{"id":3853,"date":"2026-05-18T19:30:59","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T18:30:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thetab.com\/filmshrine\/?p=3853"},"modified":"2026-05-18T19:37:35","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T18:37:35","slug":"off-campus-why-does-dean-hate-hunter-davenport-book-change-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thetab.com\/filmshrine\/2026\/05\/18\/off-campus-why-does-dean-hate-hunter-davenport-book-change-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Why does Dean HATE Hunter Davenport in Off Campus? Explaining the huge book change"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you were wondering why Dean Di Laurentis (Stephen Kalyn) hates Hunter Davenport (Charlie Evans) so much in Prime Video\u2019s<\/a> Off Campus, you\u2019re not alone – it\u2019s even left book readers perplexed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The new show is based on Elle Kennedy\u2019s 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)<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prime Video has already confirmed season two, and though we don\u2019t yet know which book it will adapt, everyone\u2019s hoping to see Dean and Allie Hayes\u2019<\/a> (Mika Abdalla) love story.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the two becoming a fan favourite ship in season one, there\u2019s one dynamic in Off Campus<\/a> that has everyone (myself included) confused.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

*Warning: Spoilers ahead*<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

So, what\u2019s up with Dean hating on Hunter?<\/h2>\n
\"Hunter
Credit: Prime Video<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the context of the show itself, Dean\u2019s issue with Hunter initially seems to stem from his attitude towards hockey and the team.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In episode eight, after Garrett gets chucked off the team, Briar University\u2019s hockey wins for that season are wiped off the chart, meaning they\u2019re starting at square one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dean, John (Jalen Thomas Brooks), and Logan (Antonio Cipriano) start spitballing ideas on how to rise the ranks again. Hunter\u2019s name gets brought up, with Logan saying he \u201ctore up the ice\u201d and was \u201ccrazy fast\u201d at last year\u2019s tryouts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But Dean shuts it down, saying, \u201cF**k no\u2026 F**k that guy.\u201d They joke that Hunter \u201coutskated\u201d him, but Dean insists, \u201cJensen offered him a spot on the team and he turned it down\u2026 The reason is that he\u2019s a selfish d*ck with a piss-poor attitude, and I\u2019m not f**king playing with him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

When John tries chiming in, Dean angrily tells him to drop it. In theory, you could argue he\u2019s not happy with Hunter\u2019s attitude, but Dean\u2019s reaction seems far too emotional and personal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Dean
Credit: Prime Video<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This clearly adds fuel to the fire (culminating in a messy fight in the finale), but it still doesn\u2019t fully explain the prior hostility Dean shows towards Hunter. This specific rivalry doesn\u2019t really exist in the original Off Campus<\/a> books, which has only added to the confusion.<\/span><\/p>\n

As said by one fan on <\/span>Reddit<\/span><\/a>, \u201cI 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?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis 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?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Allie
Credit: Prime Video<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cHe doesn\u2019t. This is a total TV show fabrication, doesn\u2019t exist in the books,\u201d said another, to which a third replied, \u201cHunter Davenport has his own book in the Briar U series called The Play.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

However, they added, \u201cHe\u2019s also mentioned I believe as early as The Mistake. He is NOT enemies with Dean in the books though. They\u2019re buds.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

But their friendship is also where we may find our answer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dean may be mad at Hunter due to his sister<\/h2>\n

In the Briar U novels, Dean is a mentor figure for Hunter. At one point, Hunter becomes roommates with Dean\u2019s sister Summer Di Laurentis, and he eventually develops a crush on her.<\/span><\/p>\n

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@magicallyselin<\/a> <\/p>\n

who is hunter davenport? let’s talk about the off campus book lore \ud83e\ude75\ud83c\udf1f#offcampus<\/a> @PrimeVideoDE @Prime Video @Prime Book Club \ud83d\udcd6 #bookish<\/a> #booktok<\/a> #hunterdavenport<\/a> #romance<\/a> <\/p>\n

\u266c In Every Lifetime – The Two Lips<\/a> <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n