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Title: The Affair (2014–2019)
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At once deeply observed and intriguingly elusive, The Affair explores the emotional effects of an extramarital relationship. Noah is a New York City schoolteacher and budding novelist with a wife of twenty years and four children. Alison is a young waitress and wife from Montauk at the end of Long Island, trying to piece her life back together in the wake of a tragedy. The provocative drama unfolds separately from multiple perspectives, using the distinct memory biases of each character to tell the story. Created by Sarah Treem.
Alternative titles for Season 3:
This review is based on the series through Season 3. If imdb.com allows editing, I will update upon finishing season 4.
The Affair is an intriguing menagerie of self-analysis, self-righteousness, compelling raw psychological drama, and absurdity.
Seasons 1 and 2 contain a full storyline with a little, but just a little, padding. The drama is rich, the feelings are raw, the tension is real. The tiny pixels leap off the screen into your mind, body, and soul. They compel tears, angst, occasional laughter, feelings of triumph, feelings of despair.
Season 3 is an uneven departure that vacillates between deeply moving psychodrama and meaningless French rabbit trails. Half the episodes provide a worthy progression of the story; the other half will leave you wondering is Season 4 will redeem the series.
One consistency, however, is that superfluous sex scenes (and, to a slightly less jarring effect, liberal profanity) are a signature of the show. At times, this phenomenon undermines the show's virtousity. It also undermines the progression of the characters, and that applies to EACH of the four main characters. Are they so immature and emotionally stuck that they consistently turn to impetuous sex as a vapid form of immediate relief? Does none of these four adults ever mature, despite the life-altering things happening to them that would tend to accelerate maturity? Maybe we viewers are not accustomed to such a real-life slow progression to maturity and self-awareness.
After season 2, I would have rated the show an 8, an unusually high rating for me. You can see that season 3 brought the rating down to a 7. Similar to how the color episodes of The Andy Griffith Show should not have happened. Well, that's a little harsh; season 3 isn't THAT bad.
Would I recommend the show? Heartily. Even Season 3. Just be ready to accept the flaws and enjoy the many mountaintops.