The use of a montage in a rom-com will always be a sacred tool for me because of all the layers etched into every frame. The emotions the actors convey, the way we see the passage of time, and the brief moments that are impactful in their simplicity. It’s all perfect, and in Off Campus, Hannah and Garrett’s “Bed on Fire” montage is a new standard for how it should be done.
Gorgeously shot, acted, and featuring a perfect needle drop with G Flip’s “Bed on Fire,” Hannah and Garrett strengthening the foundation their relationship is built on gives us the kind of addictive montage that’s also a masterclass in writing, directing, and editing from Nick Bragg, Erica Dunton, and Nathan Easterling, respectively. The way this montage immediately comes after Hannah serenading him with “Baby Now That I Found You,” and they officially get together, is chef’s kiss.
The Physical Intimacy
For Hannah and Garrett, seeing a more drawn-out version of their first time together in Season 1, Episode 4, “The Breakup,” matters substantially for us to get the details of how they build an unshakeable trust through their mutual climax. It’s significant for Hannah’s trauma, and it’s also vital to see how Garrett respects and understands her agency and autonomy. But the glimpses of what comes next and how comfortable they are with each other are stunning in the different positions the “Bed on Fire” montage explores. It’s the right amount to show us just how enamored they are with each other, how deeply they respect each other, and why they’re a perfect fit.
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Off Campus deserves all the flowers for how it uses music to amplify the emotions in a scene, and the song choice here is further proof of this fact. It’s hot. Period. But jokes about them setting the bed on fire aside, it’s the equal give and take in their physical intimacy that’s so momentous. Compelling. Raw. Outright gorgeous. With more romance novels being adapted, we’ve been getting solid depictions of female pleasure and why it’s paramount for healthy relationships. Off Campus gives this to us in spades—and a viral GIF that continues to rightfully trend on social media—but we also see it reciprocated, which matters because relationships should be about both parties. It matters that Hannah catches Garrett in the act of eating and also experiences it herself. It matters that, per Dean’s ridiculous (and correct) statement, Garrett does all the things.
But in this particular montage, it’s also captivating to see her give as well, and that, for once, a woman isn’t on her knees for it. Because often, when we’ve had male pleasure on our screens, the lack of a female gaze in the act doesn’t allow it to come across as an act of equality, but here, Garrett’s position on the bed and his complete surrender allow it to be witnessed as something that Hannah enjoys, too. (Which we know she does because of the books!) The act, in turn, doesn’t look derogatory or demeaning in any way, but dare I say, it looks like a work of art?
Garrett’s head thrown back, arms spread wide—there’s something so wildly stunning about this specific shot that you just know it’s never been this good for him before. Because it’s not about the act itself in this moment, but it’s the fact that it’s coming from Hannah. There’s also the frame where she’s in a similar position (head thrown back off the mattress) while he’s watching her come undone with the biggest smile on his face. The art of watching your partner’s climax rise and experiencing sheer joy from their pleasure is exactly why romance novels are so valued, and in other words, they’re exactly where they want to be. Do not disturb.
This is the case for every shot when we see them in a state of physical intimacy because it’s where you see the electricity in their desires. “Nothing is more vulnerable than sex,” Garrett tells Hannah during their first time, and in every single frame we catch them in, that vulnerability is on full display alongside the fire. The deep, ever-growing want they both have for each other—the reverence we see in every single one of their specific smiles.
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Each moment effectively showcases just how important physical consent, safety, and understanding of each other’s desires are in a relationship. It’s equal to the emotional details, and it’s proof of why physical chemistry matters, too. It’s why it’s all so hot and simultaneously tender, which makes it such an exceptional montage.
Lasagna Night
I know we all mourn a longer segment of the lasagna night (and I’d give anything for the deleted footage of the kiss at least), but everything about the brief moment still hits as it’s supposed to. Before the guys go to Drunk Shakespeare, Dean is the one who says, “Telling her is the right movie, G. We all f– with Wellsy and I think she’s good for you.” It’s a succinct shot, but it’s so easy to appreciate the way Dean leans into Hannah when they’re taking the photo because it shows us that he means every word out of his mouth. This moment isn’t just about Hannah and Garrett; it’s about all of them.
She’s the team’s first real girlfriend, but she’s more than that, and again, despite how cruelly quick this moment is, Stephen Kalyn sells the importance of the lasagna night by showing just how comfortable not only Hannah is with the boys, but how easy it is for them to be with her, too. And that deliberate choice to have Dean’s open laughter being a part of the photo makes me weepy. Those are her boys. And this scene is an open portrait that proves Hannah is home. With them, Hannah’s safe. Hannah’s appreciated.
The Game Day Smile
Another part of the montage that’s seemingly small but meaningful is Garrett’s nod to Hannah at the game. Despite the fact that he’s in his gear and most of his face is covered, the visible, slow comfort we can see in his face as he glides into the frame shows us just how easily her presence at a game centers him. It’s a thoughtful choice to include this lighthearted moment in the “Bed on Fire” montage because it deliberately contrasts his unease and turmoil during the St. A’s game when she isn’t there.
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When Hannah’s in the crowd, he not only plays better, but he plays smarter. He’s significantly less stressed, less anxious, and, adorably, he wants to show off a little for his girl. (Good for him!) Plus, Hannah’s giddy and gorgeous excitement is also such a stunning sign of how you start to love something just because the person you love does. She might not have been a hockey fan before, but through Garrett, she can see the good parts of the game that would’ve otherwise never appealed to her.
When someone you love has a passion, you want to embrace it alongside them. You want to cheer them on. You want to be their biggest fan. And on the ice, no one is a bigger fan of Garrett Graham than Hannah Wells.
It also feels important to mention how Allie being at this game is foreshadowing, too, because even though we aren’t aware of the fact that Allie and Dean are hooking up yet, her being there is such a wholesome reminder of how these two best friends will eventually end up dating two best friends.
The Cookie
Garrett bringing Hannah a cookie while she’s writing with Justin is one of my favorite micro-moments because on the surface it’s a sweet, small gesture, but there’s meaning here, too. Justin being in this frame also matters. The first time Garrett brings Hannah something, it’s the latte when he’s already late for class. He doesn’t know her order in this scene, nor is he aware that she doesn’t take drinks from people she doesn’t trust. He’s trying to be nice, but it backfires in his face before he pulls his whole “pretend you like me” comment.
Now, the cookie symbolizes the detail that he does know her. Intimately. He sees her. He knows her drink orders, her preferences, and every little detail that’s important in a romantic relationship. The brief shoulder squeeze is both a hi, and I’ve got you. The fact that she breaks off a piece of the cookie and eats it shows us that either this was a request, or it’s a thing he’s aware she wants. The nod to Justin then is also both a hi and the showcase to the audience that there’s a real camaraderie here. Trust. Understanding.
Again, it’s a tiny moment, but when you also take into consideration that food is a love language and understanding someone’s specific cravings is part of a romance, it makes Garrett’s gesture both lovely and full of meaning. Lunch is better when the two of them get to be together.
The Liquid-IV Photoshoot
We can all laugh at the fact that Off Campus is a giant Liquid-IV ad, but including the photoshoot in the show is a perfect reminder of how Hannah and Garrett support each other. She was the one to propose that he and Logan take the sponsorship together, and it says plenty that he’s taking her advice, but it’s also important that he wants her to be with him during all these moments.
All he does is wink, and yet, this might be one of the scenes I’ve replayed the most, and it’s not just because Belmont Cameli delivers a damn good wink. It’s because that’s the exact look that says, “my girl, my everything.” The smile she gives him right before he does it? Never has a man been more down bad. Weak in the knees. Et cetera et cetera. The wink also tells everyone in the room that he’s hers and she’s his, and I think that’s beautiful.
The Dirty Dancing Movie Night
Louisa Levy’s decision to tie Dirty Dancing to both Hannah and Garrett is one of my favorite decisions because everything about it makes sense on the show. It’s Hannah’s comfort movie, but Garrett loving it because it was also his mom’s favorite makes it a tether between them that adds ease to the heavy moments. The fact that he shares the truth about her when they first make their deal is crucial to showcase the minute detail that with Hannah, Garrett has an easier time opening up long before they get to know each other.
The way she’s slowly drawing her fingers over his forearm before he basically pounces on her is also such a remarkable way of showing how they give each other things no one else does. Before meeting Garrett, Hannah at least had Allie’s friendship and the comfort of someone holding her through heartaches or randomly dropping a kiss to her temple when she’s exhausted. Women, by nature, are more affectionate. But men aren’t exactly touchy with each other, and considering the walls Garrett’s had mounted before him with his friends, physical touch for him has often been in the form of hard hits at a game or random hookups. Because we see his visible detachment from Kendall in the aftermath of their hookup, it allows us to understand that he doesn’t cuddle or know what it’s like to just lie with someone.
So, really, every small touch from Hannah means something even more when we take into consideration that he must’ve been so touch-starved by casual intimacy like this. Sure, he could’ve had any woman he’s wanted, and he wasn’t lacking in that area, but someone holding his hand, grazing their fingers over his, raking their hands over his hair, holding him, and hugging him are forms of intimacy he’s been desperately itching for without even realizing it.
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Everything about her feels safe, including those early moments where he doesn’t really know much about her. The decision to tell her about his mom’s death matters, and while the Dirty Dancing bit is a sign of casual intimacy in the montage, it’s still crucial to reveal to us that they both see the movie’s value. In the book, we know they watch Breaking Bad together, but the show gives us a version where they watch a comfort movie that gorgeously encompasses healing and coming out of the shadows.
The detail that Garrett also can’t hold himself back from her anymore, and excitedly drops his lips to her neck and kisses her with a reverence that could put the sun’s damn gleam to shame, is so wholesome, it’s ridiculous. The fact that he doesn’t have to suppress his want is one thing, but the fact that he’s so enraptured by Hannah is another. I’ve pointed it out in every scene, but the way they laugh together is unmatched, and the fact remains true in this exact moment. They’ll clean the popcorn off the floor later because it’s all about their inability to hold back right now.
There’s also something to be said about how they aren’t watching in her room, but in the dorm’s common room, allowing it to be something that’s out in the open, despite the fact that no one’s beside them. (That they know of!) It makes Hannah watching the movie alone after their break-up ten times more heartbreaking because she has the memory of them on this very couch together, too. Still, it’s gorgeous.
Lifting Her on the Ice
(I can’t actually write about this scene without crying. Send help.) My favorite scene in Hannah and Garrett’s “Bed on Fire” montage is the lift. Full stop. The two of them, alone on the ice; Hannah in his jersey, and Garrett lifting her so effortlessly? Leave me here to cry. It’s one of the softest scenes because everything about its depth hinges on the breathtaking performances from Belmont Cameli and Ella Bright.
It’s adorable, really and truly. The way she almost trips, and he immediately catches and lifts her as he did after passing the test? Only this time, he can keep his gaze locked on her. He can take the second to let us understand just how precious this moment is for him. How precious she is. His whole world in his arms, in the one place that’s essentially been all he’s ever known before her. The fact that we see Hannah in his jersey after the karaoke night, and in the morning, when she opens up about her assault, almost allows the jersey itself to be armor of sorts, both for him and for her. So, the fact that we see her wearing it today says everything because here, it’s a clear portrait of the fact that even on the ice, she’s his home. She’s safe in his arms. She’s everything he never thought he’d have—unguarded happiness, comfort, trust, love. A person whose mere presence brings him everything. The fact that this is the piece of him she keeps when they’re broken up? Be still, my heart.
Again and always, the way they laugh together. But the slow, small smile once she’s in his arms reflects something even bigger. The complete sense of ease in his eyes in that very moment is everything to touch on the immensity of his feelings. It’s also a stunning metaphor to show us that Garrett will always be there to cheer on Hannah in everything she does, which we get proof of when he goes to see her at the pop showcase, even when they’re broken up. The lift is proof of how he’ll protect her and hold her through everything—the good, the bad, the ugly, and he’ll be the arms she can always fall back on. Every move, every gaze holds meaning, and once more, the layers that Levy and the entire team of writers and directors etch into every scene are profound through and through.
Holding Hands
There are a few things I love more than the fact that we have Garrett essentially dismissing the act of holding hands, only for it to become so instrumental in their relationship. For him, especially. He relies on her squeezes when they go over to his dad’s house for Thanksgiving, but there’s a moment in the “Bed on Fire” montage that floors me from a directorial point of view. We get a clear shot of their hands laced together, clutching. It’s an act driven by pure pleasure, yes, but that image is seared into my brain as a sign of just how reliant they are on every little touch.
We can laugh and make jokes like “Chill, bro, no one’s taking her from you,” but the reality is that they love each other so much, they don’t know how to show the magnitude. And again, for Garrett, it’s about all the different ways that physical intimacy is so different with Hannah because it’s never been this desperate and so achingly perfect before. He’s never felt this much before, which then confirms that every squeeze, thrust, and tug showcases the extent of his reverence for her. It’s equal parts hot and so very soft, I could cry.
Such an amazing article on this incredibly done montage on the show! Loved it!