Temptation Island SA episode 2: First date jitters and sparks

It’s a sunny day in paradise and the four couples are reunited poolside when they get served a surprise twist in episode 2 of reality show Temptation Island South Africa on Showmax.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for the second episode of Temptation Island South Africa!

Don’t get your hopes up because there will be no loving moment between the pairs. They’ve neither spoken nor held each other’s hands since they were separated into two villas in episode 1. And for episode 2, they are being brought together not for quality time and a little snuggle, but to pick their first dates among the 20 single men and women – while their significant other watches from the side!

It’s both nerve-wracking and heart-wrenching for the couples to witness the connections that their partners established with the singles.

And there’s drama between one of the women from the core couples, Nthabi, and her rival from the single bunch, Angelique. Their feud spirals when Angelique yells “Shut up!” while Nthabi is speaking. But Nthabi doesn’t allow Angelique, that stranger she’s nicknamed “Ratchelina”, to get the last word.

Instead, Nthabi threatens to “mop the floor with [Angelique].” And that’s only the beginning of their war, as Angelique then walks up to Nthabi and unexpectedly pushes her index finger onto Nthabi’s forehead. The audacity! Just like that, the gloves are off.

So, let’s get into the episode …

Testing the waters

First up, the four women get to pick their dates for a boat ride at the lagoon. It isn’t a surprise when Precious chooses Dain, the sexy model from Nigeria. They have undeniable chemistry and Dain seems to be falling fast for Precious – but this could end in tears and heartbreak, because Precious also has no intentions of dumping her boyfriend, Grant.

Estelle goes for stoic DJ and sound engineer Jerry, asking him to hold her hand to get a reaction from her boyfriend, Justin.

Musa goes for a safe option: S’bu.

And Nthabi opts for musician CeeJay. This is the same man who had a clash with her boyfriend MJ when the singles first met with the couples in episode 1. It’s also worth noting that her selection didn’t sit well with MJ.

Picking dates & picking fights

Next it’s the four men’s turn to pick dates for a picnic at an elephant sanctuary. Grant chooses upholstery owner Coco, who quickly gets under his girlfriend Precious’s skin when she rubs Grant’s shoulders in full view of her. To add insult to injury, the rest of the single ladies make Precious increasingly uncomfortable when they cheer Coco on and pass comments like “[Coco and Grant] just look right [together].”

Justin asks fitness guru Angelique on a date. She accepts his offer, before rubbing her “win” in Nthabi’s face. Their heated feud forces host Phat Joe to intervene.

Sifiso chooses musician Dimpho, and sparks fly, while MJ selects the sweet and charming entrepreneur Bontle, seeing that he’s burnt his bridges with most of the single ladies.

And it seems both Sifiso and MJ are slowly falling for their first dates, which could soon compromise their relationships with their girlfriends.

Introducing the bonfire experience

At the end of the episode, the four women attend their first bonfire session. If they think that seeing their partners select dates is cruel, this is even worse.

In this segment of the reality show, the couples are presented with a short video of their partner’s experience in Paradise beside a campfire in the garden. This recording could either be of their partner flirting with another single, or bashing their relationship. That isn’t all: the clip is vague – so vague, it doesn’t provide context to their partner’s conversation. More than anything, it drives the couples over the edge, and it leaves them with unanswered questions.

Musa is the first to glimpse into her boyfriend Sifiso’s journey on the small screen. Her facial reactions are enough to let us know that she isn’t pleased. But you’ll have to tune into next week’s episode to hear what’s on her mind, and how the other clips with the three men unfold…

The moments in episode 2 that have us shook

Sifiso resists temptation

When Sifiso goes to bed early the evening before the first dates, his front-runner Dimpho asks whether she can spend some alone time with him in his room. She promises that they’ll just talk, nothing more.

While the offer is enticing, Sifiso can’t afford to take the risk of getting caught in a compromising position with her – at least, not this early in the game.

Addressing the elephant in the veld

During their date at the elephant sanctuary, Bontle is eager to get insight into MJ’s sexuality and his misunderstood personality. He completely lets his guard down and he reveals that he is “proudly” bisexual. MJ’s vulnerability draws Bontle closer, to the point where she’s convinced that she stands a chance with him.

A word of warning to Bontle: attempting to steal Nthabi’s man will only land her in hot water.

If you can’t handle the deep end, get out of the pool

To shake things up, Eve and Lilita interrupt Grant and Coco’s one-on-one at the pool. The two ladies not only twerk in Grant’s face, but Eve ups the ante when she grinds on his hips, leaving Coco seething with anger.

Don’t miss the next episode, because you can be sure Coco will have a bone to pick with Lilita and Eve.

Stream the first two episodes of Temptation Island South Africa now. New episodes arrive every Thursday from midnight, only on Showmax.