Toby Aromolaran didn't just break the rules of Love Island etiquette; he basically set the rulebook on fire during episode 20 of the seventh season. It was messy.
If you were watching back in 2021, you remember the collective gasp when the "previously on" segment finished and we realized the Kaz-Toby-Chloe triangle wasn't just a minor drama. It was a total structural collapse of the villa's social hierarchy. Most people remember Chloe Burrows as a finalist and a fan favorite, but during Love Island season 7 episode 20, she was the villa's public enemy number one. It’s wild how fast things change in Mallorca.
Why Love Island Season 7 Episode 20 Still Feels Like a Fever Dream
The episode kicks off with the aftermath of that brutal recoupling. Toby, who had been coupled up with the universally beloved Kaz Kamwi, decided to follow his "connection" with Chloe. It sounds simple on paper. In reality, it was a car crash.
Kaz was standing there, dignified but clearly hurt, while Toby struggled to explain himself without sounding like a total villain. He failed. Watching it back, you see the exact moment the rest of the islanders—especially the girls like Liberty Poole and Faye Winter—decided they’d had enough of his indecisiveness. This wasn't just about a guy changing his mind. It was about the lack of respect shown to Kaz, who had been nothing but loyal.
The villa was divided. You could literally feel the temperature drop when Chloe and Toby tried to have a "chat" on the daybeds. Nobody wanted to talk to them. It’s rare to see a couple so isolated so early in the game.
The Brunch From Hell
Then came the "brunch." Producers love a staged meal to force people to talk, but this one felt particularly jagged. While the other couples were giggling over undercooked eggs, Toby and Chloe were in their own little bubble of defiance.
Toby’s logic has always been... unique. He operates on a frequency that only he understands. In Love Island season 7 episode 20, he famously tried to suggest that he wasn't doing anything wrong because he was being "honest." But honesty without empathy is just being a jerk, right? That’s what the viewers were screaming at their screens.
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Hugo Hammond’s Speech: The Tactical Masterstroke?
We have to talk about Hugo. The "nice guy" who couldn't find a spark with anyone. In this episode, we see the buildup to one of the most savage moments in the show's history, even if the actual speech happened right at the tail end/following transition.
Hugo was watching Chloe get sidelined by the group. He saw Toby treating her like a secondary option despite choosing her. Hugo’s role in this episode is fascinating because he’s playing the long game of the "protector." Some fans called it "white knight syndrome," while others cheered because someone was finally calling Toby out. It created this weird tension where the "friend zone" king suddenly became the most influential person in the villa.
The Reality of the "Test"
Everyone on Love Island talks about being "tested." It’s the ultimate cliché. But in episode 20, the test wasn't about attraction; it was about character.
Chloe wasn't just a bombshell; she was a catalyst. She knew what she was doing. She didn't mind being the "other woman" in the Kaz/Toby situation because she genuinely felt a spark. You can't really blame her for going after what she wanted—that is the point of the show, after all—but the execution was clumsy.
The conversation between Faye and Chloe in the dressing room is a masterclass in passive-aggressive reality TV. Faye doesn't hold back. She represents the viewer's frustration. She tells Chloe exactly why the girls are cold. It wasn't the stealing of the man; it was the giggling while Kaz was crying. That lack of "girl code" is what turned the villa into a pressure cooker.
Is Toby Aromolaran the Most Misunderstood Islander?
Looking back at Love Island season 7 episode 20 with the benefit of hindsight, Toby wasn't a calculated villain. He was just young and incredibly confused about how feelings work.
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- He thought honesty was a shield against criticism.
- He didn't realize that timing matters as much as the truth.
- He underestimated how much the public loved Kaz.
The episode shows him trying to navigate the fallout by talking to the boys. Liam and Jake were giving him "lad" advice, which, in retrospect, was like the blind leading the blind. They told him to follow his heart, but they didn't tell him how to do it without being a menace to everyone’s emotional well-being.
The Technical Breakdown of the Drama
The editing in this episode is sharp. You have these long, lingering shots of Kaz looking across the garden, contrasted with quick, frantic cuts of Toby and Chloe whispering. It builds anxiety. By the time the sun starts to set, you know a confrontation is coming.
It’s also the episode where the "OG" alliance started to crack. Up until this point, the original cast members were a tight-knit unit. Episode 20 shattered that. It proved that "loyalty" in the villa has an expiration date, usually the moment a new person with blue eyes walks through the door.
Why this specific episode ranks so high in fan memory
Most mid-season episodes are filler. They feature boring challenges where people get covered in slime for no reason. Not this one. Love Island season 7 episode 20 shifted the entire trajectory of the season.
- It established Toby's "redemption arc" (which would take weeks to complete).
- It turned Chloe into a polarizing figure who eventually became a hero.
- It solidified Kaz as the season's emotional anchor.
Without the chaos of this night, the finale would have felt empty. We needed to see Toby mess up this badly to appreciate his eventual growth.
What You Can Learn from the Villa Chaos
Honestly, watching these people navigate these situations is like a crash course in what not to do in your own dating life.
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Communication is the big one. If Toby had just sat Kaz down before the recoupling and been 100% clear about his feelings for Chloe, the backlash would have been 50% less intense. Instead, he tried to keep his options open until the last second. That’s where the "snake" labels come from.
Also, the "friendship" dynamics are just as important as the romantic ones. Chloe found herself isolated because she didn't put in the work with the girls. She assumed that having Toby was enough. In a house where you spend 24 hours a day with people, you need allies.
Final Thoughts on the Episode 20 Fallout
The episode ends on a cliffhanger that left Twitter (now X) in a literal meltdown. The tension between the "loyalists" and the "game players" reached a boiling point. It wasn't just about who was coupled up with who; it was about the moral compass of the villa.
If you’re rewatching season 7, pay close attention to the background characters during the big arguments. Watching the faces of people like Liberty or even the guys who weren't involved tells you everything you need to know about the social climate.
Actionable Insights for Love Island Superfans
If you want to understand the full context of this specific era of the show, here’s how to dive deeper:
- Watch the "Unseen Bits" from that week: There is a lot of context regarding Toby’s confusion that didn't make the main edit but shows he was struggling more than he let on.
- Check the social media archives: Look at the "Love Island" hashtag from July 2021. The real-time reaction to Toby’s treatment of Kaz is a fascinating study in public perception.
- Follow the post-villa interviews: Both Chloe and Toby have done podcasts (like Chloe's "Socially Awkward") where they break down exactly what was going through their heads during this episode. It turns out, the producers were pushing for certain "chats" to happen at the worst possible times.
Love Island season 7 episode 20 wasn't just a moment in TV history; it was the catalyst for one of the most unexpected love stories in the show's run. It’s proof that sometimes, you have to be the villain of the story before you can become the lead.