Love Island USA season 7, many have been concerned that the new cast wasn't going to be able to live up to the incredible work of Love Island USA season 6's cast . Although fans are just getting to know Love Island USA season 7's cast, it's clear they're going to put in the work to become their own piece of reality TV history.

As the premiere began, with a surprising 40-minute delay on Peacock's side seemingly due to technical difficulties, Love Island USA season 7 seemed like a familiar friend as it got underway. The opening musical number, which host Ariana Madix ushered in last season with her debut on the show, made it clear that Love Island USA was back, and better than ever. After introducing the Islanders, the show made it clear that viewers were in for a different show than they expected. With a whole new style of coupling up and some steamy twists, Love Island USA is so back.

Love Island USA's New Cast Got Messy, Quickly

They Didn't Hesitate To Create Drama

As Love Island USA got started, viewers got to chance to meet the new Islanders and get to know more about what brought them to the series. While there are 10 Islanders who start on Love Island USA season 7, by the end of the episode, viewers had met two new Bombshells as they entered the villa to stir the pot. The first episode did a lot of work to introduce the Islanders and quickly get them mingling, bringing in Ariana to help things move along quickly. The Islanders spent some time together before coupling up, but things moved fast.

As the Islanders moved forward with their couples, which brought together Austin Shepard & Chelley Bissainthe, Huda Mustafa & Jeremiah Brown, Olandria Carthen & Taylor Williams, Bell-A Walker & Nic Vansteenberghe, and Yulissa Escobar & Ace Greene, the show featured a brand-new twist prior to the first coupling. The women were given the opportunity to kiss two of the men before making their choice, but the men were a free-for-all, meaning they could be stolen by anyone at any time. With just one steal, there were numerous kisses to start things up. Excitingly, the dynamics were quick to shift around.

Love Island USA's First Couple Shuffle Was Intense

It Left The Ladies In Control

As the Islanders settled into their new pairings, some found themselves clicking while others found themselves clashing. While Chelley liked Austin (who's been accused of racially insensitive behavior online after being announced as a part of the cast), she'd met Ace before Love Island USA season 7 brought them together and felt sparks with the TikTok star. Huda and Jeremiah were quick to couple up, but her shocking reveal that she has a young daughter could derail their relationship before it even starts. Bell-A and Nic had a sweet connection, but her hesitancy to get physical could be a problem.

With the couples figuring out who they like and who they don't, the most interesting moments of the premiere weren't in learning who each Islander was, but in seeing how they were conducting themselves. Chelley, Olandra, and Belle-A were quick to speak up about talking to one another when they wanted to try out different connections, while Yulissa seemed to be more interested in what she could gain being sneaky. The guys, who are typically more laid back, didn't seem happy to see Jeremiah invested in Huda so quickly. The group dynamics were an exciting piece of the puzzle.

The first challenge, so to speak, had each couple sitting together with blindfolds on. Host Ariana explained that they would each have the opportunity to sneak around the group and kiss whoever they wanted outside of their pair in complete secrecy. While it seemed like there would be some drama to the bait and switch, four Islanders chose to kiss around the campfire, but things heated up further when two Bombshells got their own turns. Newcomers Charlie Georgiou and Cierra Ortega each took turns kissing all the Islanders before sneaking away, and the drama it's sure to ignite will be delicious.

While Love Island USA is often messy, it's taken the last two seasons to revamp itself into a reality show that genuinely cares about its cast . Rather than featuring catty, petty behavior and rewarding it, Love Island USA typically shows its cast caring for one another and confiding in one another, despite the high level of drama they're all in the middle of. The bonds forged on Love Island USA are often emotionally intense, and seeing the cast building rapport quickly, investing in each other, and working through their feelings is the best part of the show.

Love Island USA Season 7 Feels Fresh & Fun

It's Going To Be A Long, Hot Summer

As a Love Island USA fan, watching the new season had some stewing in their nerves, but Love Island USA season 7 is a splash of cool water on a hot summer day. With interesting matches, intense emotions, and inventive twits that are keeping the show fresh, Love Island USA is showing that it can re-invent itself without losing its identity. Although there's a whole summer to go, the premiere episode of the season put its best foot forward, and it feels like things can only go up from here. Love Island USA season 7 is ready for its closeup.

Love Island USA streams on Peacock at 9 p.m. every day except Wednesdays.

Source: Love Island USA/Instagram