Prime Video released the series "Off Campus," created by Louisa Levy and adapted from Elle Kennedy's book series of the same name, on May 13. The first season follows college student Hannah Wells (Ella Bright) and hockey captain Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli) in a fake dating arrangement.
Key Differences from Source Material
Several plot points in the show diverge from the original novels:
The Breakup: In the series, Garrett initiates a breakup with Hannah based on his fear of becoming like his abusive father. In the novels, the breakup was driven by financial leverage from Garrett's father over tuition. Showrunners Louisa Levy and Gina Fattore stated the change was made in part due to modern Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policies that would allow college athletes to earn money, reducing the stakes of financial threats.
Character Introductions: The show introduces characters from later books earlier in the timeline. The romantic relationship between Hannah's friend Allie Hayes (Mika Abdalla) and defenseman Dean Di-Laurentis (Stephen Kalyn), originating from Book 3, is established in Season 1. Episode 6 reveals their relationship after a setup in Episode 5.
Additional Characters: A new non-binary character, Jules, was created for the series. Jules, the sibling of character Logan, provides hockey commentary and campus gossip. The character Hunter Davenport (Charlie Evans) is introduced as a new hockey recruit and becomes a central figure in Dean and Allie's conflict in the season finale. Hunter has a history with Dean's sister.
Character Dynamics: The show expands Logan's crush on Hannah beyond what is depicted in the books. The relationship between Hannah's sexual assault trauma and the timing of its reveal differs from the book.
Season 1 Themes and Structure
The series incorporates romance tropes including 'opposites attract' and 'fake dating.' Both lead characters have backstories involving trauma related to sex and commitment. The season covers one college semester.
The iconic orgasm scene from Episode 3 was retained in the adaptation. Showrunners noted the emphasis on trust and vulnerability in the depiction. The series also highlights non-toxic male friendships, particularly between Garrett and Logan.
Season 2 Plans
Production for Season 2 is scheduled to begin in Vancouver. According to showrunners, scripts have been written. Actress Ella Bright indicated the second season will likely center on Dean and Allie.
Confirmed details include:
- Each season will cover one college semester
- The showrunners plan to adapt the first four books, with possible elements from the novella "The Legacy"
- India Fowler has been cast as Grace Ivers, Logan's love interest
- Actor Josh Heuston will not appear as Justin Kohl in the next season
- The showrunners expressed interest in a potential love story for Justin if Heuston's availability changes
The relationship between Hannah and Garrett will continue to be explored, focusing on challenges such as opposing schedules, real-world pressures, and the consequences of Garrett's actions from Season 1. The showrunners stated the goal is to depict "navigating coupledom" rather than a static happily-ever-after.