Tomorrow is the start of a new drama on Showtime titled “The Affair”. Before you start yawning and thinking, “next,” this version of an old story promises to be different. It’s set in The Hamptons—and if you are one of the few who don’t know where this is, it’s a well-known playground out on Long island, NY, for the wealthy and often famous. “Noah” is married with four kids, a wife who comes from wealth– and he is a professional with a comfortable lifestyle who is staying with his family at his in-laws manse for a summer vacation. “Alison” is younger (of course), and is a waitress in town. She does have a nice beach house that she inherited, so that sets her apart from the usual younger and penniless other woman stereotype.
This treatment of the topic promises to be different due to the secrets that its characters keep from one another and from the audience, their views on who came on to whom and got the affair going—and in its overall unique frame and handling of their relationship. Apparently there is more suspense and less focus on the usual hot and heavy sneaking around and instead is a kind of crime drama that is slow to be revealed.
The story unfolds in flashbacks—and is filled with he said/she said inconsistencies in the story. The viewer is left with trying to figure out who is telling the truth and which version is the real one. He is (predictably) in the midst of a mid-life crisis, and she has her own problems that are leading to her unhappiness but these are only hinted at. Secrets are everywhere and they add to the suspense and the show’s claim that viewers will find it addictive. If you enjoy “who done it” type mysteries, this might be just the show for you.
