Content Consumed: Mahomes, Netflix, “de-influencing” and Love Island

Hello from the Portland snowstorm! (It’s snowed maybe an inch, but that’s huge for us.) In today’s edition of Content Consumed, we’re chatting about…

🔥 The “heart race challenge” is the heart of Love Island
🎬 Netflix’s new Quarterback series to focus on Mahomes
📣 Internet obsession of the week: “De-influencing”

Why the Heart Race challenge is peak Love Island

Last night—on Hulu’s release schedule, at least—was Love Island UK’s annual Heart Race challenge.

The boys and the girls get dressed up all sexy in costumes (this year included a stripped-down pirate, an American football player, a birthday present, a construction worker, and more) and dance on each other. The goal: send other islanders’ hearts racing. Asses smushed into laps, poorly-executed stripteases, and awkward motorboating is the norm.

Here’s why it’s an essential Villa challenge every year:

• Drama. If you’re in a strong couple, you don’t want to disrespect your partner by dancing too intensely on other islanders’ laps. But hey—you want to win the challenge. Maybe you and another islander are battling it out for someone’s heart. Don’t look too desperate! But you better give it your all and hope no one’s pissed after. But maybe you want to piss them off. That’s the game, baby!
• Reality. There’s no chance that all 14 islanders are good dancers. Sure, the producers will utilize choppy, quick edits with fast-paced music to make it seem like everyone’s got moves. But some of these islanders are stiff as a board and uncomfortable. We’re all human.
• Giggles. Example numero uno: Will, in his “sexy pirate” costume. This man has no sex appeal. None. I’m not the only one who thinks that; don’t come after me. So seeing him lick the necks of various ladies of the villa got giggles from other islanders and viewers like me at home. See also: Curtis, Season 5, pictured below.
• Bombshell opportunity. We ended on a cliffhanger last night, as a new girl came in looking like a damn Victoria’s Secret model, ready to give the boys their last dance. What better way to introduce a bombshell and get hearts racing? It’s an easy A for the producers, that’s for sure.

New show: “Quarterback” on Netflix

Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins, and Marcus Mariota.

I can’t think of three better picks for the first round of a new Netflix documentary series coming out this summer, called Quarterback. Mahomes set NFL offensive records and won both the Super Bowl and its MVP award; Cousins led the Minnesota Vikings to an NFC North Division title; Mariota (sco Ducks!) took over as the starting quarterback in his first season with the Atlanta Falcons.

The three players were filmed at home as well as during games. Naturally, Mahomes’ production company 2PM Productions and Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions were involved.

If Netflix is consistent, it’ll follow its usual sports-drama-doc formula, a lá Drive to Survive, Break Point, and Full Swing (as I’ve praised before), and this will be a hit.

Internet obsession of the week: “De-influencing”

At the moment, the #deinfluencing hashtag has 151.5 million TikTok views.

Within this tag, beauty creators are now telling you what NOT to buy—the viral products that aren’t that good, the brand names that aren’t worth the price tag.

This Refinery29 article argues that “de-influencing is not about negativity clickbait… the trend for de-influencing is actually making social media platforms a better, more trustworthy place.” Viewers now value authenticity over aspiration.

On the other hand, this Bustle article argues that de-influencing is influencing at its core: “This movement represents a public cry for authenticity, but it’s also a fact that the more controversial and counter-intuitive you are online, the more engagement you get. The joke is that “de-influencers” probably know they are influencing.”

In this case, I’d side with the Bustle author. If you’re telling someone to buy—or NOT buy—a product, you’re influencing their decisions and resulting actions. A+B=C, right?

And that’s it for today! I love you. Thank you for reading. Catch you tomorrow!

Cheers,
Casey

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