One Off Campus Couple Officially Justifies Changing The Order Of The Books For Season 2

Though Off Campus is based on Elle Kennedy’s new adult sports romance series, Prime Video’s adaptation is officially changing the order of the books — and season 1’s most surprising romantic pairing completely justifies why. While Off Campus season 1 primarily focuses on hopeful songwriter Hannah “Wellsy” Wells (Ella Bright) and hockey prodigy Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli), the show’s first eight-episode outing also introduces viewers to the romance between Garrett’s team and roommate, Dean Di Laurentis (Stephen Kalyn), and Hannah’s best friend, Allie Hayes (Mika Abdalla).

Book readers will undoubtedly have been surprised by the breakneck pace at which Dean and Allie’s love story is set up in Off Campus season 1, episode 6, “The Breakaway.” Originally, Dean and Allie’s romance is chronicled in the third book in the series, The Score, after Garrett’s best friend, John Logan (Antonio Cipriano), meets his soulmate, Grace Ivers (India Fowler), at her dorm in The Mistake.

Although Off Campus season 1 does secretly tease Logan and Grace’s upcoming story, with Grace briefly being mentioned as a raffle winner during the Hurricanes’ fundraiser in episode 6, it’s clear that Dean and Allie will be the focus of season 2. Prime hasn’t yet confirmed the news, but show creator Louisa Levy recently told ScreenRant that she was “genuinely so excited to dive into the Allie and Dean season.”

Following their sexy Thanksgiving weekend, the pair won’t suddenly slip into happily-ever-after mode in Off Campus‘ season 2 premiere — the antagonistic appearance of Hunter Davenport certainly saw to that — but the sizzling chemistry between Kalyn and Abdalla will ensure that Dean and Allie are worthy successors to Hannah and Garrett’s legacy. It’s not just the actors’ rapport that makes this pairing the right couple to lead season 2, however. Given the story changes Off Campus has made to the source material and the characters’ backgrounds, it’s the best choice for their romance and for Logan’s eventual love story, too.

Off Campus Season 1’s Introduction To Dean & Allie’s Love Story Makes Sense

Allie & Dean at the Halloween party in Off Campus

Any book-to-TV adaptation will inevitably make changes to the source material. In Off Campus’ case, the show has become more of an ensemble drama than an interconnected standalone series, a necessary shift from the books’ first-person narrative. This has given Prime’s adaptation more room to explore not just Hannah and Garrett, individually and as a couple, but also the rest of their inner circle.

Both Dean and Allie play a bigger role in their respective friends’ lives. One of the best minor changes the show makes in season 1 is that Garrett asks Dean’s advice on how to approach his first physically intimate rendezvous with Hannah, rather than one of their other teammates, giving Dean a chance to show off a softer and even wiser side long before he falls into a relationship with Allie. The first season is peppered with moments like that, allowing Dean’s growth during his fling with Allie to feel natural and earned.

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Allie, meanwhile, isn’t just the supportive best friend in the background. Given her close connection with Hannah, it makes sense for her to be the show’s next female lead. Even if the series hadn’t set up Dean and Allie’s story and only focused on Allie’s relationship with Sean (Riley Davis), her acting career, and her emotional need for love in season 1, “ignoring” Allie during a Logan and Grace-centric second season — it’s hard to say what kind of part would she play in that scenario — only to come back to her afterward would affect the adaptation’s pacing and tension.

In the show, Allie and Dean’s romance feels like a natural extension of Hannah and Garrett’s relationship, a logical next step now that their love story has brought their two friend groups together. Wanting to establish the relationships that happen between the first season’s original ensemble is only logical before bringing in entirely new and unrelated faces; Grace currently has no real connection to the house, the team, Hannah, or even Logan. That doesn’t mean that Logan and Grace’s story is any less worthy of attention, but this build-up suits them better, especially as Logan’s show story has changed as well.

Garrett’s & Logan’s Stories Are Too Close For Off Campus Season 2

Two characters from Off Campus sitting on the bench

Much like Hannah and Allie are best friends, Off Campus’ Garrett and Logan are best friends as well. Still, while Hannah and Allie are very different people, Garrett and Logan are undeniably similar. Not only do they play hockey for the same team, but they’re both vying for a future with the Boston Bruins, dealing with deep-seated and understandable issues with their parents (Logan’s mother is currently in rehab), and have feelings for the same girl.

Off Campus will benefit from changing its narrative themes and character-driven storytelling each season, as it explores that transitional period into adulthood that only a college campus can offer. Unlike the books, where the first-person narrative automatically alters the readers’ perception of the story, Off Campus has to find new ways to keep viewers engaged and excited about the show.

Including a season-long break between Garrett and Logan’s stories will give Logan the room he needs to grow and avoid the inevitable comparisons that would occur between these two characters. Dean and Garrett are close friends, yes, but they also approach life in vastly different ways. Dean leading season 2 creates a completely different atmosphere. That’s not to say that Dean and Allie’s story doesn’t include any heartbreak, tragedy, or difficulties, but they’re forced to handle other kinds of obstacles.

Then, of course, there’s Logan’s unrequited crush on Hannah, which is actually much more pronounced in Off Campus than it is in the books. In The Mistake, Logan soon realizes that his crush on Hannah isn’t so much about Hannah as a person, although he enjoys being friends with her. Instead, he wants what she and Garrett have. Logan’s closer relationship with Hannah in the show means he’ll need more time to come to terms with his feelings.

Seeing Allie and Dean — Dean, of all people — in a committed relationship before getting involved with Grace will make Logan’s longing for a genuine romance all the more understandable.

Off Campus Season 2 Has The Perfect Setup For Logan & Grace’s Romance

John Logan wearing his hockey uniform in Off Campus season 1

Allie and Dean’s half-episode interlude provides the show with the exact structure it needs to continue setting up future romances. Now that Grace has been name-dropped in season 1 and cast in season 2, Off Campus‘ sophomore outing can include a similar “breakaway” episode to introduce Logan and Grace’s love story — and it can continue doing so every season.

While Dean and Allie’s not-so-casual fling perfectly slotted into season 1’s Thanksgiving run-up (further proof that they were the right choice to lead Off Campus season 2), Logan and Grace’s story involves a time-jump, of sorts. In The Mistake, they initially meet when Grace is a 19-year-old freshman, and after a few fun hangouts and hookups (for context, Grace is sexually inexperienced when she meets Logan), the pair not-so-amicably part ways for the entire summer. They meet again just before the halfway point of the book.

Off Campus season 2 could potentially chronicle Logan and Grace’s story up to and including their unofficial breakup, with season 3 picking up the narrative during and after the summer. The beginning of their story is very different from Dean’s and Allie’s, just as their story differs vastly from Garrett and Hannah’s. Changing the order of the books this way provides a real narrative balance for the show, with each season offering a wholly different dynamic, exploration of physical intimacy, and, of course, romantic tropes.

All in all, Off Campus altering the series’ book order makes sense for the show. Dean and Allie are the perfect follow-up to Garrett and Hannah’s romance, and they’ll provide a great contrast to Logan and Grace’s story in a potential third season.

All episodes of Off Campus season 1 are streaming now exclusively on Prime Video.