'The Boy I Hate' Cast: Who Plays the Main Roles in the Viral Series

The "The Boy I Hate" cast anchors a character driven road trip drama about first love, betrayal, and second chances. With a small but focused lineup, the series relies on grounded performances to explore how past mistakes resurface when two people are forced back together.

At its heart, "The Boy I Hate" is a story about unresolved history. What begins as a practical favor quickly turns into an emotional reckoning as two former lovers find themselves sharing a car, a destination, and memories neither of them fully buried.

The series does not rely on spectacle or elaborate twists. Instead, it moves forward through conversations, silences, and moments that feel uncomfortably familiar.

The strength of the show lies in its casting choices. Each role is clearly defined, and every performance supports the central question driving the narrative: can people truly change, and can trust be rebuilt once it has been broken? Below is a closer look at the main performers who shape the "The Boy I Hate" cast.

Elise Luthman as Samantha Smiles

Samantha Smiles is the emotional core of the series. She is dependable, thoughtful, and consistently puts others before herself, often at her own expense.

When her boyfriend of five years cancels their planned road trip to her best friend’s wedding, Samantha agrees to travel with Tristan Montgomery, the one person she has spent years trying not to think about.

Elise Luthman plays Samantha with restraint and vulnerability. Her performance captures the quiet exhaustion of someone who has learned to endure disappointment rather than confront it head on.

Samantha’s heartbreak is not loud or theatrical. It shows through hesitation, guarded responses, and moments where her composure briefly cracks.

Luthman was born on August 12, 1990, and began her acting career in television, including a role in the Nickelodeon series "Henry Danger."

Her transition into vertical dramas marks a shift toward more emotionally driven material, and "The Boy I Hate" allows her to explore a character shaped by long standing emotional wounds rather than sudden conflict.

Leif Erik Offerdahl as Tristan Montgomery

Tristan Montgomery is introduced as Samantha’s best friend’s older brother, but his presence immediately carries more weight than that label suggests.

In high school, Tristan was known for his charm, confidence, and careless treatment of relationships. His actions left a lasting impact on Samantha, even if neither of them fully confronted what happened at the time.

Offerdahl portrays Tristan as a man attempting to correct the mistakes of his youth. This version of Tristan is more measured, aware of his past flaws, and visibly committed to being different.

His performance avoids turning Tristan into a reformed ideal. Instead, it emphasizes accountability and patience, especially as Samantha struggles to trust him again.

Offerdahl brings experience from both modeling and acting, with previous appearances in ReelShort productions such as "Duke With Benefits," "Dear Husband Delete My Number," and "Sit Down Be Humble." His physical presence fits the role, but it is his controlled delivery that helps sell Tristan’s growth.

Lauren Bonham as Renee Montgomery

Renee Montgomery serves as both emotional support and narrative catalyst. As Samantha’s best friend and Tristan’s younger sister, she is the reason the road trip happens in the first place. Her upcoming wedding creates the circumstances that force Samantha and Tristan back into each other’s lives after five years apart.

Lauren Bonham plays Renee with warmth and sincerity. Renee is optimistic, encouraging, and genuinely invested in Samantha’s happiness. Unlike many side characters, she is not used to manipulate the plot but instead reflects the kind of steady friendship Samantha relies on.

Bonham is also known for her role as Nikki in the ReelShort drama "The Virgin and The Billionaire," and her performance here reinforces her ability to ground a story without pulling focus from the main conflict.

Jared Staub as Steven Mathers

Steven Mathers functions as the catalyst for Samantha’s emotional turning point. As her boyfriend of five years, Steven appears supportive on the surface but ultimately reveals his betrayal in a moment that reshapes the story. His dismissal of Samantha’s artwork and his infidelity expose a pattern of disrespect rather than a single mistake.

Jared Staub portrays Steven with a casual arrogance that makes his behavior believable without exaggeration. The character is not written as a villain in the traditional sense, but as someone who prioritizes convenience and ego over commitment.

Outside of acting, Staub is also a wide receiver for a California NCAA team and has appeared in other short form projects, including "The Deaf Heiress’s Secret."

How the Cast Shapes the Story

The confined setting of a cross country road trip amplifies this dynamic, forcing conversations that might otherwise be avoided.

Rather than relying on dramatic revelations, the series allows character growth to unfold gradually, shaped by shared memories and present day choices.

"The Boy I Hate" succeeds by trusting its cast to carry a simple but emotionally layered premise. Elise Luthman and Leif Erik Offerdahl anchor the series with performances rooted in reflection and restraint, while the supporting cast adds necessary context and contrast.

Together, the "The Boy I Hate" cast delivers a focused narrative about regret, growth, and the difficult work of choosing differently the second time around.