Off Campus The Deal Review: A Formulaic Steamy College Romance Elevated By Its Cast
I read The Deal in 2022 and did not like it enough to continue with the series. I recently got to know that the book had been adapted into a show, but I never really bothered to watch it until social media kept pushing scenes from Off Campus onto my feed. Even YouTube started recommending fan edits and videos related to the show. After watching a few clips here and there, I finally decided it was time to give the series a shot.
The story is very typical Wattpad material, the girl agrees to take “lessons in love” from the smouldering hot campus heartthrob in exchange for helping him with a subject he struggles with. Add plenty of sx, unnecessary ndity, and perfectly sculpted abs, and you get the ideal recipe for a heavily hyped TV show.
So, did I like the show?
Yes and no.
What?
Well, if I ignore the excessive n*dity (and yes, it contains pretty much everything you would expect from an R-rated series), there were certain aspects of the show that genuinely worked and made it enjoyable at times.
Off Campus (2026) (8 Episodes)
At Briar University, Hannah (Ella Bright) is focused on two things: keeping her music scholarship and getting the attention of her crush, Justin (Josh Heuston). The last person she expects to get involved with is the charming yet frustrating hockey captain, Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli).
However, when Garrett asks Hannah to tutor him, the two strike a deal: she will help him pass his classes, and he will pretend to date her to make Justin notice her. What starts as a simple fake-dating arrangement between a quiet music student and Briar’s biggest hockey star slowly becomes more complicated. Between late-night study sessions, hockey games, and moments of vulnerability, the lines between pretending and reality begin to blur.
As old wounds and painful memories resurface, Hannah is forced to confront parts of her past she believed she had already moved on from. Garrett, too, must face his own emotional scars before either of them can truly heal.
Review:
The show begins with a glimpse into the lives of its two leads, Hannah and Garrett. Hannah is a hardworking student juggling multiple responsibilities to make ends meet while also trying to maintain her scholarship and pay for college. She also happens to have a huge crush on Justin, the singer who performs at the bar where she works.
Garrett and Hannah share the same philosophy class, where he discovers that she scored an A while most of the class is struggling with the subject. Desperate to improve his grades and remain eligible for the hockey team, Garrett asks Hannah to tutor him. But Hannah refuses without a second thought. Between work, college, and trying to hold on to her scholarship, she already has enough on her plate.
The contrast between their lives is evident right from the beginning. While Hannah spends her nights struggling to write songs that will help her keep her music scholarship, Garrett is busy partying and hooking up with girls. So it makes complete sense why Hannah initially wants nothing to do with him. Getting involved with someone like Garrett feels more like a distraction than an opportunity.
However, things begin to change when Garrett notices Hannah getting flustered around Justin. Realizing he finally has a way to convince her, he offers to help Justin notice her in exchange for tutoring sessions. This time Hannah agrees, and the two strike a deal.
The premise itself is extremely formulaic and something we have seen countless times in romance dramas before. Yet what makes the show entertaining is the dynamic between Hannah and Garrett. Their personalities clash in ways that create both frustration and attraction right from the beginning. Garrett initially comes across as your typical campus playboy i.e. charming, confident, and used to getting what he wants. Hannah, on the other hand, is more guarded and practical. She does not instantly fall for his charm, which helps their interactions feel far more engaging than they otherwise would have.
One of the biggest strengths of the show is undoubtedly its cast. Ella Bright does a wonderful job portraying Hannah’s vulnerability and emotional trauma. She makes Hannah feel relatable and grounded instead of turning her into a stereotypical quirky romance heroine. Belmont Cameli, meanwhile, perfectly captures Garrett’s charming playboy persona but kinda struggles in scenes that require him to showcase the emotional depth hidden beneath the surface. Together, the two actors share easy chemistry that makes the fake-dating trope genuinely entertaining to watch.
Another pleasant surprise is the second lead couple, Allie and Dean. Despite not being the central focus of the story, actors Mika Abdalla and Stephen Kalyn manage to leave a strong impression whenever they appear on screen together. Their chemistry feels natural, effortless, and filled with the kind of playful energy that instantly grabs your attention. While Hannah and Garrett bring the emotional depth and angst, Allie and Dean bring a refreshing sense of fun and unpredictability to the narrative.
A lot of this works because of the actors themselves. Their back-and-forth banter never feels forced or overly scripted. Even simple moments like teasing each other, exchanging sarcastic remarks, or silently reacting in the background become memorable because of how naturally the actors play off one another. Their dynamic has such an easy charm that it is not surprising viewers are already demanding a season focused entirely on their love story.
However, one aspect of the show that really did not work for me was the excessive skin show. At times, it honestly felt unnecessary and overly graphic. For instance, there is a scene where Hannah walks into the boys’ locker room and every single guy is completely naked. And unfortunately, the scene leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination. Instead of adding humor or shock value, it simply ends up feeling uncomfortable. EEkkss!!
Still, despite its flaws, Off Campus remains an entertaining binge-watch for fans of college romances and fake-dating stories. The strong chemistry between the cast, emotionally engaging lead couple, and scene-stealing secondary romance help the series rise above its predictable storyline. It may not reinvent the genre, but it delivers enough romance, drama, and entertaining character interactions to keep viewers invested till the very end.
I give Off Campus 3 out of 5 rating. Watch it purely for fun. It is an easy, non-committal binge that does not demand too much emotional investment from the viewer. If you enjoy college romances filled with drama, chemistry, and plenty of steamy scenes, Off Campus will likely keep you entertained.
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