It felt like the air vanished from the villa. Honestly, if you were watching Love Island All Stars Season 2 Episode 19 when it first aired in early 2025, you know the vibe. It wasn't just another Monday night. It was the night the producers finally pulled the trigger on the Heart Rate Challenge, and everything we thought we knew about the "solid" couples went straight out the window.
People usually get one thing wrong about this episode. They think it was all about the costumes. It wasn't. It was about the cold, hard data of a pulse monitor proving that certain Islanders were lying to themselves—and their partners.
What Really Happened in Love Island All Stars Season 2 Episode 19
The villa was already a powder keg. We had Ekin-Su and Curtis Pritchard trying to play "mum and dad" of the group, but the cracks were visible from space. Then the text came. The collective gasp when the Islanders realized they’d be dressing up to "raise the heart rates" of their fellow All Stars was peak reality TV.
But the real drama didn't start until the results were read out by Maya Jama.
The Moment Elma and Sammy Hit a Wall
Sammy Root had only been in the villa a few days after stealing Elma Pazar. They seemed to have this weird, built-in chemistry because they'd known each other for a year on the outside. But during the challenge? Ekin-Su went rogue. She didn't just dance; she basically claimed Sammy as her own for those three minutes.
✨ Don't miss: Why October London Make Me Wanna Is the Soul Revival We Actually Needed
When the results showed Sammy’s heart rate was raised the most by Ekin-Su, the look on Elma’s face was devastating. It’s that classic Love Island trope where "it’s just a challenge" becomes a three-hour argument by the fire pit. Elma was fuming. She basically accused Ekin-Su of crossing a line, and honestly, she kind of had a point.
The Curtis and Danielle Situation
While everyone was focused on the Ekin-Su/Sammy/Elma triangle, Curtis was busy making things incredibly awkward with Danielle Sellers. Remember, Danielle and Sammy had just arrived as bombshells and spent the night in the Hideaway with Curtis and Elma.
Curtis told Danielle he was "closed off" with Ekin-Su.
Then he danced for her.
Then his heart rate spiked for her.
It was a total mess. Ekin-Su spent the rest of the episode crying to Ronnie Vint and Luca Bish. You’ve gotta feel for her, even if she is the queen of drama. Watching her seek advice from Ronnie—the man who was basically juggling Harriet Blackmore and anyone else who walked in—was pure irony.
🔗 Read more: How to Watch The Wolf and the Lion Without Getting Lost in the Wild
The Arrival of the Omar Bombshell
Just when the heart rates had finally settled down, the producers dropped the ultimate "stay mad" card. Omar Nyame from Season 11 walked through those doors.
- He didn't waste any time.
- He immediately pulled Catherine Agbaje.
- He also had his eye on Grace Jackson.
The timing was brutal. The "OG" boys were already feeling insecure because their performances in the challenge didn't get the reactions they wanted. Now, a fresh bombshell was picking their girls for a romantic lunch date.
The Couples After the Episode 19 Fallout
If you're trying to remember who was with who after the dust settled, the villa looked like a game of musical chairs played by people who don't like each other.
- Catherine and Omar: The new "it" couple that nobody saw coming.
- Elma and Sammy: Hanging on by a thread after the Ekin-Su kiss.
- Gabby and Casey: The only pair that actually looked like they liked each other.
- Grace and Luca: Purely tactical at this point.
- Harriet and Ronnie: A toxic cycle that we all watched with our hands over our eyes.
- Curtis and Ekin-Su: The sinking flagship.
Why This Episode Was a Turning Point
Most people forget that Episode 19 was the beginning of the end for Scott Thomas. He was still in the villa at this point, but you could see the light leaving his eyes. He’d been through the ringer with Tina Stinnes and the "fakery" accusations from Luca.
💡 You might also like: Is Lincoln Lawyer Coming Back? Mickey Haller's Next Move Explained
Luca had basically blurted out that Scott’s feelings for Tina weren't real. In this episode, the heart rate results only backed that up. It was uncomfortable. It felt less like a dating show and more like a psychological study on how much public rejection one person can take before they pack their bags.
The reality is, All Stars Season 2 succeeded because it didn't lean on "new" people. It leaned on the history. When Ekin-Su cried, she wasn't just crying about Curtis; she was crying about the pressure of being "Ekin-Su" again.
Actionable Insights for Love Island Superfans
If you're rewatching or catching up on the series, pay attention to the background conversations in the kitchen during this episode. You’ll see the exact moment Ronnie decides he’s bored of the drama and starts looking for an exit strategy.
- Watch the eyes: During the Heart Rate results, look at the people NOT being called out. Their reactions tell the real story of the villa's alliances.
- Check the timestamps: The Omar arrival happens at the peak of the tension for a reason. It’s the "reset" button the producers use to prevent the cast from just making up and going to bed.
- Track the "Closed Off" count: Drink some water every time someone says they're "closed off" while clearly flirting with a bombshell. You'll stay very hydrated.
The fallout of Episode 19 set the stage for the massive dumping that followed just a few days later. It's the episode that proved All Stars wasn't just a victory lap for famous Islanders—it was a second chance to make all the same mistakes on a much bigger stage.
To get the most out of your Love Island All Stars experience, keep a close watch on the official ITVX "extra" clips from this specific week, as they reveal a lot of the dialogue between Elma and Ekin-Su that didn't make the main 9:00 PM edit. This context makes the subsequent recoupling much more logical.