It’s not a hyperbole to say that as women, we have trust issues. Whether it’s because of our own distressing experiences or things we’ve seen and heard on the news, most men don’t exactly make it easy for us to trust them the same way we can trust a woman. We’re used to walking with our keys wedged between our knuckles or pepper spray in hand and ready. Some women are even used to their partners lashing out at them for anything and everything. Because of this, it isn’t surprising that I’m seeing a lot of women point out the gentleness in Garrett’s reaction to Hannah at the St. A’s game in Off Campus Season 1, Episode 7, “The Faceoff.”
Written by Cheech Manohar and directed by Dawn Wilkinson, the entire episode is a brilliant display of why agency and autonomy are crucial in healthy relationships. While there’s a lot that happens throughout, the few seconds of vulnerability in the greenroom poignantly showcase why safety and trust are not only essential in relationships but also why men need to be aware of their emotions, too.
Hockey is an innately violent sport, but Garrett Graham isn’t a violent person. In fact, his more gentle spirit and unwavering respect for women are exactly what make him a safe place for someone like Hannah Wells. Understandably, however, the St. A’s game is a backdrop to reveal the anger that’s bottled up inside of him, bringing every single one of his fears to life through increments that lead to the final blow with Delaney. But it’s in the moments before that where Garrett Graham gives us a clear sign of who he is and what he stands for: Hannah’s safety, her well-being, and her joy.
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The fact that multiple women online (and likely those who aren’t on social media) expected him to react with anger says enough about where we are mentally and as a society. Jaded. Scared. Distrustful. We expect men to lash out because it’s what so many of them have often done, both in the real world and on TV. And with everything we’ve seen in Garrett so far, it wouldn’t have been shocking if this were a tipping point for him, too. Not directed at Hannah per se, but a result of all his demons coming to a boiling point. But again, that’s not the man he is, even when he’s capable of anger.
There’s also the detail that Hannah centers him in a way no one else can, so even as he’s wobbling on the edge with his dad and Cindy at the game, he isn’t mad that Hannah’s not there—he just needs her. The lack of communication doesn’t frustrate him; it worries him. Because on top of everything else—and Delaney crushing him further on the ice—his mind is racing with concerns that he can’t properly marinate on otherwise, he’ll spiral even deeper. The way he paces back and forth, how he tries to steady his breathing, and the metaphorical punches he throws at other people because of his fears are everything for us to see that Garrett’s desperation for Hannah’s well-being is also an anchor of sorts. If she’s okay, he’s okay. He can stay grounded. But right at this second, he doesn’t know that, so the fact that we watch him fall apart is almost crucial to juxtapose the tenderness in his reaction when Hannah finally steps through the door.
Belmont Cameli is so good at giving us visible reactions that in the books would be the space carved for exposition. The tension in his shoulders directly eases as he audibly sighs with relief. The light in his eyes makes an immediate return. There’s also something about the way Logan (unknowingly) repeats the words “Phil Graham’s son” as they’re fighting in the locker room, hammering in the fear that it’s exactly who Garrett will turn out to be. All of this contributes to his pain, but when he sees Hannah, for a moment, everything in him stills again. The noises blur, and all he feels is Hannah—her light and the love he has for her.
The fact that the first thing he says is, “What’s going on? Are you okay? Where were you?” allows us to hear the concern lodged in his throat because he’s still processing her presence. The way that he asks, one more time, if she’s okay when she says she was dealing with something continues to punctuate where his heart lies. Then there’s the next sigh, a little softer this time, seconds after she ran her fingers through his hair, giving him the physical reassurance that she’s fine.
And Garrett’s open plea for her to just text him next time is everything to strengthen their relationship because it’s gotta be a two-way communication. He’s always going to worry, and he needs her to at least give him some sort of sign that she’s okay. Subsequently, she gives him the space to open up, to say everything that’s on his mind, so he can continue to calm himself from all the forces that’ve been battering him during this game.
Garrett’s mind is a sea of darkness, pulling and tugging him deep through the waters. The power his dad has on his psyche is enormous, and we know this because of everything that happened at Thanksgiving when he broke down in Hannah’s arms. Yet, the fact that he recognizes something is still bothering Hannah, and asks her about it is also telling. It’s a clear sign that, genuinely, if Phil wasn’t at this game and if his mind wasn’t racing like a tornado, I fully believe he would’ve been able to clock her reaction to the name Delaney. He would’ve put two and two together. But it’s human that he doesn’t realize it in this moment, which then, of course, leads to his response on the ice that pushes everything to the next level.
Finally, there’s their kiss on the rink. The way that Hannah saying “Graham” doesn’t puncture him because the weight of his father’s terrors isn’t present when Hannah says it. It’s different coming from her because he feels the love she says it with, allowing this specific kiss to be the strength he needs to push forward in the game. His solace. His joy. His ease. The way he goes back in after they part, because once, twice is never enough.
The visible comfort that washes over him as they separate and he still keeps his eyes closed is everything to display the gentleness she brings out of him. Hannah is Garrett’s whole world, and the way that he fights as he learns the truth about Delaney also makes perfect sense because the thought of anyone hurting Hannah is enough to make the ticking time bomb inside of him explode. She might not have wanted it. It might be the thing that leads to their breakup. Her words later might bring all his fears right to the surface, but everything that happens in this scene still proves to us that Garrett Graham is a safe place.
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He’s a man with demons spinning inside of him who loves his girl so deeply—so reverently—that the mere sight of her helps him breathe again. And the way he reacts to her is the clear sign of who he is at his core and ultimately, what women need in a partner. His apology. His understanding of where he went wrong. The complex emotions are all so deeply human, but his softness in the greenroom is the kind of vulnerability that men shouldn’t be afraid of showing. It’s why it’s left such a huge mark on so many of us.
Now streaming on Prime Video: What are your thoughts on Garrett’s reaction to Hannah at the St. A’s game? Let us know in the comments below.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Liane Hentscher/Prime