# "The Affair": New Showtime Series \*\*spoilers\*\* **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 13, 2014, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-affair-new-showtime-series-spoilers/701200 "2014-10-13T14:19:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![LVBoPeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/858c86/32.png) [@LVBoPeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVBoPeep)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-affair-new-showtime-series-spoilers/701200/41 "2014-12-08T16:19:33Z")
So it’s the brother that died and not the blackmailer? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2014, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-affair-new-showtime-series-spoilers/701200/42 "2014-12-08T20:23:34Z")
> [@LVBoPeep](#): > > So it’s the brother that died and not the blackmailer? 😕 No reason it couldn’t be both. It’s almost guaranteed that there are two deaths in the show (though the second one might not be the blackmailer), because we see the detective doing his questioning (of Alison and of Noah) during two different time periods. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-affair-new-showtime-series-spoilers/701200/43 "2014-12-09T14:19:27Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Wow, that’s some serious differences in their memory of things! > > And why would Noah’s name be on the cancelled reservation list at The End? He actually did stay there. You must be referring to the night after Noah and his bud partied with Allison at The End. That happened during the summer. Wasn’t Labor Day mentioned during the “cancelled reservation” scene? This would have to have been over a year later since we are already at Christmas of the first year of the story. In this week’s Scotty Memorial scene they referred to a delay (re his actual death) of some sort. This comment doesn’t relate to the above…just trying to figure out when it happened. I’m not sure whether it was clear that the two Detective scenes this week were related to each other in time. Also it seemed that Allison’s hair was longer than the scenes in which she is being interogated. ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-affair-new-showtime-series-spoilers/701200/44 "2014-12-09T15:00:21Z")
Anybody else wonder about the tone of the writers regarding the affair? Are Noah and Alison star crossed lovers or just cheaters? Seems to me like the former is what they are going for. And some of the details in each of their memories bugs the heck out of me. Differences in wallpaper, pants vs dress. Too cutesy, trying to be clever filmmakers for me. Who remembers details like that? They only serve to stand out as gimmicks, especially when they have no impact on the plot whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-affair-new-showtime-series-spoilers/701200/45 "2014-12-09T15:04:27Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > You must be referring to the night after Noah and his bud partied with Allison at The End. That happened during the summer. Wasn’t Labor Day mentioned during the “cancelled reservation” scene? This would have to have been over a year later since we are already at Christmas of the first year of the story. Yeah, I thought about that after I posted. It must have been after the summer fling. > [@jimpatro](#): > > Anybody else wonder about the tone of the writers regarding the affair? Are Noah and Alison star crossed lovers or just cheaters? Seems to me like the former is what they are going for. I think the Romeo and Juliet lecture explained that. They’re adults. > [@](#): > > And some of the details in each of their memories bugs the heck out of me. Differences in wallpaper, pants vs dress. Too cutesy, trying to be clever filmmakers for me. Who remembers details like that? Seems like you did. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-affair-new-showtime-series-spoilers/701200/46 "2014-12-09T15:18:40Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Yeah, I thought about that after I posted. It must have been after the summer fling. > I think the Romeo and Juliet lecture explained that. They’re adults. > > Seems like you did. 😉 But not single, unattached adults. Being married while having an affair is not a complexity of life. Ha, yeah I noticed because they stand out like a sore thumb. Nobody remembers details like that. And if you don’t really remember, why make it up in your mind? I’m a filmmaker myself and I can just see at the writing session (could be a directorial decision as well) somebody saying: “Wouldn’t it be kewl if certain little details were different in each of the character’s versions?” “Ooh, that would be so kewl!” ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-affair-new-showtime-series-spoilers/701200/47 "2014-12-09T15:32:49Z")
John Mace, are you saying that the lecture implies the writers mean for the “couple” to be admired or shunned? I know Noah has his own angle but as far as the tone, I can’t tell yet. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-affair-new-showtime-series-spoilers/701200/48 "2014-12-09T15:33:57Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > But not single, unattached adults. Being married while having an affair is not a complexity of life. I don’t understand what you’re saying. > [@](#): > > Ha, yeah I noticed because they stand out like a sore thumb. Nobody remembers details like that. And if you don’t really remember, why make it up in your mind? I’m a filmmaker myself and I can just see at the writing session (could be a directorial decision as well) somebody saying: “Wouldn’t it be kewl if certain little details were different in each of the character’s versions?” “Ooh, that would be so kewl!” I did read that the writers are purposing going for that level of detail. Maybe they think they’ve got the new _Lost_ or something. ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-affair-new-showtime-series-spoilers/701200/49 "2014-12-09T15:48:16Z")
From what I remember, Noah’s point (Shakespeare’s) was that Romeo and Juliet’s perfect love couldn’t survive in an imperfect world. A complex world? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-affair-new-showtime-series-spoilers/701200/50 "2014-12-09T15:55:35Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > From what I remember, Noah’s point (Shakespeare’s) was that Romeo and Juliet’s perfect love couldn’t survive in an imperfect world. A complex world? How is “being married and having an affair” not a complexity of life? It’s one of the biggest complexities. ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-affair-new-showtime-series-spoilers/701200/51 "2014-12-09T16:00:27Z")
Having four kids and a wife and a career et cetera, et cetera are complexities in life. An affair (if you’re against such a thing) does not qualify. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-affair-new-showtime-series-spoilers/701200/52 "2014-12-09T20:44:56Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > Having four kids and a wife and a career et cetera, et cetera are complexities in life. An affair (if you’re against such a thing) does not qualify. Why? ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-affair-new-showtime-series-spoilers/701200/53 "2014-12-09T22:12:42Z")
An affair is a voluntary mistake, breach of trust or however you might label it. Life exists for most of us without ever having to go there. Complexity, no. Betrayal, yep. Complexities are the natural issues and challenges we face in everyday life. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-affair-new-showtime-series-spoilers/701200/54 "2014-12-09T23:05:44Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > … And some of the details in each of their memories bugs the heck out of me. Differences in wallpaper, pants vs dress. Too cutesy, trying to be clever filmmakers for me. Who remembers details like that? They only serve to stand out as gimmicks, especially when they have no impact on the plot whatsoever. The mistaken beliefs that memory is a recording device of perfect accuracy, and that those accurate memories can be accessed years later with no diminution of quality and completeness, are widespread and deeply engrained. Any work of art that challenges these misconceptions–the holding of which create serious problems in human lives–is a good thing (in my view). There is poetic license in the way this show is tackling the issue, of course. The camera does record everything in front of it in a way that the conscious thoughts of a character would not. As you say, most people wouldn’t be able to describe the wallpaper in a hotel lobby with any precision, years later. But the fact that two people will remember what _is_ accessible to their conscious minds differently, is worth highlighting. We don’t see that topic addressed very often. ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-affair-new-showtime-series-spoilers/701200/55 "2014-12-09T23:46:59Z")
Patience is a virtue of course. We have yet to see whether they are embellishing or altering their stories for the sake of the investigation or merely to save face. What is behind the differences in each of their recollections? Something tells me I am expecting much more from the story tellers than they will actually deliver. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-affair-new-showtime-series-spoilers/701200/56 "2014-12-10T00:06:59Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > Patience is a virtue of course. We have yet to see whether they are embellishing or altering their stories for the sake of the investigation or merely to save face. What is behind the differences in each of their recollections? Something tells me I am expecting much more from the story tellers than they will actually deliver. Could be. Certainly with only two episodes left, the writers are going to have to start making some revelations soon. Of course the show IS renewed for a second season, but surely the writers have learned the lessons of shows such as \*The Killing \*and _Under the Dome_ (in which the central mysteries were teased out over multiple seasons–angering and disgusting audiences). ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-affair-new-showtime-series-spoilers/701200/57 "2014-12-10T07:21:52Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Wow, that’s some serious differences in their memory of things! Big time. For this episode, Alison’s version seemed clearly more credible, but I have trouble believing that Noah would totally forget his “let her die, she’s not your son” speech. That leads me to believe Noah’s version, but again, Alison’s is way more credible. For example, she would remember what job she was doing that night (coat check girl) much more reliably than Noah, who would likely just remember that she was there. > [@](#): > > And why would Noah’s name be on the cancelled reservation list at The End? He actually did stay there. Could be they go back in next week’s episode. I definitely saw some naked time in the previews for next week. > [@Sherrerd](#): > > Could be. Certainly with only two episodes left, the writers are going to have to start making some revelations soon. > > Of course the show IS renewed for a second season, but surely the writers have learned the lessons of shows such as \*The Killing \*and _Under the Dome_ (in which the central mysteries were teased out over multiple seasons–angering and disgusting audiences). They could reveal much more than we might expect. Starting in the second season we’re going to get to see Cole and Helen’s perspectives, which I’m looking forward to. I keep thinking of that in any scenes with them: How will they remember this scene? (I’m not saying those are the only perspectives we’ll get in season 2. Just that we will get to see them. Hell, we might get to see the parents’ perspectives as well.) I wouldn’t be totally shocked if they resolved most of the story in the next two episodes, then next season fills in previously unknown backstory. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-affair-new-showtime-series-spoilers/701200/58 "2014-12-10T14:04:46Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > An affair is a voluntary mistake… So is having children, usually. 🙂 Well, I don’t want to debate this with you, but I’ll just end by saying you are making up an arbitrary dichotomy here about what constitutes a “complexity” in adult life. ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-affair-new-showtime-series-spoilers/701200/59 "2014-12-10T16:25:07Z")
And I’ll end by stating that I’m not. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-affair-new-showtime-series-spoilers/701200/60 "2014-12-16T21:19:38Z")
Has everyone given up on this show? I’m still enjoying it, but it’s getting a bit rough. I think it would have made a better movie than a serial tv drama. Right now it’s a case of good acting rising above a mediocre story. (The guy playing Oscar is fantastic at playing a dick. He’s like a super-sized Jeremy Piven.) The timeline shifts leave my scratching my head. How is possible for both of them to have discovered the discarded pregnancy test? Is one version true, or both? Did they ever really look at that studio apartment? I’m also having a hard time remembering which Lockhart brother is which. I don’t think it bodes well that it was renewed for a second season. It’s moving into all-out soap-opera territory. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-affair-new-showtime-series-spoilers/701200.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-affair-new-showtime-series-spoilers/701200.md?page=4)