Episode Three Recap: 'I wanna snog you so bad'

What is gaslighting? It is a form of manipulation that seeks to sow seeds of doubt in someone’s mind… making them question their own perception and sanity.

So, basically Cassidy’s entire life right now. 

Bartender Cassidy had a “stinging sensation” in her chest which she pondered may be jealousy about her partner Grant and recently single Tayla flirting incessantly. Watching Grant claim he was shutting down the exceptionally hot chick who wanted him, while simultaneously telling said hot chick that he wanted to “snog her so bad” is a lesson to us all to never ignore any stinging sensations we may have. (A course of antibiotics will sort you out, quick smart.)To be fair, when Grant brushed off any sheet grabbing that night, claiming he was “so tired”, things didn’t look great. How tired can you get exactly, lying around sunbaking all day? We suppose it is exhausting maintaining two completely different versions of the truth. 

If you’re questioning Grant’s astonishing arrogance in thinking he can pull this off, it’s because in the outside world, Grant’s every move isn’t captured on camera and he doesn’t live with ten other people whose entire existence is based around talking about everything they are doing and fixating on hooking up with each other. It’s because he hasn’t quite worked out the girl he is telling one thing to sleeps literally two metres away from the girl he is telling the other thing to.  In the outside world. Grant doesn’t think twice about pulling this off – it’s status quo.

But this is Love Island. A magical place of possibilities, where a handsome bogan electrician can experience the heady wonder of two sensational chicks – one a former Miss Universe no less – both scrambling for his attention. He openly contemplates if he can secretly hook up with Tayla. Minutes later, he’s telling Cassidy it’s her he is loyal to. He’s smooth. He’s also called an asshole by at least three girls in this episode.  

Well that’s that then! Except it’s not. Because although Cassidy knows he is lying, knows he is trying it on and juggling like a sweaty circus performer, she reeeeeeally likes him. And the only other dude potentially up for grabs right now is Justin, and honestly, ain’t nobody going for poor Justin. Let’s face it, no one would have kissed him in the Spin the Bottle game, even if the question had been, “Which international male model thinks they are really, really ridiculously good looking?” Oh, and is apparently into gagging during sexy time. So, there’s that. Gulp.

Justin and his penchant for gagging aside, the other big issue in the house is girl code. Erin felt Millie didn’t exhibit girl code because she didn’t give her apologetic side eye when she locked lips with her man Eden during Spin the Bottle. She rips Millie’s “tiny eyed, tiny lipped” head off, telling her she doesn’t respect girl code. Turns out Erin just absolutely randomly loathes Millie and it’s not at all about the fact she kissed Eden.

“My mum would literally be at home just wanting to punch me through the TV,” muses Tayla.

Grant dresses as a worker in a 4-star Balinese hotel to break Tayla’s heart and then cop a verbal beating from Cassidy, who we all know is going to forgive him, despite his terrible choice in shirts.

Girl code – obliterated. Gaslighting – exploded. Grant – pink cheeked. Justin – gagging for a marinated piece of kangaroo. And we’re not even a week down.

We wrap up with a look at two incoming boys and learn we can choose who they date.

And on that note, we’re off to lodge our vote for Cassidy.