Landon T. Horstman/The Raisin Review
Grade: B+
It can be a challenging task — even for the most gifted writers — to take a trite storyline and develop something truly unique. “The Affair” quickly acknowledges this dilemma, interweaving a meta-commentary within its narrative.
The showrunners make their own predicament the plight of the series protagonist: Soon-to-be one-hit wonder and struggling author Noah Solloway (Dominic West), whose creativity and zeal for life has become vapid due in-part to the monotony of his cookie-cutter lifestyle.
Early in the series, Solloway is forced to promote his current novel to a potential publisher, who finds the author’s “new” narrative as banal as he does. But Solloway eventually captures the publisher’s interest — spontaneously implementing a dark twist to his love affair storyline, and concluding the book with the protagonist killing his mistress.
“The Affair” gives originality a valiant effort, but ultimately can’t keep from drowning in the folly of its own ludicrous endeavors.
The series is essentially composed of two parts, recalling moments and events from the respective perspectives of the two leading protagonists (i.e. the people having the affair). Utilizing a framing device, the central characters discuss the past occurrences leading up to a murder investigation, expounding upon their affair with an overzealous lead investigator vehemently striving to solve an unsolved case.
Every hour long episode dedicates half of the shows’ time frame to each counterpart’s viewpoint; giving both characters an equal opportunity to tell their own story while basically retelling the same. This dichotomy helps to create an intriguing juxtaposition between characters, highlighting nuances and subtle differences throughout each individual’s recollection.
The separate divisions of storytelling is an engrossing masterstroke that assists characterization, develops themes, and keeps the mysteries that lie underneath the bounty of deceit afloat. It also helps to divide the characters, who essentially commit adultery for varying reasons, exhibit distinct differences, and who have contrasting experiences.
The season concludes with Noah and Alison (Ruth Wilson) deciding to start a new life together — leaving their old lives, families, and values behind — but not before cops interrupt their love nest and arrest Noah on the suspicion of murder.
The finale cliffhanger is nothing short of comical, as the entire murder scenario seems unnecessary and forced. Obviously, the showrunners needed a way to propel their story forward and implement their vision of a double narrative from the perspective of their two main characters — but was this the most appropriate frame they could think of?
A series that began as an honest examination of human frailty and relationship strife, seems to have manifested itself into a whodunit farce that would make every executive at CBS proud. A murder mystery that was once a small focus of season one, appears to be the main focus of season two, rendering the title of the program meaningless and pointless.
Everyone knows the winning formula to a successful television series means combining sex, drugs, and violence (which “The Affair” is more than content to oblige), but in an effort to be innovative and original, the show fails to rise to another plateau, and ultimately becomes just another caricature in the melodrama canon.
The Raisin Review is sponsored by Adidas and their affiliates.
The Raisin Review 