I’m a bit confused as to how I should start this post to be
honest, because I’ve literally just finished watching the first episode of this
programme and I’m…well, I’m at a loss for words. It’s completely spellbinding
and intriguing, and I want more. A lot more. Like, right now.
The episode is structured into two sections, the first half
narrated by Dominic West’s character Noah while the second half is narrated by
the gloriously talented Ruth Wilson as Alison. Both half’s tell a story that
follows the same pattern with odd details here and there altered, to reflect
how memory can distort a person’s opinion of events. The first half begins with
West, showing him go about his routine as a happy (or relatively so) family man
set to vacation with the in-laws for the summer. It’s typical in its portrayal
of the dissatisfactions one can feel when they feel there life is becoming stale.
He seems vaguely fatigued by the role he has taken on in life, but not enough
to make the viewer question his loyalty to this life. When he meets Alison, the
connection seems instant. She is sexy and mysterious and everything he doesn’t
have. She is the siren come to ruin him. We see this emphatically so when,
after walking her home from a beach party at night, she invites him to view her
outdoor shower, and then to use it. When he politely declines, she shamelessly
undresses in front of him and hops in. (I like the confidence lady!). When he
leaves to go home he suddenly hears arguing from her house and goes to check
everything is okay, only to walk in on her and her partner having hateful sex
against the car while she encourages Noah to watch, smirking in satisfaction
and gaining some sort of voyeuristic pleasure in having him witness this carnal
act. It was shocking to say the least, not because of the graphic content
(well, yeah, kinda because of the graphic content) but because watching a woman
play the role of confident and sultry seducer completely in charge is a rarity
in TV. There is something both intensely empowering about this version of her
character and something verging on psychotic.
I say ‘version of her character’ because in the second half
we are introduced to a very different woman. A woman clearly broken and a shell
of a human. The audience soon learn this is down to the loss of her young child
two years prior to the events of the story, which adds a completely new depth
to her character. Instead of the strong sexy Alison of the first half, we are
given an intensely vulnerable Alison. One who the audiences heart go out to as
she struggles to cope with the loss of her child and the effects this has on
her marriage. When she meets West’s character she is timid and shy, yet clearly
drawn to him as he was to her in the first half. If one thing can’t be denied
between the two versions, which both present very different perspectives, it’s
that Alison and Noah are attracted, perhaps even connected, to one another. In
this version though Noah is the instigator and the voyeur, and there is
something very letchy and unlikeable about his character, as if he senses her
vulnerability and is using it to his advantage.
Throughout both sections we here the two characters narrate
their respective stories, prompted by questions from a man we can only assume
is a police officer given the context and isolation of the room they are being
questioned in. Knowing this almost immediately as the programme begins, I
couldn’t help but wonder what led these two characters into this situation. Did
they fall so madly in lust or love with each other that they plotted the
murders of their partners? Did they plot the murder of each other? Are they
this generations Bonnie and Clyde? So
many questions which already have me begging for me of this delicious
psychological drama, which earned Wilson a Golden Globe award for Best Actress
in a drama series. I’m only one episode in and I can already tell it was well
deserved. She is undoubtedly the driving force of this series, her talent and
ability to portray two drastically different versions of this character the
foundation for my already obsessive love for this programme.
If I’m certain of one thing with The Affair (which is bold
of me to say, because I feel like this could literally go anywhere), this Alison
and Noah certainly ain’t gonna have the happy ending of another fictional duo
under the same monikers. Nope, I do not predict a happy ending. And I can’t
bloody wait. Keep your eyes peeled for more episode-by-episode (hopefully)
reviews.
A film rambler’s rating?
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