The Affair: Season One

Noah (Dominic West), a middle-class husband and father of four kids, brings his family to Montauk, NY, to spend summers with the wealthy, privileged parents of his wife (Maura Tierney). Alison (Ruth Wilson), a waitress at a local diner, is married to Cole (Joshua Jackson), whose family has lived in Montauk for generations but has hit hard times. Cole is a schoolteacher and novelist whose first book didn't sell and he's struggling with his second. Alison is still in mourning for the death of her young son in a drowning accident, which makes her distant towards her patient, supportive, but increasingly frustrated husband. As the title of this Showtime drama suggests, Noah and Alison begin an affair, ostensibly a summer fling that instead grows more complicated, with the reverberations of their lies and betrayals forming the core of the story. But the series' creators add a couple of twists: each episode features a framing device in which a police detective questions both Noah and Alison (viewers won't find out why until well into the season), and their recounting of events is often at odds. Along the way, The Affair also effectively captures the tension between affluent summer vacationers and working class locals, as well as conflicts within families. A top-notch adult drama featuring flawed, complicated characters who must face the consequences of their decisions and take responsibility for their actions, the show benefits from excellent performances and nuanced direction. Compiling all 10 episodes from the 2014 first season, extras include behind-the-scenes featurettes. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)