My initial break for writing this blog was intended to be a few months or so, but whoops, I realized the other day it went for a whole year and a bit more.

But Jackinna is back, bursting with a mind full of urgent topics needing to be written about. Better than ever? Well, that’s up for debate. Perhaps slightly less lost in the writing wilderness.

Introduction

The urgency for this blog post arose from a sense of immediacy to reflect on a TV series I had hesitated to watch for many years, only to find myself finally diving in and captivated. It’s somewhat of a kickstart or restart, whatever you may call it. That series happened to be The Affair.

As a marketing professional, I often find myself at odds with the notion of embracing “mega popular” phenomena. Such trends often evoke a sense of scepticism within me, leading me to seek out the unconventional or lesser-known gems. This is what I thought the series is about – two people cheating on their spouses, on a never-ending loop reminiscent of Groundhog Day. And I generally do hate any settings of Groundhog Day – everything regarding that gives me bad vibes. Like I don’t want to watch the same thing over and over again from different perspectives. That’s the end of the story—on to the next.

Initial Expectations

I’m one of those people who gets bored quite easily. I recall watching just two episodes of Game of Thrones and feeling unimpressed. It’s definitely an unpopular opinion, I know. But hey, when there’s a big hype and something is hailed as the “best thing ever since ice cubes,” it often pushes me in the opposite direction. Is it any wonder that I didn’t “get” the series? Hard to say. Alright, maybe I’m adding a bit of exaggeration here, the truth lies somewhere in between. Luckily, I was completely mistaken. While some episodes did hint at the themes I mentioned earlier, I found myself being somewhat 50-60 about continuing or not.

Luckily I did and know I’ll get to the point, why.

Review of The Affair

The actors behind the characters in “The Affair” bring authenticity to their roles, enriching the series with their performances. Set in the picturesque town of Montauk, New York, the show introduces the lives of Noah Solloway, a novelist, and Alison Lockhart, a waitress, and the complex dynamics involving Helen, Noah’s wife, and Cole, Alison’s husband. Starring Dominic West, Ruth Wilson, Maura Tierney, and Joshua Jackson, the series explores the emotional ups and downs, betrayals, and changing relationships that shape the characters’ lives.

One remarkable aspect that great series often share is their ability to display multi-dimensional characters filled with flaws, essentially reminding us of someone like you and me.

Dominic West, known for his roles in “The Wire,” and “The Crown” has continued to impress audiences with his acting skills and versatility throughout his career. And the Affair is no exception. The UK-born Bafta winner has tons of charisma and depth allowing him to transform into various characters and settings. Ruth Wilson bringing Alison to life in the series is relatively new actress to me. also an UK-born actress portrays convincingly the struggling life of a character, including the loss of a child, marital difficulties and the journey of self-discovery. Third interesting actor in the series is Joshua Jackson, who plays Cole, Alison’s husband. Before jumping to my conclusions, I must say that the guy from Dawson’s Creek still has that something which I initially liked about him during my teenage years as Pacey (Dawson’s Creek), and now in The Affair- perhaps it’s something to do with men and beards, I think. As I’m getting closer to middle age – almost 40 ooh la la – I’ve realized that although my back may go out, my eyes won’t. You know, there were “Dawson Girls”, some were “Pacey Girls” – same thing as one for “Backstreet Boys” while the rest were “N’Syncs”. Oh, those were the times. Last but not least, Maura Tierney delivers a magnificent role as Helen, the wife of Noah. The way she holds everything together when her life is falling apart, is truly admirable. Admittedly, there were moments in the series where I found her a bit irritating and nagging, but my respect for her character grew as the series progressed and her character developed.

One remarkable aspect that great series often share is their ability to display multi-dimensional characters filled with flaws, essentially reminding us of someone like you and me. It’s this depth and authenticity that allows viewers to connect with the characters on a personal level and find elements of themselves reflected in the story.

(A side note: No wonder I haven’t written for a while; as you see, I’m jumping back and forth.)

With its engaging storyline and strong performances, The Affair dives deep into human emotions, portraying love, loss, and the consequences of the choices one make. Without judgments. In a pursuit of happiness, fulfilment, lust reminding us that the decisions can shape the course of lives in unexpected ways. It’s human, far from the “picture-perfect” world, showcasing people with challenges navigating through life, full of decisions. That stuff is raw and far away from something one could consider as “boring”.

The series is full of depth, connecting the lives of numerous characters. Throughout its storyline, viewers experience layers of history and window to future, as relationships face challenges and hidden truths are revealed. As Noah and Alison’s paths cross, the central storyline defines The Affair. And yeah, it gets very deep and dark. And it does show in a sense on how unreliable our memories can be. The thing about this series that you never really know who tells the truth or lies.

Most of all, the entire series isn’t just about Noah and Alison anymore. It goes into much deeper layers, involving more people, consequences, second chances, and such.

“Do you know how long it has been since someone dared mix high art with good old-fashioned fucking?”

The Affair

It also brings moments of laughter every once in a while, as it’s not a “serious” drama. It may be melancholic at times, but somehow it brings to mind one thing I generally adore in series and movies – the ability to be serious without being overly serious – balancing topics with a hint of lightness and genuineness.

However a word of two of criticm here, without getting too fluffy

Although the storyline and performances are what make “The Affair,” the gap between episodes sometimes felt significant. There were a few episodes I watched while scrolling through Instagram reels at the same time. What I mean is that it sometimes became slightly boring. I would have preferred the first season to have a bit less focus on the dynamic duo and to find a balance for season three. However, after watching the entire show, it made a lot of sense how the series was built – with layers upon layers. As the episodes progressed, it improved and regained my interest.

During my creative break l also worked on improving my English skills, which I use every day for work. Now, I feel much more confident expressing myself creatively in my second language. This has inspired me to reignite my love for writing and share my experiences with others.

Regarding the frequency of blogging, while I won’t commit to once a week, I’m thinking to make it a well thought let’s say once per month or so.

Hope you enjoyed. Overall thanks for reaching this review at the very end. Comment below on any topics you’d like to discuss further.