Off Campus Season 2: Hunter Davenport's 'Crimes' And Allie & Dean's Changed Book Trope Explained

2 weeks ago 14

Stephen Kalyn as Dean in Off Campus season 1

Published May 15, 2026, 2:00 PM EDT

El is a Junior TV Features Editor for ScreenRant, with previous experience as The Mary Sue's UK and Weekend Editor. She holds a Bachelor's in International Media and Entertainment Management, as well as an MA and Ph.D. in Creative Writing. There is little she loves more than discussing her favorite TV shows with fellow fans. One day, she hopes to publish an original fantasy novel.

Warning! This article contains major spoilers for Off Campus season 1, episodes 6–8, and Elle Kennedy's The Score.

Hunter's inclusion sets up a dramatic love triangle for Off Campus' second season, introducing a major new romantic trope in Allie and Dean's story. Their book journey is best described as a fling-to-lovers relationship arc, so Hunter's appearance will have come as a surprise to readers. Not only does the character not become vital to Briar University's romance saga until Kennedy's four-book Off Campus sequel series, Briar U — Hunter finds his own soulmate in the third novel, The Play — but the show fundamentally flips Dean's dynamic with Hunter, inserting him into Dean and Allie's relationship to create more romantic tension.

Everything We Know About What Davenport Actually Did

Charlie Evans plays Hunter Davenport in Off Campus Season 1

Show-Dean genuinely despises Hunter Davenport. In season 1, episode 8, "The Line Change," Logan and Tucker (Jalen Thomas Brooks) suggest recruiting Hunter after Garrett's suspension and fellow teammate Birdie's (Josh Chambers) concussion. Dean shuts them down immediately, calling Hunter a "selfish d*ck with a piss-poor attitude." Though Off Campus' first season never fully reveals why Dean hates Hunter so much, it's implied that it has something to do with his younger sister, Summer.

In Kennedy's version of the story, when Hunter is recruited to join Briar University's hockey team, Dean is genuinely enthusiastic about Hunter's prospects. He even jokes that he'll reward Hunter sexually if it will convince him to play for the team in The Mistake. Eventually, Dean ends up coaching Hunter, helping him improve his hockey game and his skills with women. So far, the one thing that's remained the same is that Summer and Hunter attended the same school — this could be important for the show's version of Dean and Hunter's history.

In the books, Summer is a free spirit, with her partying habits leading to transfers and academic probation. Off Campus season 2 could potentially reveal that Hunter was somehow involved with Summer getting kicked out of school before attending college. In Summer's book in the Briar U series, The Chase, they also dance around each other romantically — a kiss on New Year's Eve, an ill-timed date — before Summer eventually gets together with one of Hunter's teammates; maybe the show will make this part of their backstory instead, with their past "breakup" unleashing Dean's protective nature.

Hunter's Involvement Creates An Unexpected Off Campus Love Triangle

Allie smiles while looking flirty in Off Campus

Whatever Hunter may have done in the past will only fuel Dean's resentment in his and Allie's dynamic. Crucially, Book-Hunter has nothing to do with Allie and Dean's love story. In The Score, neither Allie nor Dean engages with anyone else after their first night together. Eventually, they stumble into a relationship, realizing that they only want to spend time together. In the show, Allie uses her hookup with Hunter to prove to herself that she can be happy while single, though obviously, this plan backfires spectacularly when Dean finds out she slept with his rival after he tells her he has genuine feelings for her.

Allie and Dean's segue in Off Campus season 1, episode 6, "The Breakaway," covers nearly 60% of their journey in The Score. While there are plenty of story beats still to cover, including Dean's work with the Hurricanes, Allie's LA audition, her dad's health, and Dean's eventual grief, Hunter's involvement gives the couple a completely new obstacle to overcome, expanding their story and giving them more time to consider each other as romantic partners. When done right, a love triangle can help the story's OTP realize why they're perfect for each other. Whatever happens next, Dean and Hunter's history will play a pivotal role in Off Campus season 2.

What This Means For Hunter Davenport's Off Campus Future

Briar University hockey team in Off Campus season 1

Hunter's introduction in Off Campus season 1 doesn't just mean he's been added to the ensemble early; it also means he can play a much bigger part in the story moving forward, beyond Allie and Dean's relationship. When he joins the team, he'll become part of Garrett, Dean, Logan, and Tucker's orbit. Presumably, Hunter and Dean will eventually bury the hatchet — after all, Dean originally agrees to try sleeping with other people before confessing his real feelings — creating narrative space for Hunter to find his own path at Briar and perhaps even meet his respective love interest.

The Biggest Changes Off Campus Season 1 Makes To Elle Kennedy's Books

Story changes in a book-to-TV adaptation are inevitable. Prime Video's adaptation of Elle Kennedy's Off Campus books is no different.

So far, Off Campus has only been renewed for a second season. Still, if seasons 1 and 2 do well enough, there's no reason Prime Video and creator Louisa Levy couldn't start thinking about the story beyond Kennedy's original four Off Campus books. If the show maintains the same structure as what's been used in season 1, then season 2 can hypothetically set up Logan's romance with Grace Ivers (India Fowler has been cast in the role) in season 3, season 3 can lay the groundwork for Tucker's story with The Goal's Sabrina James in season 4, and season 4 can introduce Hunter's dynamic with The Play's Demi Davis in a potential fifth season.

Off Campus season 1 makes numerous significant changes to Elle Kennedy's The Deal and the book series overall. Few will have as big an impact on the show's overarching narrative as Hunter Davenport's antagonistic introduction, however.

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