Gen Z is supposedly having less sex than previous generations. If Prime Video’s Off Campus is anything to go by, though, those rumours can be put to rest. The show, which has set a Rotten Tomatoes record, is an adaptation of The Deal by Elle Kennedy and revolves around a bunch of really hot people trying to figure out life, love, and college.
The premise is simple. Garrett Graham is the quintessential American college jock who may be the greatest at hockey but is absolutely fighting for his life academically. So, naturally, he does what every fictional man with abs and a tragic GPA has done for decades: he finds a beautiful, smart girl (here, Hannah Wells) to tutor him. Hannah initially refuses because, shockingly, women in these stories do possess free will for at least ten minutes. But eventually, she agrees after Garrett promises to help her get the attention of her crush in return.
What follows is exactly what you think follows. Flirting, tension, emotional vulnerability, and two extremely attractive people slowly realising they are deeply, inconveniently in love. Revolutionary stuff, truly. Still, there is a reason this trope refuses to die.
If you were someone who devoured Heated Rivalry and the chaotic chemistry between Ilya and Shane, this might scratch a very similar itch, just in a far more hetero package with hockey sticks swapped for yearning glances across campus corridors. And while it is undeniably a treat for the eye in more ways than one, the interns at The Nod definitely had some thoughts:
- Off Campus is what you get if the directors of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Heated Rivalry sat down together to make a show about a couple of lovesick, horny teenagers.
- Of course Garrett has a back tattoo...in Latin.
- Is this Euphoria High? How are they not being dress-coded by the security at the gate?
- It’s always either English Lit or Philosophy… Who’s going to tell these producers that STEM majors are still a thing?
- The friendship between Hannah and Allie is so beautiful. I love how they complement each other as a ‘nerdy girl x theatre kid’ duo.
- The group sweaty workout scenes are just not doing it for me anymore. Next time have one of them read a book.
- Also getting a little tired of the nerdy tutor and dumb jock trope. Can we have some representation of the rare intelligent man as a romcom protagonist, just once?
- The healthy bromance between the Briar boys is so refreshing.
- Is it just me or does Justin Kohl’s accent sound more British than Australian?
- I want to befriend Allie just to raid her closet.
- So, Hannah has three men pining after her? It’s giving Belly from TSITP.
- Allie and Sean remind me of those couples where an ugly guy gets a hot girl and he immediately starts acting like he is the prize.
- Mentally prepared to see couples dressing up as JLo and Maverick on Halloween.
- I am calling it. Justin is such a pretentious douche.
- Hannah’s “I can’t orgasm with a guy, but by myself it’s fireworks”. Amen to that.
- Garrett Graham is Elle Kennedy’s apology letter to any girl that dreamed of finding hot boys in college but ended up disappointed with the reality.
- I think we can collectively agree that Drunk Shakespeare as an Honours subject would slap.
- Garrett Graham is a 10...but he cannot dance.
- I don’t think anyone is fully prepared for Allie and Dean’s season.
- Somebody needs to tell Justin to stop singing the “yellow aura” song; it’s disappointing on so many levels.
- This breakup scene makes me wonder: when will men understand the revolutionary concept of listening?
- There is something so warm, mature, and healing about this conversation between Hannah and her mom. For me, it’s the best part of the entire series.
- Why is there so much nudity?! This was supposed to be a cute romcom.
- The locker room scene makes me want to bleach my eyes. And why are we having this conversation in the men’s locker room anyway?
- We all need a friend like Allie.
- Petition for more screen time for Logan, the emotionally intelligent, caring, smart, sweet, sensitive boy the world does not deserve but I would very much like to dote on for the next 37 episodes.
- The yearning and the vulnerability we see in Garrett to be a better person… Definitely a man written by a woman.
- Whoever curated the playlist for the series deserves a raise.
- At the end of the day, it’s hot people, fantastic escapism and good after-work TV. What’s not to like?
