Plot Synopsis

THE AFFAIR is a one-hour drama series that explores the emotional and psychological effects of an extramarital affair. In Season 1, the story is told separately from the male and female perspectives, with each version having its own distinct memory biases. Alison is a young woman waiting tables at a popular Hamptons diner, trying to piece her life back together in the wake of a tragedy. Her husband, Cole, struggles to keep it all together, with his wife and with the financially-strained ranch that has been in his family for generations. Their emotionally-charged marriage becomes even more complicated when Alison begins an affair with Noah, a NYC public school teacher and aspiring novelist who is spending the summer at his in-laws' estate out on the island. Helen is Noah's college sweetheart, best friend, mother of his children, lover and wife of 17 years.

THE AFFAIR returned for it second season on Sunday, October 4, 2015 at 10pm ET/PT on Showtime. Season 2 explores the emotional and psychological effects of an affair that destroyed two marriages, and the crime that brings these individuals back together. This season, the drama is told separately from four different perspectives, revealing four distinct truths. THE AFFAIR features Alison, a young woman attempting to move on from tragedy and building a lasting relationship while contending with the judgment of others and her own self-doubt. Her lover Noah is a burgeoning writer trying to balance the temptations of success, the family he left behind, and the woman he loves. Noah's former wife Helen is attempting to piece her life together while navigating divorce proceedings, care for her children, and her parents' noxious influence. Cole, Alison's former husband, is struggling to overcome past heartbreak and start a promising new life. Yet the long-term ramifications of the affair continue to shape these lives, and will lead to an event that changes everything once again. The season opens with Noah and Helen trying for amicable divorce proceedings, but complications indicate inescapable conflict. Surprising developments in Helen's life reveal unexpected emotions.

Season 3 of THE AFFAIR premiered on Sunday, November 20, 2016 at 10pm ET/PT on Showtime. The new season picks up three years after Noah's shocking admission of guilt at the murder trial of Scott Lockhart. Noah attempts to restart his life, but the damage wrought by his past decisions has made him a ghost of his former self. Alison has been raising daughter Joanie alongside Cole and Luisa in Montauk, but Alison's past continues to rear its ugly head as Cole and Luisa attempt to build their own future. For Helen, life appears to continue on, but just below the surface of a successful business and a bustling home lies uncertainty with her boyfriend Vik, instability amongst her children, and an unshakeable feeling of guilt. With the premiere episode being told from the perspective of Noah, the second episode offers viewers a more comprehensive picture of the season ahead, providing additional perspectives from Alison and Helen. This season, Irene Jacob joins the cast, providing the series' new fifth perspective. Jacob plays Juliette Le Gall, a new love interest of Noah's, running from her own secrets, who helps him process a trauma from his past and understand himself a little better. Season 3 guest stars will include Jennifer Esposito and Brendan Fraser.

Season 4 of THE AFFAIR premiered on Sunday, June 17, 2018 at 9pm ET/PT on Showtime. The fourth season finds Noah, Helen, Alison, and Cole in their own orbits, alienated from each other, spinning further and further away from where they all began. Every character is involved in a new relationship, forcing them each to decide if they're ready and willing to leave the past behind for good -- a season about new beginnings, tragic ends and the ever-elusive possibility of forgiveness. Sanaa Lathan joins season four as Jenelle, the tough-as-nails principal of the charter school where Noah teaches. Ramon Rodriguez stars as Ben, a Marine veteran now employed by the VHA and Alison's new love interest. Additional Season 4 guest stars include Russell Hornsby, Christopher Meyer, Amy Irving and Phoebe Tonkin.

The fifth and final season of THE AFFAIR premiered on Sunday, August 25, 2019 at 9pm ET/PT on Showtime. Season 5 chronicles the aftermath of last season's horrific events and find the characters coming to terms with the consequences of their choices -- as they make the realization that if they really want to change their futures, they must first face the past. Helen begins the season involved in an intoxicating new affair with a charismatic movie star (guest star Claes Bang), who offers to give her everything she's been missing. Noah meanwhile has to swallow his pride and his jealousy and step in to take care of his family in her absence. But just when things seem to have stabilized, a chance encounter with someone from the distant past sets in a motion a sequence of events that brings them both to their knees. Anna Paquin stars as Alison and Cole's now adult daughter Joanie Lockhart, who returns some years in the future to piece together the truth about what happened to her mother, bringing the whole story full circle. In addition to West, Tierney and Paquin, Season 5 series regulars include Julia Goldani Telles and Jadon Sand as Noah and Helen's children, Whitney and Trevor Solloway; and Sanaa Lathan as Janelle, Noah's girlfriend and the principal at the school where he teaches. Emily Browning, Omar Metwally, John Doman, Kathleen Chalfant, Max Fowler, Michael Braun, Abigail Dylan Harrison and Jake Siciliano also guest star.
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On Tuesday, March 10, 2020 CBS Home Entertainment released THE AFFAIR: THE FINAL SEASON (SEASON 5) and THE AFFAIR: THE COMPLETE SERIES on DVD. The final season comes on 4-discs plus an exclusive special featurette. To commemorate the Golden Globe winning series, THE AFFAIR THE COMPLETE SERIES, contains all 53 episodes/19-discs of the critically acclaimed Showtime drama and over 80 minutes of fabulous behind-the-scenes special features. A Must See if you haven't seen it and a must-own for fans. Buy and binge now! (Click the red "Buy DVDs" button on this page.)

Special Features: Season 5 DVD
- Featurette "Where Does It End?": Executive producer and co-creator Sarah Treem reflects on how the show and the characters evolved from their introduction through the emotional ripples created by the initial affair.

Special Features The Complete Series DVD
- Character Profiles
- Tale of Two Costumes
- Tour of Montauk
- Memory Lanes
- Storytelling with Executive producer and co-creator Sarah Treem
- Playing Both Sides
- Featurette "Where Does It End?"
- Sink Back Into the Ocean