The Affair (TV series)

Did You Know?

• In Canada, the series premiered simultaneously with the American broadcast on October 12, 2014, on Movie Central and The Movie Network.
• The series premiered on Showcase in Australia on February 10, 2015.
• Sky Atlantic bought the rights to air The Affair in the UK with season one beginning in May 2015.

Series overview

The Affair examines the emotional fallout of an extramarital relationship between Noah Solloway and Alison Bailey, who meet at the diner where Alison works. The story begins with the Solloway family traveling to Montauk, New York, where Noah is married to Helen and has four children, but resents dependence on his wealthy father-in-law. Alison is a local waitress trying to rebuild her marriage to Cole after the death of their four-year-old son. Episodes are split into two parts, each told from a different character's perspective, with memory bias leading to differing scenarios. In the second season, the narrative expands to include the perspectives of Helen and Cole, as they deal with the dissolution of their marriages. The death of Alison's brother-in-law Scott and the resulting police investigation and trial are shown in flashforward scenes. Alison gives birth to her second child, Joanie. The third season, set three years later after Noah's release from prison, introduces an occasional perspective from Juliette Le Gall, a professor and Noah's love interest. In the fourth season, Noah moves to Los Angeles to be near his younger children, while Helen and Vik have also moved there. Noah teaches at a charter school and becomes involved with its principal, Janelle Wilson. Cole and Luisa live in Montauk, and Alison works as a grief counselor. The season includes flashforward sequences leading to the discovery of Alison's death, with perspectives from Noah, Helen, Alison, and Cole, and a one-off part from Vik's perspective.

Production

Showtime first ordered a pilot for The Affair in early February 2013, then officially greenlit the series just over a year later with an initial ten-episode run. The second season was picked up in November 2014, originally set for ten episodes but later expanded to twelve. Subsequent renewals followed: a third season in December 2015, a fourth in January 2017, and a fifth and final season announced in July 2018. Ruth Wilson requested to leave before the fourth season. In 2019, a Hollywood Reporter exposé claimed Wilson was uncomfortable with the nudity required for her role and alleged that showrunner Sarah Treem and executive producer/director Jeffrey Reiner behaved inappropriately toward actors on set. Treem denied coercing Wilson into nude scenes but acknowledged Wilson’s discomfort and said body doubles were used often. Treem also confirmed an investigation into Reiner after he allegedly shared nude photos of a body double with Lena Dunham, who had no involvement with the show. After the fourth season ended, several regular cast members left. Joshua Jackson did not return for the final season. Omar Metwally and Sanaa Lathan appeared only in episodes two and three, respectively, before being removed from the main cast. Catalina Sandino Moreno appeared as a guest star in episodes six and seven, spanning both present-day and flashforward storylines.

Reception

The first season of The Affair was widely praised by critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it earned a 90% approval rating from 130 reviews, with an average score of 8.15 out of 10. The site's summary described it as a thoughtful and captivating look at truth and longing, driven by clever writing and strong performances. On Metacritic, it received a score of 85 out of 100 from 28 reviews, a mark that signifies universal acclaim. The second season also drew positive notices. Its Rotten Tomatoes score held steady at 90% from 126 reviews, averaging 8 out of 10. The critical consensus noted that the show shifted its focus toward psychological drama and introduced two new viewpoints to its central mystery. On Metacritic, the season scored 78 out of 100 from 15 reviews, indicating generally favorable reviews. One critic from The A.V. Club gave it an A-minus, suggesting the series avoided the sophomore slump that has hurt other Showtime dramas. The third season received positive reviews but less enthusiasm than its predecessors. It scored 71% on Rotten Tomatoes from 21 reviews, with an average of 7.7 out of 10. The consensus highlighted the addition of strong characters and deeper tension, though it noted the plot sometimes stalled. On Metacritic, it earned 72 out of 100 from 8 reviews, still in the generally favorable range. The fourth season bounced back with a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 23 reviews, averaging 7.4 out of 10. Critics said it offered a more emotionally grounded character study that recaptured the show's original appeal, with fewer narrative hiccups. The fifth and final season maintained positive reviews, scoring 88% on Rotten Tomatoes from 16 reviews with an average of 6.6 out of 10. The consensus called it an addictive and fitting conclusion. On Metacritic, it received a 77 out of 100 from 4 reviews, again indicating generally favorable reception.

Home media

The first season was released on DVD in region 1 on August 4, 2015, with all 10 episodes and special features including character profiles and costume featurettes. The second season was released on DVD in region 1 on August 16, 2016. The third season followed on April 25, 2017, the fourth on October 16, 2018, and the fifth and final season along with a complete series collection on March 10, 2020.