Why does Dean HATE Hunter Davenport in Off Campus? Explaining the huge book change

If you were wondering why Dean Di Laurentis (Stephen Kalyn) hates Hunter Davenport (Charlie Evans) so much in Prime Video’s Off Campus, you’re not alone – it’s even left book readers perplexed. 

The new show is based on Elle Kennedy’s book series of the same name, with each entry centering on a different couple. Season one adapts the first book, The Deal, telling the story of Hannah (Ella Bright) and Garrett (Belmont Cameli).

Prime Video has already confirmed season two, and though we don’t yet know which book it will adapt, everyone’s hoping to see Dean and Allie Hayes’ (Mika Abdalla) love story.

Despite the two becoming a fan favourite ship in season one, there’s one dynamic in Off Campus that has everyone (myself included) confused. 

*Warning: Spoilers ahead*

So, what’s up with Dean hating on Hunter?

In the context of the show itself, Dean’s issue with Hunter initially seems to stem from his attitude towards hockey and the team. 

In episode eight, after Garrett gets chucked off the team, Briar University’s hockey wins for that season are wiped off the chart, meaning they’re starting at square one. 

Dean, John (Jalen Thomas Brooks), and Logan (Antonio Cipriano) start spitballing ideas on how to rise the ranks again. Hunter’s name gets brought up, with Logan saying he “tore up the ice” and was “crazy fast” at last year’s tryouts. 

But Dean shuts it down, saying, “F**k no… F**k that guy.” They joke that Hunter “outskated” him, but Dean insists, “Jensen offered him a spot on the team and he turned it down… The reason is that he’s a selfish d*ck with a piss-poor attitude, and I’m not f**king playing with him.”

When John tries chiming in, Dean angrily tells him to drop it. In theory, you could argue he’s not happy with Hunter’s attitude, but Dean’s reaction seems far too emotional and personal. 

Things only get messier later on when Dean discovers that Hunter is the guy Allie hooked up with while the pair were still figuring out their relationship. 

This clearly adds fuel to the fire (culminating in a messy fight in the finale), but it still doesn’t fully explain the prior hostility Dean shows towards Hunter. This specific rivalry doesn’t really exist in the original Off Campus books, which has only added to the confusion.

As said by one fan on Reddit, “I just recently read The Score by Elle Kennedy, so I thought it might be fun to watch the show now. I just finished it and I have a few questions, but mostly, why does Dean hate Hunter so much? 

“This is not referenced in The Score (Dean’s book) so that’s why I’m confused. Obviously they changed up lots of things from the book, but I’m confused about this, I’m guessing it’s referenced in another book in the series?”

“He doesn’t. This is a total TV show fabrication, doesn’t exist in the books,” said another, to which a third replied, “Hunter Davenport has his own book in the Briar U series called The Play.”

However, they added, “He’s also mentioned I believe as early as The Mistake. He is NOT enemies with Dean in the books though. They’re buds.”

But their friendship is also where we may find our answer. 

Dean may be mad at Hunter due to his sister

In the Briar U novels, Dean is a mentor figure for Hunter. At one point, Hunter becomes roommates with Dean’s sister Summer Di Laurentis, and he eventually develops a crush on her.

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♬ In Every Lifetime – The Two Lips

We won’t know for sure until more is revealed in the TV show, but for now, the leading theory is that Hunter hurt or messed around Dean’s sister in the past, which would explain why Dean seems to dislike him before the Allie drama even happens.

This was speculated by TikToker Selin, who said, “I don’t know if that’s the reason why they kind of fought in the show. I’m sure that this will be explained in season two or three… 

“I think in the show they threw in Hunter to create more drama and, you know, be a character that causes conflict. In the books, it’s not like that, so it is more friendly and Dean is his mentor.” 

That’s not necessarily a bad thing – it just means there’s plenty more story to tell in season two and beyond. 

It’s a theory Off Campus showrunner Louisa Levy hinted at in a new interview with Variety, where she was asked about why Hunter was brought into the story this early on. 

“He does exist in the Off Campus books before we get to the Briar U series, and we felt he’d become really important even earlier than his own book. He also comes from the same world as Dean, which made his arrival feel organic,” Levy replied. 

“We needed to throw a wrench into Dean and Allie’s arrangement to elongate their story, and pulling from that universe felt right – especially because he is a key player in Summer’s story when we eventually get there. 

“Knock on wood, I would love to keep making this for as long as people want to watch it.”

As for whether Dean and Allie will be the focus of season two – despite the fact that the next book in the series focuses on Logan (Antonio Cipriano) and Grace’s (India Fowler) story – Levy kept her cards close to her chest. 

“I don’t want to say anything yet, but I think book fans will be very excited about season two,” she said. 

However, when Hannah star Ella Bright was asked the same question, she gave an “enthusiastic nod.” Dallie shippers, sounds like we’re going to be well fed when the second season rolls around. 

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Featured images credit: Prime Video