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Entertainment • TV

The Affair

The Affair is an American drama television series created by Sarah Treem and Hagai Levi.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Affair is an American drama television series created by Sarah Treem and Hagai Levi. It premiered on Showtime in 2014 and ran for five seasons, ending in 2019. The series explores the emotional effects of an extramarital relationship and the differing perspectives of the characters involved.

Premise

The series follows Noah Solloway, a married teacher and novelist, and Alison Bailey, a waitress, after they begin an extramarital relationship in Montauk, Long Island.

Production

The Affair was created by Sarah Treem and Hagai Levi and produced for Showtime in the United States.

Broadcast history

The series premiered in October 2014, ran for five seasons, and concluded in November 2019.

Reception and awards

The series received major recognition, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama in 2015, and Ruth Wilson won for her performance.

Key facts

  • The series centers on Noah Solloway and Alison Bailey and the consequences of their affair.
  • Its storytelling uses separate perspectives, including differing memory biases, to present events.
  • The main cast includes Dominic West, Ruth Wilson, Maura Tierney, and Joshua Jackson.
  • The show premiered on Showtime on October 12, 2014, and ended on November 3, 2019.
  • It won the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama in 2015.
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Canadian context

The series was also distributed in Canada, including on The Movie Network according to French-language coverage, making it relevant to Canadian viewers who followed Showtime drama series.[5]

Frequently asked questions

What is The Affair about?
It follows the emotional consequences of an extramarital relationship between Noah Solloway and Alison Bailey.
Who created The Affair?
The series was created by Sarah Treem and Hagai Levi.
When did The Affair premiere?
It premiered on Showtime on October 12, 2014.
How many seasons does The Affair have?
It has five seasons.
Who stars in The Affair?
The main cast includes Dominic West, Ruth Wilson, Maura Tierney, and Joshua Jackson.
Did The Affair win any awards?
Yes. It won the 2015 Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama, and Ruth Wilson won Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Affair_(TV_series)
    Supports: Creators, premise, main cast, premiere and finale dates, awards
  2. TV Guide — https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/the-affair/1000549368/
    Supports: Premise, creators, network, seasons, storytelling style
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_affair
    Supports: Synopsis, original release date, genre, network, production credits
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2699110/
    Supports: Series title, dates, genre, basic premise
  5. Wikipedia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Affair
    Supports: Canadian distribution on The Movie Network