Off Campus: From 400 pages into eight episodes

Turning 400 pages of a slow burn romance and drama into eight television episodes leaves little room to translate the character development and growth on the pages.

The television series Off Campus, released on the 13^th of May 2026 is based on the bestselling novel ‘The Deal’ by Elle Kennedy. This drama romance follows music student Hannah Wells, and Briar University hockey captain Garrett Graham, where they develop a friendship that started off as a tutoring arrangement. As time goes on this friendship sparks into a romantic relationship like no other.

The Deal novel has built a large fan base, with ‘BookTok’ driving this popularity and creating very high expectations for the television series. Hannah and Garrett both have complex backstories that are important to their personalities, specifically relating to issues with trust and vulnerabilities.

Film producer Louisa Levy said the team focused on the “things that were truly non-negotiable must-haves” while reworking other parts of the novel to fit the eight-episode structure. The challenge is whether these ‘must-haves’ have translated effectively to the screen.

Chemistry

Off Campus effectively portrays Hannah and Garrett’s chemistry and love story on screen, but condensing the novel into eight episodes means important moments in their character development and relationship are left out.

Hannah and Garrett’s emotional and sexual chemistry is the strongest part of the television series, which accurately reflects their relationship in the novel. Hannah and Garrett start off as strangers, before making a deal to help each other out. Hannah would tutor Garrett for his ethics exam, and in exchange Garrett would help Hannah gain her crush ‘Justin’s’ attention.

Their relationship in both the novel and the series starts off as very platonic, but as they spend more time together, tension and attraction grow. However, the television series reveals their chemistry earlier on than the novel. In ‘The Deal’ novel, Garrett notices Hannah in ethics class when she got a high score.

In the Off Campus series, Hannah and Garrett meet when Hannah accidentally walks in on Garrett naked in the hockey change rooms. This introduction works really well because it shows their immediate chemistry from the start through this playful scene.

Rushing their emotional journey

Hannah and Garrett have incredible chemistry, however their relationship on an emotional scale feels more rushed. In ‘The Deal’ the novel, Hannah carries significant trauma from being sexually assaulted in the past, affecting her ability to trust and engage in intimacy with anyone since. Hannah eventually opens up to Garrett about her past in episode 4, changing their relationship dynamic from physical attraction towards emotionally involved. Placing this important emotional milestone halfway through the season feels awkward, as their relationship hasn’t had much time to develop and grow, almost making this milestone feel insignificant. 

In the book, readers have more time to experience their relationship growing before Hannah finally opens up. The slower journey in the novel gives this moment more emotional weight, making it feel like a significant milestone in their relationship and journey together.

Garrett needed more

Garrett’s character development is also affected in these eight episodes, and more evidently towards the end of the season when he acts out. The series does give some context of Garrett’s issues with his abusive father, and the pressure of his hockey career. There is little room for the audience to truly understand why Garrett is acting out the way he is.

A prime example is when Garrett meets Hannah’s rapist and attacks him on the ice rink. His actions cause tension to rise and Garrett ends the relationship. This scene is dramatic and focuses soley on Garret’s anger, and not his emotions in the moment. The sudden jump from the incident to ending the relationship leaves questions unanswered for the audience. This is where understanding his past and issues with this father would help understand his behaviour. The heaviness of this episode could have been spread out over another episode to delve into the emotional impact on Garrett and their relationship.

Off Campus is very successful in bringing together Hannah and Garrett’s love story, chemistry and intimacy on screen, but these eight episodes struggle to convey the emotional depth and impact of the novel. The character development and journeys feel rushed and would have benefited from being more spread out over several episodes.