excited to see the next batch of episodes released, as the preview teases several returns of pod characters: singer Aanu, who was dumped(!) by spleen-enthusiast Patrick accuses him of being a liar by the looks of things; we see Katisha and Demola reunite; and Sophie stirs up the men, with Javen asking where she lives (which is nearby) and commenting on her confirmation in a way that can absolutely be interpreted flirtatiously.

Javen’s edit makes him look duplicitous, so it feels right for him and Katisha not to end up together. However, Katisha’s lack of self-awareness to pivot hard to him once he started to negg her and tarnish Demola’s actions wants me to not see her and Demola ending up together (I think he knows his self-worth and wouldn’t want this either).

Sophie is likely to turn more heads, and this may be the downfall of Kieran’s relationship, from what the edit suggests, but moreso, I am intrigued how Kal reacts. Sarover was worried how he would react to Ashleigh and Bardha at their first pool party on the mini moons in Cyprus, but Kal deliberately mentioned not wanting to suggest to Sarover he wasn’t interested in her. He would also assume that Ashleigh and Bardha are committed to their fiances – Sophie, on the other hand, is shown to be flirtatious and unattached in the preview, so might take Kal by surprise, revealing if he really has beat his ‘type’ attraction .

What do you think will happen next? Which couples will make it beyond the altar? Will any new couples form?