On the heels of a dramatic season finale and a much-anticipated new adaptation, two hit series—Prime Video’s Off Campus and HBO’s The Pitt—are capturing the attention of viewers and critics alike. Both shows, though wildly different in setting and tone, are connected by the rising star Jalen Thomas Brooks and a shared focus on the complexities of found families, personal growth, and the burdens of care. As fans speculate about the fates of their favorite characters, the actors and creators are offering rare glimpses into the creative process, character arcs, and the emotional weight behind the scenes.
Jalen Thomas Brooks, who first broke out on The Pitt, now finds himself at the center of another ensemble in Off Campus. In a recent interview with Deadline published on May 14, 2026, Brooks discussed how he connected with his new role as John Tucker, the peacemaker and cook on the Briar U Hawks hockey team. "There was a lot of things that I connected to personally in my life, just how I am in my friend groups, and I grew up playing a lot of competitive basketball. I was always the youngest and the younger brother of all my sports teams, so playing a character in a different sport under a Booktok IP was a mesh of all these worlds that I thought would be fun to dive into," Brooks explained to Deadline.
Brooks’ character, Tucker, is more than just comic relief or the team’s resident chef. He’s the glue that holds the group together, embodying motherly instincts and a desire to care for everyone around him—a trait Brooks attributes to Tucker’s upbringing by a single mother. This nurturing side comes to the forefront in a memorable Thanksgiving episode, where Tucker’s efforts to take care of his friends are both a means of expressing love and a way to feel seen himself. "He comes from a single mother. Showing his care is a way of having I think his fellow friends validate him. It’s like ‘I’m there for you. I care for you.’ So when Dean leaves and Garrett leaves, and then Logan stays... it’s his way of feeling seen, taking care of others, and he puts people before himself. It’s one of the things that he wants to do more of," Brooks told Deadline.
The show’s creative team, led by director Silver Tree and a predominantly female staff, brings a unique perspective to the traditionally masculine world of hockey. Brooks noted, "It’s a whole female creative team. So it’s from the gaze of the woman’s perspective, which is really lovely, especially the contents that we have on script. Even in locker room talk, they left it up to us to explore that dynamic through a very, controlled gaze with all female directors." This approach allows the series to sidestep the toxic masculinity often associated with sports dramas, focusing instead on camaraderie and emotional intelligence.
Behind the scenes, the actors engaged in intensive hockey training with stunt double Tristan Craighead, ensuring that the on-ice action felt authentic. But the fun wasn’t limited to practice drills. Brooks recounted a hilarious “fruit hazing” bit that spiraled out of control, with props swapped for real fruit and a chase sequence that ultimately hit the cutting room floor. "There was a whole chase sequence that happened around the house, and I ran and slid underneath Khobe’s legs, jumped over Dean, and then he caught me in the air, held me and took the kiwi and ate it. It was such a fun time," Brooks said, painting a picture of a cast that genuinely enjoys each other’s company.
As for the future, Brooks is excited for what’s next in Off Campus. The adaptation, based on Elle Kennedy’s bestselling series, has a unique structure: each season focuses on a different character’s love story. Tucker’s romance with Sabrina is expected to be the emotional capstone, with Brooks promising, "It’s going to have a massive payoff for everybody. And it just happens to be funneled through Tucker and Sabrina." The storyline will also tackle themes of unexpected parenthood—a thread Brooks finds particularly meaningful. "I have a soft spot in my heart for stories that deal with young kids, or newfound fathers, a father who stepped up. Those dynamics have such a wide variety of messages and meanings and lessons to have. But, in regards to our show, when we cross that bridge, I think it’s going to encapsulate all the messages the story has brought forward up to that point," he reflected.
Interestingly, author Elle Kennedy once considered a much darker fate for Tucker—his death, which would have deeply affected fellow character Dean. Brooks only learned about this potential plot twist through social media while filming. "Obviously, Tucker being how he is in the book. I mean, that would be absolutely devastating. But for the grief for Dean’s character, any death close to Dean, as in, Tucker or Beau, is going to have a huge effect. I’m grateful it’s not Tucker, in a sense, because I could stick around and hang with the boys as things go on and develop," he admitted.
Brooks’ journey doesn’t end with Off Campus. He remains closely tied to The Pitt, where his portrayal of Mateo Diaz has resonated with fans. While he’s tight-lipped about specifics for season three, Brooks is eager to return if called. "For Mateo, I have heard, but it’s still in the sense of, if I get called in to clock in, I will be there. If my pager goes off, I will be in the ER," he said, underscoring his enthusiasm for the series and its creative team.
Meanwhile, The Pitt itself is grappling with major questions after its season two finale, which aired in April 2026. According to Entertainment Weekly, Noah Wyle (Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch) delivered a powerful monologue to baby Jane Doe, an abandoned infant who became a symbol of hope and vulnerability in the chaotic ER. Fans immediately began speculating: would Robby adopt the child and find redemption through fatherhood?
Wyle put those rumors to rest on the A Lot More podcast, stating, "I don’t think she’s going to go home with Robby, everybody. I don’t think that would be good for either one of them." He added, "However, I do think she’s going to get placed in a good home, and I do believe that our staff is going to keep tabs on her." From a narrative perspective, Wyle—who also serves as an executive producer—emphasized the importance of resolving Jane Doe’s story: "We have to understand what happened to that baby." He reflected on the impact the scene had on his character, suggesting it marked the first time Robby entertained the possibility of a healthier future. Still, he cautioned, "Ladies and gentlemen, a baby is not a life preserver. You don’t throw a drowning man a baby."
The finale also saw the departure of Supriya Ganesh’s Dr. Samira Mohan, whose mental health struggles culminated in her exit from the series. In a bit of good news for fans, Ayesha Harris’s Dr. Parker Ellis will step up as a series regular, promising new dynamics for season three.
As both Off Campus and The Pitt gear up for their next chapters, the creative teams and actors are clearly committed to delivering stories that balance humor, heartbreak, and hope. Whether on the ice or in the ER, these shows remind us that it takes a village—not just to raise a child, but to support each other through life’s toughest moments.