I’ve always considered myself a pop culture aficionado. From organizing the office Oscar pool to live tweeting along during appointment television, I was the girl you could count on to have an opinion on the latest entertainment buzz. But these days? My cultural references skew more Ms. Rachel than must-see TV. That is, until I recently binged the new Prime Video series Off Campus.
Based on the Off Campus book series by Elle Kennedy, this sporty (and steamy) college rom-com drama follows star hockey player Garrett Graham and budding musician Hannah Wells as they strike a deal: Hannah will tutor Garrett in philosophy if Garrett helps Hannah make her crush jealous. What blossoms is a fake relationship that forces them both to confront feelings they never expected.
A show like this would not normally be my first choice as a 40-year-old mother of two with a full-time job and a bevy of real-life responsibilities. But wouldn’t you know it, I somehow managed to consume this eight-episode series over a rainy holiday weekend. It left me clamoring for more time with Hannah, Garrett, and the rest of the Hawks (and the Puck Bunnies). I also dove headfirst into the Briar universe. Somehow, even with limited downtime, I have found the space in my schedule to jump into a second (okay, third) rewatch of Off Campus as I anxiously await season 2.
Editor’s Note: Light spoilers from ‘Off Campus’ ahead.
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Why ‘Off Campus’ connects with millennial moms
So what is it about a show centered on 22-year-old hockey players that appeals to millennial moms like me? While I can’t speak to the entire generation, a big draw to Off Campus for me has been the callback to other iconic romantic comedies of our youth. More recently, it seems that everyone who came of age in the early aughts has been lamenting about how the entertainment industry just can’t seem to capture the undeniable spark of a 2000s rom-com. A genre that once dominated the box office somehow turned into cynical fodder for many critics (most of whom seem to be male) and was chastised for being too cheesy and unrealistic.
“A big draw to Off Campus for me has been the callback to other iconic romantic comedies of our youth.”
The Off Campus series somehow offers a fresh take on some of the most iconic rom-com movie scenes. The show includes a post-makeover slow-motion descent down a staircase à la She’s All That. And a moment sitting cross-legged on top of a table across from your crush, like in Sixteen Candles. These films shaped a generation of young women and gave us reason to believe that the love of our life was just an (often embarrassing) meet-cute away.
A throwback to a simpler time
In addition to Off Campus’ nostalgic film references, I found myself positively giddy while watching and reminiscing about my own college experience. As a self-proclaimed theater nerd who met my future spouse—a Boston Bruins superfan, no less—on the first day of junior year at a New England university, I could relate to parts of Hannah’s experience. More importantly, it helped me connect to a piece of my past that I don’t often think about: the carefree college days with a blossoming relationship. One that I couldn’t have imagined would bring me two beautiful children and go on to 20 years’ worth of memories together.
We millennials have had a bit of a rough go of it when it comes to our formative years, and in today’s climate, it can feel like moments of joy are a little too far and few between. Watching Off Campus has given me a bunch of tiny little moments of levity amongst all the heavier experiences we have as parents nowadays.
The show also served as a good reminder that before we were “Mom” and “Dad”, my husband and I were just two crazy kids who happened to bump into each other on campus and struck up a friendship that soon developed into something more. While he initially didn’t act interested in my soapy TV obsession, he soon found himself following along as the lead characters fell fast for each other. It actually ended up being a cute catalyst for strolling down memory lane and remembering how we first met.
Nontoxic masculinity is on full display
One thing I wasn’t expecting as I dove into a TV series based on college hockey players? A glimmer of hope for the male youth. As a mom raising a son during a time in which society seems hellbent on destroying his psyche, I often feel like I’m working overtime to try to bring up a boy who is compassionate, kind, and respectful, especially towards the opposite sex. I was pleasantly surprised to find so many of the main males in the Off Campus series represent the type of guy I thought had gone extinct. There is no shortage of conversations about consent, trust, mental health, acceptance of LGBTQ+ characters, and more, all while set amongst the very macho backdrop of working out and taking hits on the ice.
“As a mom raising a son … I was pleasantly surprised to find so many of the main males to represent the type of guy I thought had gone extinct.”
Compared to some of the examples of “traditional” masculinity in media, as well as the onslaught of male antiheroes over the last decade or so (think Tony Soprano, Don Draper, Walter White, etc.), it was so refreshing to see a different kind of manhood play out on my screen. Even Dean, the most seemingly misogynistic character in Off Campus (of course, until he meets his match in free spirit Allie), has a deeply thoughtful and funny conversation with his friend and teammate in the very masculine setting of the college weight room.
After watching, I texted a friend who is a college professor. I pleaded, “How do we get this in front of the youth of America?!” It’s because I’m so desperate to see a change in how “strong” men are depicted on screen. I want less “boys will be boys,” and more “boys can be good guys, especially when other men hold them accountable and also support each other.”
‘Off Campus’ has a killer soundtrack
I find myself increasingly relating to my parents and thinking, “What is this?” every time I look at the top trending sounds. Currently, the soundtrack for the Off Campus series has been a major bright spot ever since I discovered the official playlist on Amazon Music. Filled with a mix of original music sung by lead actress Ella Bright, as well as some “oldies” (the character’s words, not mine), from ’80s classic rock to pop punk hits from our youth, the music in this series has quickly become my own personal playlist.
It’s a perfect mix of old and new. And I’ve discovered so many more artists that I had never heard of. I also love seeing certain songs from the show blow up online and give a huge platform to lesser-known acts, some of which are also part of the plot, like The Beaches. I knew the music was really hitting when my 5-year-old asked if we could make On the Floor our new after-dinner dance party track (anything for a break from the Spidey soundtrack, I beg of you).
The surprisingly sweet parental moments
One of the things I loved about Off Campus is that it’s not just a soapy college romance series (although it’s definitely NSFW). The storylines, both heavy and hilarious, are carried out by a crop of extremely talented but relatively unknown young actors who are likely going to be very busy in the foreseeable future. But there are also a surprising number of touching moments about the parents and parental figures in the show that I wasn’t expecting.
The characters are connected to their moms
While Garrett’s relationship with his former NHL star father is fraught (to say the least), his most tender moments are looking back at his relationship with his mother and how it shaped him into the man he is. Belmont Cameli gives a layered and nuanced performance as the star of Briar U’s storied hockey team. In addition to being super easy on the eyes, his ability to straddle the line between the big man on campus and a boy who is still mourning the loss of his mom provides a deeper look into who, on the surface, could be a shallow character.
There’s also a deeply poignant conversation between Hannah and her mother in episode seven that had me reaching for the tissues. Hannah calls her mom over what started as an innocuous moment that turned out to be anything but. It leads to her confessing her regrets over a situation from her past and its effect on her family. Despite taking place over the phone, it’s a beautiful moment between a mom and a daughter. It shows how deep a mother’s love and protection will go for her child. It was an emotional reminder that in times of conflict or frustration, sometimes we just need our moms to tell us that it’s going to be OK, that we’re OK.
A millennial mom’s final thoughts on ‘Off Campus’
These days, there’s a lot of heaviness in the air. Add in the weight of raising children, and sometimes it can all feel like a huge burden to bear. The Off Campus series is light, but not cheesy. It has a steady mix of heart, humor, and hunky hockey players (who are all of age—I checked). For me, it was the perfect series to disassociate with for a bit, without inducing anxiety. If you’re looking for me, I’ll be scouring YouTube for more cast content and fan edits in between school pick-ups and snack breaks, eagerly awaiting season 2.
Lindsay Scouras, Contributing Writer
Lindsay is a marketing and communications pro and freelance writer based in Rhode Island. As a full-time working mom of two sweet ginger kids, she spends her days answering questions about where her children’s red hair came from (spoiler alert: she has no idea). She is constantly trying to find balance between her day job, parenthood, creative aspirations, decorating her 100-year old colonial, and passion for all things Hollywood and celeb gossip. A New England native, she loves exploring all the charming destinations that the Northeast has to offer with her history-loving husband.
