Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video’s hit series “Off Campus” concluded its first season with an unexpected twist. The secondary couple, Dean Di Laurentis (portrayed by Stephen Kalyn) and Allie Hayes (played by Mika Abdalla), find themselves in trouble when their decision to explore other romantic interests backfires. The controversy peaks when Allie chooses to get involved with Hunter Davenport (Charlie Evans), a choice fraught with tension given Hunter’s strained history with Dean.
Fans familiar with Elle Kennedy’s novels may have been startled by Hunter’s appearance in the season finale, as he is absent from the book “The Deal,” which the season adapts. In an interview with Deadline, the series’ creator and co-showrunner Louisa Levy shed light on this unexpected narrative choice. According to her, introducing Hunter served to inject an external conflict into Allie and Dean’s tumultuous relationship, hinting that this may be a prelude to what awaits in Season 2.
Levy mentioned, “[Hunter’s introduction] diverges a bit from the books. Our goal was to bring the internal conflicts out and keep the audience engaged, providing a new angle on this character while respecting his origins. Season 2 has some developments in store, but for now, that’s all I’m willing to share; we have a journey ahead before unveiling more.”
Hunter Davenport is a character from the Briar U spin-off series
Prime Video
Hunter Davenport’s reveal introduces a compelling double twist. Initially, he masquerades under the alias Carter St. James, which intensifies the impact when his true identity and relationship with Allie come to light. His late entrance into the story is notable since he features prominently in the spin-off series “Briar U” as the lead of “The Play.” Levy, in her conversation with Deadline, elaborated on the decision to incorporate this character in the series.
“Hunter is a significant figure in the ‘Briar U’ lineup, and we were keen on emphasizing that our narrative extends beyond just four books,” Levy commented. “We aim to explore the expansive universe of Elle Kennedy’s characters, introducing them in surprising ways, particularly those with stories yet to unfold.”
The way Levy describes it, the show intends to use Kennedy’s other works to complement the “Off Campus” books the series is primarily based on. As such, Hunter Davenport might be just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to surprise appearances. TV shows like “Off Campus” always want to keep the viewer on the edge of their seat, and this is a clever way to do that for fans who are already familiar with the novels.
“Off Campus” Season 1 is streaming on Prime Video.