I’ve been thinking about the use of various props and set pieces a lot lately in Off Campus and how the show actually uses them in a manner that advances the story forward. Hilariously, too often when we see food in a scene, we don’t always physically see characters eat it on-screen. The implication is there, sure, but on Off Campus, food means something. Apart from Tucker being a chef and it being tied to his character journey throughout Season 1, the way we see it as a love language with Hannah and Garrett makes me cry when I think about it for too long.
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As the season’s leading couple, there’s naturally a lot of development we’re meant to get, and the fact that every frame holds meaning is no small feat. Food isn’t just a love language, but in various cultures, it’s a matter of caretaking and community. It’s more than just nurturing the body; it’s showing someone you care, and the act of sharing it goes deeper than a holiday or a random dinner night.
The Domesticity of Hannah and Garrett Sharing Pasta Salad After Their First Time Together
There’s a lot I’ve said about Hannah and Garrett’s first time together, but not enough about the immediate moment after. The beauty we get in their physical intimacy is everything, and the quiet, casual intimacy we see afterward still has me in shambles. First, there’s the detail that Hannah is not only wearing his hoodie, but likely even a pair of his boxer briefs, too. The closeness that they already share after their mutual climax is bigger than anything either of them has experienced, and so the two of them sitting at the kitchen island together brings that familiarity to life in another light.
When they first start their ruse, Garrett brings Hannah a latte, not knowing her reservations toward drinks from strangers. And at that moment, she doesn’t trust him enough to take something from him, even if, say, she wasn’t lactose intolerant. It’s the canned drink at Dean and Beau’s party that shows a distinct side of him, but even more so, this is the scene that reveals to us how tenderly they can take care of each other.
It’s so telling that even though she has her own fork, he gives her the first bite from his. It’s a stark metaphor for what we just witnessed with their first time, where, for Garrett, Hannah will always come first. Her climax, her joy—everything. He means it with his whole chest at karaoke when he says, “I got you, Wellsy,” and this is further proof of that fact. Hannah comes first. Always. No questions asked.
I’m sure it kills us all that we don’t know what he was about to say before Zoe sends him the Snapchat messages, but I have a feeling it was something about her staying the night and maybe watching a movie. Despite the fact that we know he feels bolder with her, Garrett hasn’t fully processed the full extent of his feelings just yet. What we can be sure of, though, is that he loves being around her and doesn’t want her to leave. He wants to spend more time with her.
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That said, this scene of them sharing pasta salad from the same Tupperware is both a lazy tactic and a deeply romantic one. And it’s everything as it leads us toward more proof of how food is a form of caretaking both of them have desperately needed, and Garrett even more so.
I’ve already written about why it’s important that we got the shot of him bringing her a cookie in their “Bed on Fire” montage, so check that out for more emotions.
Hannah and Garrett Eat Cold Turkey Sandwiches on Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving at the Graham house brings the farthest thing from a comforting family dinner as it ends with Garrett breaking down in Hannah’s arms after finally telling someone the truth about how abusive Phil’s been. And following their scene in the car, it’s the words Hannah says when they’re talking about cold turkey that have stuck with me: “It’s not going anywhere. It’s reliable.” Because that’s yet another metaphor about them and their relationship. Hannah was clearly the one to suggest they go to Malone’s, and considering it’s closed, she’s likely the one who made the sandwich for them.
A scene like this is hugely significant after everything he goes through because the way Hannah looks out for him isn’t a form of love he’s had since his mom died. It’s precious how Tucker does it with the salmon bowl when he has to study, but it’s intentional that he doesn’t eat it then. He could’ve, sure, but it’s different when it comes from your partner. It’s different when they’re the one offering you food because it’s their way of looking out for you when you aren’t strong enough to do it on your own. And coming out of a breakdown like the one Garrett had, where he crumbled for the first time, this is exactly what he needed to feel safe.
It’s just a sandwich, yes. But it’s Garrett recognizing that, with Hannah, he has trust in its most indestructible form. He has incomparable comfort and a safe place to fall. He has someone who notices what he needs and gives it to him. And the fact that this is also the scene where she gives him the photograph she took from his childhood home is everything because it continues to cement the fact that she has his back.
And there’s something so beautiful about the detail that he doesn’t take advantage of the moment either. He’s cherishing it, and it’s obvious in the way he looks at her when he thanks her. She tells him it’s just a sandwich, and he packs everything into the word “still” when he repeats his thank you. Because it’s not just a sandwich. To Garrett Graham, this moment is everything. It’s a gesture he’s pocketing for safekeeping because breaking down in her arms was anything but easy for him, and yet he knows he’s never been more safe. Side by side with the girl who’s his entire world, and they haven’t even exchanged their first “I love you” yet. Still, it’s all there in the words he doesn’t say out loud. It’s etched in the way he kisses her, slowly, gently—with his whole heart.
Hannah and Garrett’s Lunch in Episode 6 and The Way She Reminds Him to Eat at the Hurricane’s Fundraiser
We make a lot of jokes about the differences in their plates during their lunch in “The Breakaway,” but it’s still yet another important scene that shows all the little ways they’re taking care of each other. More importantly, the scene that gets to me in the same episode is when Hannah slides over the uneaten sandwich when he’s sitting by himself at the Hurricane’s fundraiser. Because her reminder to him that he should eat is once again her way of looking out for him when he’s hyper-focused on the upcoming game.
It’s her way of being his partner through everything, and the fact that he actually takes a bite is A+ to see. Sure, it’s a small scene; this one is maybe even shorter than the ones we get prior, but it’s important, nevertheless. The way she holds on to his forearm in a casual gesture, and how he asks about Justin and the song again. Small moments of intimacy like this emphasize just how easy it is for them to look out for each other when everything feels like a challenge.
Nothing else comes easier to them than the way they look out for each other or take notice of what they need at any given moment and why. The important role that food plays in Off Campus is such a lovely inclusion, and I can’t wait to see if there are any instances in Season 2.
Now streaming on Prime Video: What are your thoughts on the moments where Hannah and Garrett share food in Off Campus? Let us know in the comments below.
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