Off-Campus Has a First-Pancake Problem

by

Everyone usually messes up the first pancake. The pan isn’t quite the right temperature, or maybe you didn’t use enough butter. It’s just a practice pancake – a way to figure things out before you make the good ones.

Prime Video’s new series, Off-Campus, is a light and fluffy start to your weekend. While Heated Rivalry used hockey as a backdrop for a complex, queer romance, Off-Campus leans into classic college rom-com tropes – think sweet, straightforward love. Based on Elle Kennedy’s book series, the show follows a charming meet-cute, a fake relationship, and the blossoming romance between its main characters, all within a supportive and welcoming group of friends. Expect lots of adorable college students offering advice and playful banter from every angle.

The story begins with Hannah Wells, a music student who has a crush on the lead singer of a popular band. She catches the eye of Garrett Graham, the star of the hockey team, whose dad is a former pro player. Garrett needs help in philosophy – a class Hannah aced – so they strike a deal. Hannah will tutor him if he pretends to date her, hoping to make her crush jealous. Surprisingly, their fake relationship starts to feel real.

As Hannah and Garrett fall deeper in love, Off-Campus starts to lose what made their story interesting. Both characters are dealing with difficult pasts – Hannah is still recovering from a sexual assault she experienced in high school, and Garrett struggles with the pressure from his abusive father. However, the actress playing Hannah, Bright, has trouble showing the full range of emotions the role demands. She’s natural and relatable in lighter, everyday scenes, but moments of intense joy, sadness, or passion feel forced. Cameli, who plays Garrett, is more subdued and believable, and the show might have been more impactful if told more from his point of view. Ultimately, Bright is asked to carry too much emotional weight, and she isn’t able to pull it off.

While not entirely the show’s fault, Off-Campus consistently undermines its romantic tension, relieving suspense whenever it builds. The series fills out the middle episodes with unnecessary storylines – a breakup for Hannah’s roommate, Allie; a sad backstory for Garrett’s teammate, John; and an episode about the chaos of a large Thanksgiving dinner, reminiscent of early Grey’s Anatomy. By the fifth episode of its eight-episode run, Off-Campus feels cluttered, disjointed, and lacking focus. However, the biggest example of its inconsistent tone comes towards the end, after Hannah and Garrett actually break up. During their most intense and upsetting argument, Hannah searches for Garrett and walks in on his entire hockey team completely nude. This is the only instance of full-frontal nudity in Off-Campus, and it’s treated as a joke, prompting a reaction of shock and amusement.

If the show was going for a purely comedic feel, the main character’s shock at discovering a room full of hockey equipment would be a great way to end the season. However, Off-Campus presents sex in a surprisingly wholesome way—the characters are young adults exploring relationships with consent and a surprising amount of emotional maturity and open communication. The show’s intimate scenes are playful, enjoyable, and satisfying for everyone involved. While Off-Campus does try to be sensual, it sometimes falls short. The initial spark, especially when Hannah and Garrett first become intimate and Garrett helps Hannah reach climax, feels like a tease. Unfortunately, the show doesn’t build on this, and the sensuality fades as the focus shifts to predictable friendship storylines and awkward sexual mishaps.

Despite some messy parts, Off-Campus shows why hockey romance is so popular. It’s not overly steamy, but it’s enjoyable, and its positive take on sexuality is refreshing, even if the intimate scenes are a little reserved. The story also handles difficult topics, like Hannah dealing with her past trauma, with sensitivity and care. Hannah is surrounded by supportive friends and loving parents. The book starts after the hardest part of her life, focusing on her confidence as she asks her attractive fake boyfriend for tutoring—and more.

Currently, Off-Campus offers enough content to keep growing numbers of hockey-romance fans entertained until a stronger series appears. While the first season feels like a rough draft, it shows potential – it could become a huge hit if it leaned more into dramatic tension, featured a more talented cast, and found a consistent tone. Luckily, Amazon Prime has renewed it for a second season, promising a new romance between Allie and Dean. This initial attempt at a straightforward hockey rom-com wasn’t perfect, but it’s a promising start. There’s clearly a demand for this type of show, and television is finally starting to deliver.

Read More

2026-05-19 22:54