The Affair

Be warned. You may find yourself developing a TV crush on Noah Solloway or Alison Bailey, or specifically Dominic West and Ruth Wilson.

In Showtime’s new drama series The Affair, they are sensual, erotic and inseparable. It’s hard not to get intoxicated by their torrid infidelity.

Both characters are married and both know their indiscretions will have consequences, yet they can’t help themselves, driven by lust, empty feelings and a sense of danger.

Noah is a New York schoolteacher who has written his first moderately-successful novel. Married to Helen (Maura Tierney) he is the father of four children, two of whom are teenagers and can be quite a handful.

When the family goes to Long Island to visit Helen’s wealthy parents, Bruce (John Doman) and Margaret (Kathleen Chalfant), Noah first encounters Alison at a local diner. It is a meeting that will unravel their domestic lives…

But exactly who pursued whom is part of the intrigue of this clever series, which tells its story from two perspectives: Noah’s story and Alison’s story. Using the storytelling device made famous by the Japanese movie Rashomon (1950) it presents its case from two points of view, leaving the viewer to draw their own conclusions.

Whatsmore, the story is told in flashback with each talking to a third, unseen person: marriage counsellor? Psychologist? It’s not initially apparent.

There is also a major incident that envelops the key players…

The themes of this piece, lust, betrayal, infidelity, are bolstered by emotive performances. Dominic West is excellent as the writer living in the shadow of his father-in-law (a much more successful author) and the dullness of marriage. Ruth Wilson is mesmerising as an alluring, but flawed young wife, harbouring a deeply personal secret.

The chemistry between the two (both of whom are British playing American) and the writing by Sarah Treem is what makes this so inviting.

The cast also features Joshua Jackson as Alison’s husband and Mare Winningham as his mother.

The setting of Montauk on Long Island is enticing in its summery mood, where the locals take walks down long roads or eat ice cream by the ferry. There are lighthouses, sandy beaches, bicycles, light dresses and sunsets. Director Mark Mylod creates an atmosphere where falling in love is practically fulfilling nature’s call. If only it wasn’t so disloyal.

The Affair lures you in to its web of sin to the point of being a guilty pleasure. Top notch stuff.

The Affair screens 7:30pm Tuesday on Showcase.