Grand gestures are an instrumental part of romance novels, and often a necessary piece of the puzzle when there’s a third-act breakup of sorts. However, sometimes the grand gesture comes right at the beginning of the relationship, and in that case, there’s a different significance tethered to its inclusion. In Off Campus, Hannah serenading Garrett with her version of “Baby Now That I Found You,” the song they danced to right before their first time together, is the perfect choice to say everything with so few words.
The surprising turn of events at Drunk Shakespeare subtly catapults everything into motion for both characters, and so much of what we see there is Hannah’s recognition that she and Garrett are kindred spirits. They not only understand music in the same way, but they aren’t as guarded around each other as they are with everyone else. Interestingly, she also knows that her singing centers him. She knows he appreciates it. And, despite the fact that she’s taken aback by the snapchats, deep in her heart, she knows that he also feels something more. It’s everything we see in the aftermath of their intimacy before all of this proves it, and it all comes to light when she finally recognizes that Justin isn’t her person. Garrett is.
First, to callback to what I wrote about the way they laugh together: “The layers in the shot of Hannah and Garrett laughing together might be the most intimate part of this scene because it’s exactly what shows us that this is the endgame. Because this is a love scene—it’s two best friends, lying next to each other, lost in a beat of happiness that’s wholly indescribable.”
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At this point, Hannah also knows that the specific song makes Garrett feel bold, so in order to get her words across, she sings it back to him—slower, in a way that shows her heart and allows some of that boldness to seep into her as well. It’s a breathtaking choice is what it is, and the fact the way that Samantha Bailey’s directing heightens every emotion the characters are feeling is no small feat. The way Garrett comes to an immediate halt once he hears her voice. How the camera tracks his point of view to amplify the dizzying emotions he’s feeling as he tries to search for her. The unguarded joy in his face when he spots her, then we pan into a close-up shot of Hannah singing some of the most intimate lyrics. It’s all stunning.
Ella Bright is a beautiful singer, and there’s so much she conveys in her voice, but the fact that we visibly see her pour her heart into the song makes the moment that much more gratifying. It’s also an effective parallel to the karaoke scene where she playfully throws “Cherry Pie” in Garrett’s face, only here—she’s giving him her heart with the callback. She’s choosing to be bold, and she’s choosing to be completely vulnerable in a way that she knows will speak to the part of him that knows her best.
The use of parallels in Off Campus is a particular strength that I’ll never stop praising Louisa Levy and the entire team of writers for. Every little moment is full of depth, and every seemingly small decision is intentional. The way that Garrett then runs to her—following her voice just as he did that first time in “The Practice” makes for such a brilliant moment because it reassures us that he’ll always let her voice guide him. He’ll be there through everything, chasing her and cheering her on, which we then get proof of at the Pop Showcase.
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Sound mixing is also something we need to give the Off Campus team more credit for because every time the music swells or drops, and we get the sounds of characters breathing is no small feat. It’s a reminder of how much the beat means to them and every emotion that it’s bringing out of them. Garrett running to Hannah, and finally catching his breath when he sees her? Perfection. We already knew how desperately he wanted her because we visibly watched him try to contain everything throughout the episode, but here, it’s all laid bare. Here, at this moment, he no longer has to hide the fact that she’s the only woman he’ll ever want.
At the same time, it’s also so easy to appreciate that he asks for clarification right before they kiss and cement the truth they both know: they’re on the same page. No more Justin and no more se!xy snapchats. The promises are simple, but they’re exactly what they need to understand that this is it. They both feel the same way. And it’s also easy to appreciate that this is another bit of consent Garrett Graham needs to know, without a shadow of a doubt, that Hannah Wells wants him the same way he wants her.
The way they punctuate their kiss and we move on to their “Bed on Fire” montage perfectly gives us a rom-com moment that’s rich with nuance in more ways than one. (I could break down every minute of their montage, too, because that’s how substantial every moment is, even if it doesn’t seem like it.) The layers in the show are remarkably endless, and it’s everything every time we take a step back and look at all the details.
What are your thoughts on Hannah and Garrett’s grand gesture moment in Off Campus? Let us know in the comments below.
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