With the upcoming Off Campus TV series bringing the first book of Elle Kennedy’s series, The Deal, to life on Prime Video, there’s one question fans are asking: which moments will actually make it to the screen?
As one of BookTok’s most beloved college sports romances, The Deal is filled with scenes that don’t just define the story. They shape Garrett and Hannah’s relationship—fake dating, banter-filled moments, and even quieter scenes that somehow hit even harder.
If adaptations are involved, count us in. But if Off Campus wants to truly steal our hearts and become a standout romance series, it needs to capture what makes this story special. That starts with getting these moments right in the Off Campus TV series adaptation.
The Malone’s Bar Scene Set (“Tuesday’s Gone”)
This scene alone is easily a fan favorite—and I’m biased, but mine as well. It is one of the many pivotal moments in their relationship. This entire chapter is something promising for the two. Garrett promises Hannah that she can trust him and that if she wants to drink, he will look out for her.
I think at this point in their relationship, she does trust him, which is an odd feeling for her—but it happens. They head to Malone’s, where she finally lets her guard down and drinks.
This chapter is already an awe moment for the two, but when “Tuesday’s Gone” by Lynyrd Skynyrd starts playing, everything shifts. Garrett pulls Hannah onto the floor. It brings an abrupt stop to their fun night and turns the moment into something more intimate.
As they dance, this becomes one in a long line of moments that feel like more for Hannah. It solidifies everything when Garrett opens up about his mom and how the song connects to her. It reveals a vulnerability we hadn’t seen yet as readers at this point in the book.
It’s a turning point, no doubt about it. And it’s not because of Hannah’s karaoke or her seeing her ex—it’s because everything quietly changes right under their noses. This is where their “relationship” stops feeling like a way to make Justin jealous and starts to feel like something real.
On screen, as a longtime lover of Off Campus, this could be one of the most cinematic moments of the entire season. It would be even stronger if the Off Campus TV series on Prime Video leans into the tone and soundtrack of this scene.
I can imagine the tone of the scene completely shifting. The soundtrack choice—which I’m hoping stays the same—carrying just as much weight as the dialogue.
Hannah Runs After Garrett
Early on, Garrett and Hannah’s “relationship” plan revolves around helping Hannah get Justin’s attention—but the moment Garrett realizes this might actually be real is the moment everything changes. It’s when he realizes he might lose her to someone else—and not just anyone, but Justin.
At this point in the book, Garrett knows he wants Hannah. They’re sleeping together and might as well be boyfriend and girlfriend. The thought of “his girl” going on a date with Justin Kohl is nauseating to him. So, after a hockey game, he shows up at her dorm and asks her about the date.
Her reaction is almost immediate, and it’s not exactly subtle—for either of them. Hannah is afraid (and honestly, I’d be terrified to date Garrett Graham too, knowing his reputation and all). When Garrett walks away, it’s full of frustration and a sense of loss he didn’t quite know would hit as hard as it does.
I think a pivotal—and often overlooked—detail is that she didn’t run after Justin. She ran after Garrett.
What follows is one of the first moments where this “relationship” stops feeling fake and becomes something real. Even though it’s been lingering in the background for chapters, this is it. This conversation is actually mature from both ends, which I applaud them for. It’s nothing like the teasing banter they usually fall into, but something more honest. Suddenly, the idea of Garrett being someone she trusts and likes doesn’t feel like part of the plan anymore. It feels like something they both genuinely want.
It’s messy, a little confusing given his timing, and completely defining of their dynamic across all four books. Because from this point on, it’s clear: Justin was never really the point. And deep down, they both knew that—which makes this moment even more bittersweet.
When Hannah Kisses Garrett First
One of the reasons Hannah Wells goes down in history as one of my favorite FMCs is that she’s not passive in her own story. Even though The Deal is about both Hannah and Garrett, the book starts with Hannah. We learn so much about her in just one chapter. So when Hannah kisses Garrett for the first time, it only proves why I love her.
When she kisses Garrett, it’s surprising for both of them—not just Hannah, even though she’s the one who initiated it. It flips their expected dynamic, which up until this point revolves around tutoring and supposed jealousy. What started as “practice” for Justin Kohl suddenly feels very intentional. It’s clear that they’re not just tutoring anymore—they genuinely enjoy each other’s company. Not just the physical parts of it, but simply being in each other’s space.
There’s even a moment where Garrett admits he doesn’t remember a time when he just hung out with a girl and was friends with one. That speaks volumes about their relationship.
The feelings have always been there, but they were never just physical—and this kiss proves it was never just a deal.
More than just shifting their relationship, this moment represents growth for Hannah. As noted in a Teen Vogue article, Hannah hasn’t completely moved on from her assault. It’s not something that defines her every moment, but it still lingers, as it realistically would.
So when she initiates this kiss, she’s actively reclaiming control. She’s testing her boundaries and choosing what she wants instead of letting fear dictate her actions and the feelings that follow. It’s a subtle moment, but it matters. Not just for their relationship, but for her. It sets the tone for everything that follows between them.
The Chaotic “Second Opinion” Kiss with Dean
This scene has to be a favorite of mine as well, and it follows their first kiss. What started as a moment to “prove” to Garrett that Hannah knows how to kiss turns into one of the most chaotic and revealing moments in the book.
First, this scene really opens readers up to Dean Di Laurentis and truly solidified my love for him, even if he was severely playing the field in this book. When Dean walks in on Hannah and Garrett not only mid–first kiss but continuing it, and insists on being a “second opinion” of Wellsy’s kissing skills, everything shifts.
Hannah plays along—she clearly doesn’t want Garrett to know that the kiss made her feel something—but Garrett’s reaction in this scene says everything. In my opinion, it tells us as readers that he fell first, even if he doesn’t fully realize it yet.
Because suddenly, that wasn’t just a test—and this isn’t just some deal anymore.
This scene works so well because, like I mentioned, it introduces us more to the dynamic of the hockey boys Garrett lives with. It balances humor with tension really well. Most importantly, it marks the moment where these feelings become impossible to ignore. He might have liked watching Breaking Bad with her and just being in her space before—but now? He’s fully into her.
If done right, this could be one of those scenes that feels slightly unhinged in the best way. It brings a fun, chaotic moment right after one that already had us completely hooked.
The Campus-Wide “Hands Off Hannah” Moment
Throughout the book, we learn about Garrett’s past, and most importantly, how he doesn’t want to be anything like his father.
That being said, we know he has a temper—just not a physical one. One thing we can take from that, though, is that he isn’t exactly known for handling his emotions in the healthiest way. He reacts fast and doesn’t always think things through. Honestly, that makes for some of the best scenes—and the iconic campus-wide “hands off Hannah” rule proves it.
After things get complicated between them, and Hannah decides to break things off because of his father. Garrett refuses to believe her. So, Garrett being Garrett, he makes it very clear to the rest of campus that Hannah—his Wellsy—is off-limits. It’s messy, a little possessive, but let’s be honest—when we read it, we were all giggling. It’s easily one of my favorite moments, and seeing that come to life on screen will be surreal.
Underneath all of the humor that comes with the campus-wide rule, there’s something deeper. Garrett loves Hannah, and he cares about her. He knows she’s lying to him, and he’s determined to figure out why.
This scene is important because it shows just how much their relationship has changed and affected him. He used to be this hockey player who only cared about one thing—the NHL—and that was it. So watching him do something so chaotic and, honestly, hilarious is funny on the surface. But underneath all of that, we also see Hannah’s internal turmoil. Every guy on campus is suddenly avoiding her because of the one guy she’s actively trying to avoid. It’s ironic in the most frustrating way.
Their First Party Together
The fake dating trope happens to be my favorite trope. It’s only as good as the moments where it starts to feel real—and this is one of them.
When Hannah and Garrett attend their first party together, I’m already on the edge of my seat at this point. Not only does he think she looks good in red, but we also know Garrett’s internal thoughts by now. We see how much he enjoys being around Hannah. It’s just as weird for him as it is for her.
Even though attending the party is part of their arrangement, and they both know Justin will be there. It’s supposed to be simple. A performance to make Justin notice Hannah and ask her out. It’s another way to make someone jealous, right?
But it clearly doesn’t stay that way for long.
Between the lingering looks when Hannah is talking to Justin or Garrett is talking to Kendall, and the physical closeness that’s just for show, the lines begin to blur for him in this moment.
Garrett is suddenly paying attention to her—not just so she’ll tutor him, but in a way that feels intentional.
And for Hannah, being at a party and in that kind of environment is already a big step for her, which makes this moment even more significant.
It’s one of the first points in the book where readers see her putting her trust in someone she barely knows. We all know why.
When Hannah leaves her conversation with Justin to interrupt Kendall and Garrett, the chemistry becomes undeniable. For the first time, she doesn’t care if people see her leave with Garrett like they did at the first party.
And at this point, this is where the audience should start rooting for them without hesitation. Which I cannot wait for.
The New Year’s Call
As a first-time reader, I was devastated when Hannah broke up with Garrett. Truly, it felt like my heart got torn out and stomped on. But by the time New Year’s Eve rolls around, things between them aren’t simple—and they definitely aren’t great. Hannah is moping, and although she’s not exactly depressed, she isn’t happy being home with her parents either, because all she can think about is Garrett.
And yet, when she calls him on his birthday, it’s clear that the connection between them hasn’t gone anywhere. I even think this moment pushes Garrett toward the campus-wide “hands off” rule—because Hannah remembered his birthday, and most importantly, she called.
As a fellow Swiftie, I would die if “New Year’s Day” by Taylor Swift started playing—and that’s just one of the many reasons I need this scene on my screen. But that being said, please make it happen, Prime.
This moment between them is soft, full of unresolved feelings and uncertainty on both ends. It’s everything they haven’t said out loud yet—especially Hannah, who’s still hiding the real reason she broke up with him. It’s the fact that even when they’re apart, Hannah reaches for him—and he picks up right away.
If the series leans into the emotional weight of this scene, and their relationship as a whole, it could easily become one of the most memorable moments of the season. Even non-readers will feel it—it’s the kind of moment that lingers and hits deeper than expected.
At the end of the day, The Deal works because of the balance between humor and emotional vulnerability. We open with Hannah, who’s been through it, and Garrett, who we know nothing about—until we do. Then we know everything, not only about them individually but together.
If the Off Campus series can capture even a fraction of that, it has the potential to be more than just another hockey romance.
It could become something really special—not just for longtime Hannah and Garrett lovers, but for anyone who sees themselves in Hannah Wells.
But the real question—because there are so many—is: Which scene are you most excited to see brought to life?
Off Campus premieres May 13 on Prime Video, with all eight episodes releasing at once.
