But is some ways quite wonderful. It was a very different time...
Wondering what to do with your evenings before Love Island returns?
An improving hobby? Spending time with loved ones? Working on your Insta game in the hope of being scouted for the next series?
You could do any of those things. But what we did was go back and watch Love Island series one, episode one. And it is both VERY TERRIBLE and also great.
Here's what we discovered.
Caroline Flack was not famous then
It was only seven years ago, but it turns out that Caroline Flack was not such a famous face in 2015. In fact, when she turns up in the Love Island villa, the boys think she's a fellow contestant.
“Look at that little rocket… I’d steam through that if I had half a chance," says Jon Clark when Caroline appears at the window.
Charming. Which leads us to...
The way men talk about women is NOT OKAY
We can let the frequent references to "birds" pass, with a shudder. But some of the things that come out of the boys' mouths are beyond the pale.
Speaking about Jess Hayes, Luis Morrison says: “She looks like the kind of girl to be slaggy and stuff, you know, one of them ones?”
"Hmmm," replies Zoe Basia Brown, succinctly.
In another delightful exchange, Joshua Ritchieclaims: “Kind of girl I go for - tanned, nice set of tits, decent arse, and someone’s who’s good in bed. I do sleep around a lot.”
Jon Clark was handsome and funny
Look, we know what Jon Clark went on to become, OK? That time he called Kate Wright a slag in TOWIE? Not good. His whining about his alleged girlfriend Chloe Crowhurst going on a later series of Love Island? Bit childish.
But in series one episode one at least, he's good-looking and a hoot to boot.
"Lauren [Richardson], do you mind getting me a drink?" asks one of the boys.
"What did your last slave die of?" the woman now forever known as Lauren Love Island throws back.
“Well, I’m not going to tell you," Jon joins in. "It was an STD though."
Hair extensions have come a long way since 2015
Hannah Elizabeth's barnet is a multi-textured beast of beauty and joy.
There were always models and semi-famous people on Love Island
There's been a fair amount of grousing about recent series of Love Island being full of models and influencers like Molly-Mae Hague. But that was ALWAYS the case.
Hannah was a PlayBoy Bunny. Jessica was a glamour model.
And Lauren Richardson was infamous as the woman who 'broke up One Direction' after a photo of her and Zayn Malik having a lovely cuddle emerged in the press.
The cast had normal bodies
Well, fairly normal. Jon showed a refreshing lack of abs and the one bulked up guy, Jordan Ring, is referred to as the Hulk by the other Islanders.
Check out: Love Island series one cast - where are they now?
love island series 1 cast - where are they now
1 of 15Jessica Hayes - winner of Love Island series 1 (2015) - then
Jessica Hayes, along with Max Morley, became the first ever winner of the first series of the revamped show back in 2015.
2 of 15Jessica Hayes - winner of Love Island series 1 (2015) - now
Sadly, her relationship with Max wasn't meant to be and the pair split just six weeks after leaving the villa. These days, Jess is a fashion and make-up artist. In January 2019, she announced that she's pregnant with her first child with fiancé Dan Lawry. Their son Presley was born in July 2019. Jess announced she was pregnant with her second child in November 2020 but sadly suffered a miscarriage five months later.
3 of 15Max Morley - winner of Love Island series 1 (2015) then
Max joined Love Island series one on day 14, and was crowned winner alongside Jessica Hayes.
4 of 15Max Morley - winner of Love Island series 1 (2015) now
After winning the show, Max went onto appear on Ex On The Beach. He's had a number of reality star girlfriends since finding fame including Charlotte Crosby and fellow Islanders Zara Holland and Laura Anderson.
5 of 15Jon Clark and Hannah Elizabeth - runners up of Love Island series 1 (2015) then
Jon and Hannah were coupled up from the start of the first series, and finished in second place. They got engaged on the show but, sadly, it wasn't meant to be.
6 of 15Hannah Elizabeth (runner up of Love Island series 1 (2015) now
These days, Hannah is a proud mummy to baby Reggie, born November 2019. She's still modelling, and also runs a crystal healing class.
7 of 15Jon Clark (runner up of Love Island series 1 (2015) now
The reality TV obsessives among you (same) will know that Jon starred in TOWIE. He also dated Love Island 2017 star Chloe Crowhurst for a time.
8 of 15Jordan Ring - Love Island series 1 (2015) then
Zoe and Jordan carried on dating for a short time after the show finished, but the romance was over by the end of the summer.
9 of 15Jordan Ring - Love Island series 1 (2015) now
Jordan is now signed to a film featured artist agency. Whatever that means. He also flogs X-rated content on OnlyFans for $14.99 a month and is loved up with Instagram model Nina Joanne.
10 of 15Omar Sultani - Love Island series 1 (2015) then
Poor old Omar had a bit of a shocker after failing to find love and eventually being dumped from the island.
11 of 15Omar Sultani - Love Island series 1 (2015) now
Omar doesn't give too much away about what he's up to now on his social media, but he does go on a hell of a lot of holidays...
12 of 15Joshua Ritchie Love Island series 1 (2015) then
Joshua ended up coming in third place coupled up with pal Lauren Richardson.
13 of 15Joshua Ritchie Love Island series 1 (2015) now
These days, Joshua Ritchie is living his best reality TV life, having also appeared on Ex On The Beach and Celebs Go Dating. His two-year relationship with Charlotte Crosby came to an end in November 2019 and he's since been linked to CGD co-star Olivia Bentley.
14 of 15Luis Morrison and Cally Jane Beech - Love Island series 1 (2015) then
Luis and his former flame Cally actually managed to stay together after leaving the villa.
15 of 15Luis Morrison and Cally Jane Beech - Love Island series 1 (2015) now
They now have an adorable daughter called Vienna but are sadly no longer together.
Read more Love Island news
Love Island: Mike Boateng's family slam media following 'inappropriate behaviour' claims
Love Island: Eve Gale opens up about being separated from twin Jess after brutal recoupling
Love Island outfits: what are the islanders wearing and where can you buy it?
Watch: Alexandra Cane reveals she didn’t get onto Love Island like other contestants
Want to apply for Love Island? Can't say we blame you, we can't think of a better way of making £50k in eight weeks, despite what former contestant India Reynolds claimed.
If you want to appear on the show, your best bet might be upping your Instagram game as just six out of the 36 contestants in the 2019 show actually applied. The rest were found by show producers or put forward by their agents.
This article first appeared on Closer on 2 august 2019.