The first three series of the acclaimed drama The Affair, hailed by some as the best TV show ever made, are now available to stream for free on ITVX. The show originally aired in 2014 and follows the tumultuous romance between schoolteacher Noah Solloway (Dominic West) and grieving waitress Alison Bailey (Ruth Wilson), both married when they meet at a diner where Alison works.
ITVX describes the series as a "trailblazing psychological drama about desire, betrayal and the emotional fallout of an affair." The show is praised for its exploration of complex relationships and its narrative technique of showing events from different characters' perspectives, a method famously used by Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. Created by Sarah Treem and Hagai Levi, The Affair ran for five seasons, concluding in 2019.
Fans have taken to IMDb to express their admiration. One reviewer gave it a perfect score, calling it "best tv show ever" and adding, "They don't make tv shows like this. This is drama at its best." Another praised the "superb writing and cast of actors," noting that the show "never gets old, it never gets tiring or dull." A third fan highlighted the unique perspective format, saying, "It's up to us to figure out what the real story is."
The fourth series is expected to be added to ITVX in summer 2025, with the fifth arriving in 2027. Alternatively, all five seasons are available on Paramount+, and individual episodes can be purchased on YouTube.
