Recommended Video
For as stereotyped as it can be, there’s a certain charm to the hockey romance sub-genre that you can’t deny, especially in literature. For years, it has been a popular go-to for a growing section of fans and readers. Only in the past twelve months have more people seen just how much potential the sub-genre has, thanks to the success of a little TV show from Canada that you may have heard of called Heated Rivalry.
Now, there’s a new series adaptation in town that reminds us of that young love magic on and off the ice rink. Prime Video’s adaptation of Off Campus already has hype behind it with its sizable and passionate fanbase who love the books. And it may be coming out at an opportune time, but on its own, it’s a fun, lighthearted, yet grounded love story that may play on tropes in the beginning, but finds its footing as a compelling watch.
RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Why “Off Campus” Might Be Your Next Favorite YA Adaptation
The Appeal of Hannah and Garrett’s Love Story
Based on the bestselling and popular book series from Elle Kennedy, the show follows an elite ice hockey team and the women in their lives as they grapple with love, heartbreak, and self-discovery. Season One mainly follows the events of the first book, The Deal, as viewers meet quiet songwriter Hannah Wells and Briar University’s all-star hockey athlete, Garrett Graham. The two don’t initially come off as a natural pair. But when Hannah wants to make Justin, her musician crush, jealous, and Garrett needs better grades in his philosophy class, the two enter into a deal. Hannah will serve as Garrett’s tutor while Garrett will pretend to be Hannah’s fake boyfriend.
What follows next is a fake dating and opposites attract romance between Hannah and Garrett. If that set-up sounds cliché, that’s because it is. It’s not the most inventive way to start a story, but the show does deliver on a satisfying and unhurried romance by the time it reaches its season finale. The ups and downs of Hannah and Garrett’s relationship deliver some of the show’s best moments, from their initial hesitation to the couple going all in.
There are the sweet moments between the two, but also the more emotionally-charged scenes that show how Hannah and Garrett come to know and connect beyond physical attraction. This is also aided by the strong performances of lead stars Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli. Their chemistry is palpable with the love and care they learn to have for each other, but what’s more impressive is how they turn Hannah and Garrett into multi-dimensional characters who, at least after the first episode, prove themselves more than first impressions might assume. As the show’s central protagonists and lead love story, Hannah and Garrett are characters you want to follow and root for.
And yes, the show does get steamy and graphic with some R-rated scenes, but such is the life of college kids in love.
Into the World of Off Campus
While season one centers on Hannah and Garrett, the show also introduces most of the book series’s main cast of characters. Most of the spotlight goes to Dean Di Laurentis (Stephen Thomas Kalyn), John Tucker (Jalen Thomas Brooks), and John Logan (Antonio Cipriano), Garrett’s best friends and teammates, and Allie Hayes (Mika Abdalla), Hannah’s best friend and roommate. This is also where another one of the show’s strengths reveals itself in the colorful cast of characters that populate this world and the joy, relationships, and tension they bring.
While they initially come off as archetypes when we first meet them, they become a lot more developed and fleshed out during the show’s eight-episode run. The later books in the franchise, and the show’s following seasons, each center on a different hockey player, but even in the first season, viewers already get a look into who these people are and the different lives they live. As the series goes on, more plot points are unraveled, leading to juicy twists and developments both based on the book and made original for the show that liven the season and set things up for eventual plotlines in later seasons.
All of the actors do a great job here, but the highlight goes to arguably the season’s breakout stars Stephen Thomas Kalyn and Mika Abdalla, who play Dean and Allie, respectively. Their dynamic on screen is electric, and their storyline is one of the show’s most tantalizing, which is best enjoyed unspoiled.
As much as Off Campus season one brings the romance, the show is also commendable for how it isn’t afraid to get serious and tackle heavy and sensitive topics. It isn’t just a love story, but a tale of young people trying to find themselves in the face of their challenges. For Hannah, it’s her trying to find her voice as a musician and navigating the aftereffects of abuse when her past comes back to haunt her. For Garrett, it’s him dealing with the pressures of being a star athlete and escaping the shadow of his abusive father.
Notably, the show doesn’t use the trauma to define the characters, but instead shows them dealing with it, which also plays into the commonality and safe space Hannah and Garrett find in each other. There’s a surprising amount of depth to be found here with its themes of love and growth that can be found both externally and internally.
Also, the show’s music deserves a special mention. The songs and roster of artists featured on the soundtrack are impressive, with a good mix of modern hits and classic bangers. Music also plays a key part in the story, in how it serves as a bridge for Hannah and Garrett, and makes for some memorable scenes, such as one in episode two featuring the two main characters and an Elton John classic.
The Show Is a Titillating Time
What makes Off Campus an enjoyable watch from start to finish is that, like with other success stories in the genre, it pays respect to its source material. There’s a genuine care here to not only do right by the book, but also tell a good story that builds on what makes young adult love stories so enticing. If YA romance shows aren’t your thing, Off Campus probably won’t convert you, but what is here is a charming, funny, and steamy exploration of young love and relationships that knows what the audience wants without dumbing down its characters and story.
Off Campus is now streaming on Prime Video.
Featured Image and Photos: COURTESY OF PRIME VIDEO
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on Elle Kennedy’s bestselling book The Deal, the first season follows the “fake dating” arrangement between quiet songwriter Hannah Wells and Briar University’s star hockey player, Garrett Graham. The two enter into a mutual agreement where Hannah tutors Garrett in philosophy to help him maintain his grades, while Garrett pretends to be her boyfriend to help her get the attention of her musician crush. While the setup relies on classic romance tropes, the show is praised for delivering a grounded and unhurried love story that evolves into a deep emotional connection.
Stars Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli provide strong performances that turn the protagonists into multi-dimensional characters who transcend their initial archetypes. Their palpable chemistry is evident in both the sweet and “steamy” moments, as well as in the emotionally charged scenes where they connect beyond physical attraction. By moving past first impressions, the actors make Hannah and Garrett characters that the audience truly wants to root for as they navigate the complexities of college life.
While the debut season centers on Hannah and Garrett, it also introduces a colorful cast of friends and teammates who will eventually lead their own stories in subsequent seasons. This includes Garrett’s best friends Dean, Tucker, and Logan, as well as Hannah’s roommate Allie. Breakout stars Stephen Thomas Kalyn and Mika Abdalla are particularly noted for their electric dynamic as Dean and Allie, providing a tantalizing subplot that helps expand the series’ reach beyond the central couple.
The show is commended for its surprising depth, as it tackles sensitive topics such as the aftereffects of abuse and the immense pressure of parental expectations. Hannah’s arc involves finding her voice as a musician while dealing with her past, while Garrett struggles to escape the shadow of his abusive father. Rather than letting trauma define them, the series focuses on how the characters grow through these challenges, using the safe space they find in each other to facilitate internal and external healing.
Music serves as a vital bridge between the two main characters and is a highlight of the show’s overall production. The soundtrack features an impressive roster of modern hits and classic tracks, including a memorable scene in the second episode centered around an Elton John classic. Because Hannah is a songwriter, these musical elements are integrated directly into the narrative, enhancing the emotional resonance of her bond with Garrett and making the series’ atmosphere more immersive.
