If you’re in the market for a gripping psychological drama to binge-watch after running out of TV shows to stream – and you’re a fan of the inimitable Ruth Wilson – we have just the series for you.
From playing the genius (and psychopath) Alice Morgan in Luther to the ruthless Mrs Coulter in His Dark Materials, Wilson has consistently impressed viewers. She has also been praised for her stellar performance in The Affair, which is now available to stream on ITVX.
What is The Affair about?
The Affair explores the fallout of an affair between married teacher and father-of-four Noah Solloway (Dominic West) and waitress Alison Bailey (Wilson), who is struggling with grief following a family tragedy. Each episode is told from a different character’s perspective, allowing the viewer to step inside each person’s mind and see how they perceive — and attempt to justify — their essentially destructive actions. Season one earned huge critical acclaim and Wilson won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in 2015 for her standout performance.
Who stars in The Affair?
- Ruth Wilson plays Alison Bailey
- Dominic West plays Noah Solloway
- Maura Tierney plays Helen Solloway
- Joshua Jackson plays Cole Lockhart
- Julia Goldani Tellesplays Whitney Solloway
- Jake Siciliano plays Martin Solloway
- Jadon Sand plays Trevor Solloway
- Catalina Sandino Moreno plays Luisa León
- Omar Metwally plays Dr. Vik Ullah
When did The Affair first air?
The series first aired in the US in 2014 before landing on Sky in early 2015, and ran for five seasons until late 2019. You can now watch series 1-3 on ITVX. Season 4 will be available to watch this summer, while season 5 (Wilson departed the show at the end of season 4) will drop on the streaming platform next year.
The cast of The Affair
What have viewers said about The Affair?
On Reddit, fans have praised the show as a “masterpiece”, with particular appreciation for the first two series.
“I just finished the whole series. What a ride! It was an absolute masterpiece. It’s not a typical drama series. It’s really good. Its story is very like real life events that can happen to anyone. I don’t have a favourite season or episode, but the whole series was just amazing.”
“Great first two seasons. Great finale. The middle of it was still good, but not as much. Agree, super underrated.”
“The 1st season is still one of the best TV seasons I’ve ever seen. I recall my first time watching it think how the hell did it take so long for someone to make something like this.”
What other Ruth Wilson shows can I watch?
If you haven’t already seen Luther (hello, where have you been?), then that’s one to add to your list, pronto. Likewise, we recommend watching His Dark Materials where she shines as the sinister Mrs Coulter in all three seasons of the BBC show based on the Philip Pullman favourites. Wilson also earned praise for her breakout role in the BBC’s 2006 four-part adaptation of Jane Eyre where she plays the titular character alongside Toby Stephens as Rochester.
WATCH NOW The Affair is now streaming on ITVX
