Ep 1. Pilot

Following a recent private tragedy, Noah Solloway (Dominic West) takes his family for a break to his in-laws' vast estate in Montauk. Noah is a high school English teacher from the City who strives to publish what he believes is the Great American Novel, though he is far from succeeding. Noah is married to Helen (Maura Tierney), and they have four children together, Martin (Jake Richard Siciliano), Whitney (Julia Goldani Telles), Trevor (Jadon Sand), and Stacey (Leya Catlett). Their marriage seems harmonious, but the increasing stress is betraying it. Noah also seems to feel less respected and taken for granted by his in-laws, who are both quite wealthy. Noah and his family are on vacation in Montauk, a destination populated with shops and tourist sites. Noah is exploring the town when he catches sight of Alison (Ruth Wilson), the gorgeous, graceful waitress at a local diner.

As Noah returns home on the first evening of their stay, he sees a group of four teens vandalizing his car. He chases them down before meeting Alison again. Noah's initial search for his waitress is successfully completed when he runs into her on the street, carrying a paper bag. They enter a bar on the outskirts of town. The bar is not too crowded, although a live band playing country covers is performing. Noah's eyes can't escape from Alison's gaze, and the two of them feel a strong attraction to each other. After some conversation and flirting, they leave the bar together and take a walk on the beach, which provides them with a better opportunity to talk and get to know each other. Their conversation reveals their respective marital statuses. Noah feels the pressure of his wife's aristocratic family and the monotony of his life, while Alison's marriage fell apart after a personal tragedy and her bereavement is still dragging her down.

The show employs a tricky narrative strategy. The events of the episode are being told from both perspectives—Noah's and Alison's—from start to finish. Consequently, we see the story unfold twice, from different viewpoints. The unreliable memory of human beings is emphasized; the differences between their perceptions of the night's events are explicit. For example, Alison's recollection of leaving the bar is in slow motion to mirror the emotional moment for her, whereas Noah doesn't seem to be as affected by the goodbye. Despite their differences, though, both storytelling methods converge on one focal point: the concept of the affair.

The episode takes an in-depth look at both Noah's and Alison's personal lives and relationships, examining their dissimilarities and similarities. As they return to their respective spouses, viewers are left to decide if they will feel guilty being unfaithful, or relieved for having some excitement in their stagnant life.

The plot of the first season episode of The Affair is rich in symbolism as well. Being both set and filmed in Montauk, the breathtaking scenery is in itself a pivotal character in the drama. The way each character interacts in this fantastic caravanserai is reminiscent of the emotional state they are in. Noah feels neglected and anxious, the small town and the vast, never-ending nature looming before him as he tries to escape from his fears. Alison, too, is not much different, her secluded workplace resembling her life after utter desolation. These alluring aspects of the show's environment and well-written dialogues lend more depth to the characters as we recognize their struggles.

The pilot of The Affair is a masterpiece in storytelling as it depicts Noah and Alison as two people from different worlds who develop a connection in one fateful night. The two individuals come from two opposite social spectrum, carrying the baggage of their respective complicated lives. The narrative structure pays careful attention to their telling and focuses on the subtleties of their stories, making it a tale worth watching.