Either you’ve already watched Prime Video’s newest show “Off Campus” or you have seen clips of it all over your social media. The show premiered on Prime Video on May 13 and it has already become a hit! The show is based off of the “Off Campus” book series by Elle Kennedy. “Off Campus” is a five book interconnected series that follows four college hockey players and the women they fall in love with as they each navigate love, school and life.
The first season of the show, which is based on the first book of the series “The Deal,” follows the characters Garrett Graham, played by Belmont Cameli, and Hannah Wells, played by Ella Bright. When Garrett needs a tutor to keep his grade up and Hannah needs a way to get her crush’s attention, the two make a deal that Hannah will tutor Garrett if he’ll fake-date her.
After falling in love with the show on the first watch, it was time to begin reading the “Off Campus” books. Here are the biggest differences between Season One of “Off Campus” and “The Deal.”
Garrett and Hannah’s Meet Cute
The first difference between the show and the book is how Garrett and Hannah meet. In the book, the two meet because they’re in the same philosophy class and Garrett notices her. In the show, Hannah works maintenance at the hockey arena and accidentally walks in on Garrett showering after his practice. The two then “meet” again in their philosophy class. This isn’t the biggest difference, but it was interesting to see how Hannah and Garrett met was changed for the show.
Justin Kohl
Hannah asks Garrett to fake-date her so that her crush, Justin Kohl, will finally notice her and be interested in her. In the book, Justin is a football player, while in the show he is a musician in a band. In the show, Hannah and Justin work on a song together for their spring showcase, something that never happens in the book. This change did have an impact on the story because now Hannah had more interactions with Justin, while he seems to disappear halfway through the book.
Dean & Beau’s Birthday Party
In the show, Dean Di Laurentis and Beau Maxwell throw a combined 22nd birthday party. While the two characters share a birthday in the book too, they have separate birthday celebrations on different days – Beau throwing a party and Dean having a karaoke night with his friends. In the show, Dean and Beau’s Birthday Party is “Dynamic Duos” themed. This is a pivotal moment of the show for both Hannah and Garrett as well as Dean and Allie.
Dean and Allie
The biggest change between the show and the book is Dean and Allie’s relationship. The third Off Campus book, “The Score,” follows the secret relationship between Dean and Allie. The two don’t get together until the third book of the series, however the two began their secret “relationship” just a few episodes into the show. Their storyline in the show is something all fans have been talking about. It has been confirmed that Dean and Allie will be the center story for season two. We already can’t wait to see what’s in store for our Jlo and Maverick!
Hannah Kissing Logan
To prove to Garrett that him kissing her didn’t mean anything and had no effect on her, Hannah then goes and kisses Dean in the book; however, in the show, Hannah kisses Logan instead. This was a great change, especially since in the show Logan has a crush on Hannah.
Garrett Getting Advice From Dean
When Hannah asks Garrett for his help, he takes this request very seriously. In the show, Garrett asks Dean for advice which results in a very funny scene and conversation between the two. In the book, Garrett asks Birdie for advice instead. This was a great change because otherwise we wouldn’t have gotten Dean’s “respect” line.
Drunk Shakespeare
A pivotal part of the show was Drunk Shakespeare – which is something that never happens in the book. At Drunk Shakespeare, both Hannah and Garrett realize they have deep feelings for the other. Hannah also realizes that she doesn’t like Justin as much as she thought she did. This then leads to Hannah and Garrett finally confessing their feelings to each other. In the book, Hannah and Garrett finally confess their feelings after Garrett shows up at her dorm to finally share how he feels. Personally, the whole Drunk Shakespeare sequence was a great addition!
Garrett Saying “I Love You”
A small change that was made between the book and show was who said “I love you” first. In the book, Hannah says it first while Garrett says it first in the show. Having Garrett say it first in the show made the moment even sweeter!
Garrett Fighting Aaron
One of the biggest turning points of the show is when Garrett beats up Aaron Delaney for what he did to Hannah in high school. This fight leads to Garrett being suspended from the hockey team, and ultimately causes Hannah and Garrett to break up. In the book, Garrett instead beats up a friend of Aaron’s, and the altercation doesn’t cause Hannah to break up with him.
Hannah & Garrett’s Breakup
After Garrett fights Aaron in the show, Hannah angrily shares her disapproval with Garrett. Although Garrett was trying to stick up for her, she feels that she can stick up for herself. When Hannah tells Garrett that the fight scared her, Garrett automatically believes that Hannah is scared of him and that he is not good enough for her. This leads to the couple breaking up. In the book, Hannah breaks up with Garrett because Garrett’s father threatens to cut off his son if Hannah doesn’t leave him. Hannah and Garrett’s fight in the show was completely understandable, and personally, a better reason for the couple to break up.
The “Hands-Off” Law
One of the biggest things fans of the books are upset was missing from the show was the “Hands-Off Law.” In the book, after Hannah and Garrett break up, Garrett tells all the male students at Briar University to stay away from Hannah, or to keep their “hands off.” This “law” doesn’t happen in the show, instead there’s rumors there was a law and Garrett quickly shuts down the confusion. This was a change that obviously had to be made.
Season Finale Cliffhanger
There obviously had to be a season finale cliffhanger to keep viewers hooked for season two. The season ends with Dean planning to confess his feelings to Allie, but he finds out that she spent the night with someone else – that someone being Hunter Davenport. In the show, it’s explained that Dean and Hunter don’t get along, so when Hunter walks into Malone’s, the two get into a physical altercation. As we know, Dean and Allie’s relationship doesn’t exist in “The Deal.” (It also seems that Dean and Hunter are friends in the “Off Campus” books!)
“Off Campus” is the perfect show to watch this summer. In the show’s first 12 days, the show brought in over 36 million viewers, making it Prime Video’s third most-viewed debut season in history – breaking “The Summer I Turned Pretty’s” record.
Filming for season two has just begun and we already can’t wait to see what happens next in the “Off Campus” universe!