Off Campus, a new hockey romance series, has arrived and it is soapy, spicy and incredibly moreish. The show is a straight copy of Heated Rivalry, but instead of professional hockey players, it focuses on hot twentysomething college students. It is slick, fun and perfect for fans of bums, boobs, hockey and perfectly made trash TV.
The series follows Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli), captain of the Briar University hockey team and son of a hockey legend. He appears to have it all but refuses to let anyone become his girlfriend, possibly due to his mother's death or his hostile relationship with his father. Meanwhile, Hannah Wells (Ella Bright) is a music major whose scholarship is abruptly terminated. She must write pop songs for a showcase to secure funding, but struggles because she has never had her heart felt.
Hannah hates hockey and jocks, but she agrees to tutor Garrett in exchange for him pretending to be her boyfriend to make Justin, a singer she likes, want her. The plot makes little psychological sense, but that is not the kind of question viewers should ask. The show is elevated by genuine wit and warmth, and the traumatic backstories are handled with more grace than expected.
Secondary characters include Hannah's supportive best friend Allie (Mika Abdalla), who draws the eye of Garrett's womanising roommate Dean (Stephen Kalyn). There are also various 'puck bunnies' who hang around the hockey team. The fake-to-real romance is flawlessly executed, enhanced by the lovely chemistry between the two leads.
Off Campus is high-class, lovable nonsense that knows exactly what it is doing. It is deeply soothing and incredibly moreish. Sit back with your beverage of choice, turn off your brain and relax.
