It has been nearly two years since the last season of “Temptation Island” aired, and the reality television show’s return on Netflix did not underwhelm.
“Temptation Island” originally aired on Fox from 2001 to 2003 before it was revived and relocated to USA Network from 2019 to 2023. Then, the reality show took a hiatus for a few years before returning on a new platform: Netflix.
On March 12, the streamer released all 10 episodes of its first season of “Temptation Island,” featuring some of the same elements from the past and a few new twists, like a secret camera-free tent.
In the premiere, host Mark L. Walberg, who has helmed the series since it debuted more than 20 years ago, introduced viewers to the four couples who signed up for the wild experiment: Shanté Glover and Brion Whitley, Ashley Moore and Grant Larsen, Alexa Santamaria and Lino Troisi and Tayler Byrd and Tyler Breshears.
Each couple arrived on the island hoping to find answers to questions that have stalled their relationships. After explaining their problems to Walberg, they were introduced to all the tempters with whom they would live for the next few weeks. The couples then split and moved into separate villas with the tempters and temptresses, where they went on dates and tried to find the clarity they were searching for in their original pairing.
Although the couples did not interact, they saw brief clips every few episodes of what their partners had been up to, which revealed some unfaithful moments and hard truths. Through it all, Walberg encouraged the contestants to tackle their feelings.
During the final bonfire in the finale, all four couples reunited and confronted each other about everything that unfolded, including a threesome and more heartbreaking betrayals. As Walberg explained in the episode, each contestant was then given three options: leave with their original partner, leave with someone new or leave alone.
Read on for a recap of the last episode and find out which couples survived “Temptation Island.”
Brion and Shanté
The first couple to reunite was Brion and Shanté. While Shanté spent most of the experiment reserved and developing strictly platonic connections with the men at her villa, Brion decided to explore his sexual fantasies. He had a threesome with tempters Courtney Randolph and Alex Zamora. Brion repeatedly expressed that he didn’t have any regrets and that was confident Shanté would forgive him. When Shanté watched the footage of Brion cheating on her at the bonfire, she remained stoic, though the other women called him out for being disrespectful.
When the two met at the final bonfire, Brion immediately grabbed Shanté’s hands and pulled her into an embrace. He apologized and sobbed. Walberg explained that they each would be able to speak their minds, uninterrupted, before having a conversation where they could ask all the questions they needed to.
Shanté went first, recalling that Brion brought her on the show because he wanted to prove he could have platonic relationships with women. She said his actions made her feel worthless and that their love never mattered to him. She added that he didn’t behave like a man who deserves her and that she also saw clips of him disrespecting the women in his villa.
Brion repeatedly apologized and told Shanté he loved her. He said that the man he was before the experiment was “fake” and a “surface-level boyfriend.” He said he wanted to show her he had changed and was ready to be the boyfriend, future husband and father she deserved.
What did they decide? Brion announced his decision first. He said wanted to leave with Shanté and build back her trust. After stepping away for a moment and being consoled by a producer, Shanté returned to share her decision. She said she wanted to respect herself and potentially see this new version of him, but she had to choose herself for now.
While Brion said he understood, he added that he would’ve never crossed their boundaries in real life. Shanté then changed her mind and decided to leave with Brion.
She explained her change of heart, telling the cameras, “I believe in our love. I think that we can make this something special. And I am happy with my decision.”
Tyler and Tayler
Tyler signed up for “Temptation Island” because he wanted to prove to Tayler that she could trust him. But during his time on the show, Tyler quickly developed a connection with cast member Kay Carlson. The two shared kisses and multiple intimate moments.
Tayler arrived at the final bonfire first. When Tyler approached her, he asked for a hug. She shook her head, a glimpse of the icy interaction that followed. She pulled out a letter to share her thoughts on Tyler’s behavior during the experiment. She said she felt “played” and that his actions were “hurtful and extremely disrespectful” to their relationship. Tayler spoke about her growth on the island and said Tyler wouldn’t get to know the new version of her.
Tyler mentioned the bonfire clips he saw that hurt him, particularly a video of Tayler saying he had “b—- tendencies.” He said he felt “clowned” listening to her description and said that she took advantage of his insecurities. He also acknowledged his relationship with Kay, saying that she tempted him and opened his mind to new ideas.
Tayler pointed out it only took 72 hours for him to forget about her. He countered that it was because he realized he could never be the man she hoped he would become.
What did they decide? After tearfully telling Tyler that he was her “home” and “safe place” before they landed on the island, she said it was “gutting” seeing him fall in love with Kay. So, the rest of the experiment she focused on herself and said she realized she wanted to feel chosen. She said that she needed to choose herself and wanted to leave the island alone.
Tyler said he knew their relationship was over and wanted to leave the island with Kay. Tayler wished him the best and walked away. In her final confessional, Tayler said she didn’t feel like she lost anything because of the connections she built.
Kay then joined Tyler, who gushed about her while pointing out their relationship was still in the honeymoon stage. He asked her to leave the island with him and Kay agreed. She told the cameras she was happy to learn that their connection on the island was genuine.
Ashley and Grant
Ashley and Grant, another couple who dealt with infidelity before coming on the show, also struggled during the experiment. Ashley watched clips at the bonfire of multiple sexual encounters between Grant and tempter Natalie Cruz.
At the final bonfire, Ashley put her hand up and said, “No, that’s OK,” when Grant attempted to greet her with a hug. They glared at each other in silence before Walberg asked Grant to speak first.
Grant said that he had “enjoyed chasing” Ashley for most of their relationship but he couldn’t do it anymore because she was “unobtainable.” He expressed his love for her and lamented hurting her. But he said that he felt disrespected and belittled in their relationship.
Ashley began by saying she didn’t have a lot she wanted to talk about. She said she wished Grant had been honest with her before they came on the show and admitted he didn’t have the ability to stay loyal to her. She mentioned that it only took a few days for Grant to cheat on her. “You’re a serial cheater,” she told him.
He said he went through an emotional rollercoaster as he tried to figure out why their relationship didn’t work. He revealed he had been “forcing” their connection for a long time and that he should’ve called it quits.
What did they decide? Despite his budding connection with Natalie, Grant announced that he wanted to leave the island alone. Ashley said she wanted to depart with her new connection, tempter Danny Spongberg. As Grant cried, she told him, “I’m sorry you’re hurting and I’m sorry that we got to this place. I wanted you to be a good man for me and it just wasn’t working.”
They hugged before Grant left. He told the cameras that he liked Natalie but he needed to take time to figure out how to be alone.
Danny entered and Ashley told him she wanted to pursue their connection. He said he wanted to leave with her, too, and they kissed. She praised him for helping bring out a light within her that she hadn’t seen in a long time.
Alexa and Lino
Alexa and Lino were the only couple to remain faithful throughout the experiment despite the trust issues they revealed in Episode 1. When they first started dating, Alexa was seeing other people even though she told Lino they were exclusive. Throughout their relationship, Lino felt like he was a second option, causing tension between them.
As soon as Alexa saw Lino at the final bonfire, she became emotional. They kissed and repeatedly expressed how much they loved and missed each other. Alexa told him that she grew more on the island than she could’ve ever imagined. She said she felt “empty” when they arrived and she thought that was because she was co-dependent in their relationship. But she realized that she is independent and she felt empty because their connection is so special.
She added that she appreciated him, but he could not continue to hold her past decisions over her head.
Lino’s response was concise. He said he thought the show would be a wild and insightful journey but it ended up being “arduous.” He learned that he projected his insecurities onto her and apologized. Going forward, he wanted to provide the emotional support she needed and said he would leave his trust issues on the island.
What did they decide? Alexa and Lino revealed they wanted to leave together. She told him, “I want to leave with you, the love of my life. There’s no one else I’d rather choose.”
He replied, “You’re the only person on the earth that I would leave this island with. You’re the love of my life and the light of my life.”
Walberg congratulated them and the two left, hand in hand. They rounded the corner and saw a path of flowers and candles. Lino took Alexa’s hands and said, “From the first moment I saw you all those years ago, I knew you’d be mine.” He gushed that she was the most beautiful and kind woman he had ever known. He promised to cherish her before kneeling to one knee and proposing.
