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The Affair Showtime Series Episode 3 Highlights: Starring Dominic West, Ruth Wilson & Joshua Jackson

Posted on October 28, 2014 Written by Pinar Tarhan

Episode 3 Highlights

The Affair cast: Joshua Jackson, Ruth Wilson, Dominic West, Maura Tierney. — The Affair image via fan forum. From left: Joshua Jackson, Ruth Wilson, Dominic West and Maura Tierney.

For a thorough plot summary and review for the first episodes, please read The Affair starring Dominic West, Ruth Wilson, Joshua Jackson and Maura Tierney: The Good, The Weird, The We’ll See.

Warning: There’ll Be Spoilers.

Once again we have the story told first in Noah (Dominic West)’s point of view, and then Alison (Ruth Wilson)’s, and they continue to show the other one is the more active “pursuer.” But this time we get a bit more into their daily lives:

Alison is originally a pediatrics nurse, and her waitressing is way to help make ends meet until she can face sick children again.
Noah’s mother-in-law is actually as obnoxious as his father-in-law, if not more. She is still complaining about Noah not making enough money, in front of Noah, and mentioning the private schools they paid for. Noah has taken shit from his in-laws since he was 21, when he married Helen (Maura Tierney).
Noah starts to work on his book, though he mixes pleasure with business as Alison becomes his inside person. In Noah’s version, he asks to be friends, and that even though he is really into her, he can’t have an affair. In Alison’s version, Alison says she can’t have an affair because it’s her hometown. In Noah’s version the affair starts. In Alison’s, it doesn’t.
Alison’s boss at the diner, Oscar, wants to build a bowling alley next to the diner. Cole (Joshua Jackson) is against the change. He wants the town to stay the same. This gives us a great look into how he might not be into change as a person, and how this might have harmed their marriage. Because circumstances can change people, especially an extremely traumatic event like a child’s death. Alison has probably changed, and she is also likely going through depression as we find out she also has a self-cutting habit.
In Alison’s version, we get the impression she really doesn’t like Cole’s brother Scotty (Colin Donnell).

3rd episode felt a bit slower in some parts, and it was a little less shocking (as opposed to what Noah’s older son pulled off during the beginning of episode one.). However, it got us a bit more into the daily lives of our characters, and where they were, especially mentally, when the affair started. The crime element, and the fact that we don’t know who was killed and why, keeps adding a bit more mystery.

We also don’t know where they are now. Is the affair still on? Did they leave their spouses and get together? Or are they with the families they started with? Alison mentions a sitter; she has a kid now. Whose kid is it? Maybe she adopted?

There’s still a lot to find out, and it’s told and shot humanely enough to keep me interested, and I’m seriously against cheating. Yet, for some reason, even though I’m pissed at what they are doing and I’m rooting for their spouses to find out (to kick their asses), I can’t hate either Alison or Noah. Maybe I was charmed a bit by Noah’s (Dominic West)’s cute curls and swimming body too.

Kidding aside, it’s a show that earns your attention and keeps it. Fingers crossed for it to stay this way.

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The Affair starring Dominic West, Ruth Wilson, Joshua Jackson and Maura Tierney: The Good, The Weird, The We’ll See

Posted on October 26, 2014 Written by Pinar Tarhan

the affair dominic west ruth wilson — The Affair image via variety.com.

The Affair’s airing its 3rd episode tonight on Showtime, and I wanted to catch you up on the plot before things got more complicated (and to help you decide if you were wondering whether the show was worth your time.)

The Affair :The Plot

Noah Solloway (Dominic West) is a public school teacher with one published book and a creeping existential crisis. How can he not? Married to his college sweetheart Helen (Maura Tierney) with 4 kids (one teenager and one about to become one), obnoxious in-laws (though the father makes the mother seem like an angel) and a second book he’s too blocked to write.

Alison (Ruth Wilson) is a younger, depressed waitress who has lost her child a few years ago, and she’s still not recovered from it. Her husband, Cole (Joshua Jackson) runs the family ranch with his brothers, and even though he seems better than Alison, he’s not exactly the picture of happiness either.

Noah and Helen pack their kids to spend the summer at her rich parents’ house, and on the way, they meet Alison at the diner she works for. There’s instant connection between her and Noah, though we’re given two different accounts as to how the affair came to start:

Both Noah and Alison are giving their separate statements at the police station. There’s apparently been a murder, which Noah thought to be an accident, or so he says.

As we listen to the start of the affair in two parts, we realize both sides show the other one as the pursuer, and themselves as the more emotional, and hesitant-to-cheat one. We also realize they’re keeping some bits to themselves as their voices tell one thing and the scenes show another.

Two episodes in, we don’t know who the victim is, or whether Alison and Noah are viable suspects.

The Good

I really like how both Noah and Alison’s versions differ from each other. In addition to painting the other one the “pursuer”, they also tend to show the other one’s spouse worse than they actually are.

For instance, in episode 1, Noah started first, and when we were first introduced to Cole, I thought he was a total ass. Then I listened to Alison, and I thought he was a really decent guy struggling in his own way.

Neither spouses are monsters, though Alison’s marriage seems a bit more troubled because of the loss of her son and her inner turmoil.

Noah also comes across as humane enough, even though he doesn’t have much more reason to cheat than some resentment towards in-laws and monotony of such a long-term relationship.

It’s refreshing to see marriages and spouses reasonably fine and nice, as opposed to making one or both sides insufferable so that the audience will empathize more with the cheaters.

The “cheaters” also do a fine job at coming across flawed but likeable. Sure, you’d not like to be their spouses, but these are people you wouldn’t mind being friends or family with.

The two different points of view add a nice level of mystery, and make us doubt both Alison and Noah, as we know the actual version is somewhere in between. Or maybe they are telling an agreed-upon version. Or maybe one of them is more honest than the other. We don’t know.

The series also has an honest, realistic and non-soapy feel despite the subject matter.

The Weird

Adultery is not the world’s most comfortable subject, especially if you are a romantic at heart and never have cheated on someone.

And it’s one thing to watch a habitual cheater who keeps cheating on their partner again and again. You’d like to believe those people would be easier to catch and dump (I’m on the let’s dump all cheaters wagon, unless the cheated party is a psychopath). But portraying Noah as a decent, family-oriented man who’d normally not do this… It’s a bit creepy. And scary.

Alison doesn’t seem to be the cheating type either.

Because it offers this disturbing theory: Anyone can, and will, cheat under the right circumstances: they just need to be depressed enough, disconnected enough, lonely enough, misunderstood enough, attracted enough….

And it’s the ultimate pet peeve of mine when Noah at some point will say :I’ve never cheated before.”

What does he want? A medal for keeping it in his pants for so long? Sorry, pal, you made your decision to keep it in your pants when you proposed. You don’t just get to have a family and a young mistress simultaneously without suffering any consequences.

I’m cutting Alison a bit more slack. I’m not condoning her cheating, but she’ll be more susceptible to questionable behavior – she has lost a child. That does give her the right to be off the rails; though I’d rather she did therapy instead of someone else’ husband.

The We’ll See

Currently The Affair fun and interesting enough to keep following. I like the cast, the location and the storytelling method.

It just might put you a bit further off marriage, though.

Have you seen The Affair yet? What did you think?

Fun note: One of Cole’s (Joshua Jackson)’s brothers is played by Colin Donnell (Tommy from Arrow).

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Lay The Favorite Review: LTF starring Bruce Willis, Rebecca Hole, Joshua Jackson & Catherine Zeta Jones

Posted on November 17, 2012 Written by ripitup

Lay The Favorite starring Bruce Willis, Rebecca Hall, Joshua Jackson & Catherine Zeta Jones — Image via teaser-trailer.com.

Based on the autobiography of Beth Raymer, Lay the Favorite is the story of the highly colorful background of the writer:

Beth Raymer (Rebecca Hall) gets tired of her weird clients as a stripper, and decides to live the glamorous life a Las Vegas cocktail waitress. No, seriously-she does think that it is the adventure of a lifetime. But before she can land a job as a waitress, she lands a job as a sports bettor next to the interesting Dink (Bruce Willis), who immediately takes a liking to this weirdly naive ex-stripper/porn site entrepreneur/star. Of course no wife (Catherine Zeta Jones) will be pleased to see Beth liking her husband too much, so things get a tad complicated for Beth. And to add more to the complications, she meets the cute writer Jeremy (Joshua Jackson), who happens to be the first normal guy she gets involved with.

Frankly, I prefer the trailer to the movie. I had no idea that it was a memoir, and I’d thought that I would just see a fun, if not a little quirky, comedy about 4 interesting people. Instead I got a movie that seemed off in many directions, and despite the good cast, I just couldn’t get into it. And when you can’t get into a movie your mind wanders:

11 Things Lay The Favorite Might Make You Think

1) I was thinking why anyone would want to tell this story, then I realized it was a memoir. So truth is stranger than fiction.

2) Apparently people can have sex first and have a relationship later.

3) Shy people can run porn sites and strip.

4) Diablo Cody (Juno) is not the only ex-stripper that became a successful writer.

5) Catherine Zeta Jones is still beautiful.

6) Joshua Jackson could star in Benjamin Button the Sequel- that guy does not look 34! Apply little eye cream, and he could still star as a high school senior.

7) Beth Raymer is one protagonist that is borderline impossible to identify with.

8) Bruce Wills in comedy is fun in small doses, but I’d rather have him go around kicking ass and saving the day. Can A Good Day to Die Hard come to the theaters already?

9) As much as I like Vince Vaughn, even I’m retiring from watching him play a fast-talking gambler/player/swinger/bookie. Remember the times he did movies like Cell or Return to Paradise?

10) I’d rather have Stephen Frears direct period pieces. Remember that stunning movie Dangerous Liasions?

11) I want to read Beth Raymer rather than watch a movie based on her. She has been published in pretty prestigious magazines after getting a writing MFA.

Also on the Cast

Joshua Jacskson:

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BRUCE WILLIS:

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REBECCA HALL

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Trust The B in Apartment 23 and “Dawson” For Quirks & Laughs: Don’t Trust The B Apartment 23 with Krysten Ritter, Drema Walker & James Van Der Beek

Posted on November 17, 2012 Written by ripitup

Krysten Ritter as the B**** in Apartment 23. Image via amazon.com

Don’t Trust The B Apartment 23 tells the adventures of the self-centered, party-loving, popularity-obsessed, politically incorrect and proudly insensitive New Yorker Chloe (Krysten Ritter), and her new roommate June (Dreama Walker) from Indiana who despite her initial shock and repulsion, has gotten to like Chloe, and proven to be a worthy adversary/friend/roommate.

But Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23 is more than just a severe clash of cultures/morals/personalities. It also makes fun of fame, celebrities, success, careers and life struggles in general- all without the annoying laughing tracks and the boundaries of a sitcom. Oh, and its biggest fame/celebrity-teasing tool comes in the form of its third starring actor – James Van Der Beek, playing the post-Dawson James Van Der Beek in the most amusing fashion.

For anyone who has been a teenager during late 90s and early 2000s (1998-2003), Dawson’s Creek was the familiar teenage drama/romance series starring Van Der Beek (as Dawson), Katie Holmes (best friend/the girl next door Joey), Joshua Jackson (best friend Pacey) and Michelle Williams (pretty new girl Jen). And even though the series was named after his character, he had the leading role, scored a huge fan base and having scored roles in movies before, during and after the series, Van Der Beek never got to be “Dawson” again, at least in terms of playing such a popular lead in a hit series, or being in a hit movie.

Joshua Jackson was somewhat suffering from a similar fate until he got one of the starring roles in the sci-fi/drama/mystery series Fringe and became Peter Bishop instead of Pacey for 5 years, and we will see which character will remain more popular or if Jackson will finally become an A-lister starring in more films. He has the talent, the looks and the girlfriend (Diane Kruger). But he has also suffered from the Dawson’s Creek curse.

Katie Holmes went from being in the shadow of Joey to being in the shadow of Tom Cruise. Oh, yes, she shared tons of spotlight and got more coverage than the entire Dawson’s Creek cast combined, but let’s face it-it was because she married Cruise. We’ll have to wait and see if she will prove herself to be more than Joey.

And last but definitely not the least- we have Michelle Williams-who got the luckiest break of all. She did so many diverse roles in so many diverse movies, she kept us in the present. The youngest Creek cast member starred in Brokeback Mountain alongside Heath Ledger, Jake Gyleenhall- and won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination. We could never lose focus on her career since she went on to score 2 more Oscar nominations, leading roles alongside Hugh Jackman, Ewan McGregor, Ryan Gosling, Leonardo di Caprio, Kenneth Branagah and more.

But James’ career seems to be the most puzzling. He’s good-looking, has done many more different roles opposing to his romantic dreamer Dawson and never quite stopped working. But he couldn’t shake off Dawson. And what better way to poke fun at your career while reminding people of your popularity, show a whole new side of you while still starring in a new show?

Just like Matt LeBlanc, aka Joey from Friends mocked himself and his career by playing a womanizing, politically incorrect jackass-y version of himself in Episodes, won back the spotlight, popularity and reminded people that he can be more than just Joey, Van Der Beek is milking “Dawson”, once again- in a very successful way.

How does Dawson Leery aka James Van Der Beek fit in with the girls? He is Chloe’s best friend- a rich, popular and self-centered actor who is sick and tired of being remembered as Dawson despite his talent and other accomplishments. But he constantly fluctuates between self-pity/anger and feeling happy to be adored.

Sometimes Van Der Beek’s ego provides for some one-liners and sub-plots, sometimes it becomes the center with June and Chloe.

Granted, the show is more about Chloe, June and their relationship- but at least 50% of the jokes, and probably the fan base, wouldn’t have been there without “Dawson.”

I don’t know about you, but having been a movies-obsessed, romantic female teenager in 8^th grade, I was a big fan of Dawson’s Creek-and Dawson was my favorite character- at least for the first 2 seasons. I hated the fact that the whole story became about friends rotating each other in dating and sex, and the once lovely teen drama/comedy/romance turned into a very obvious soap- but I stuck around like many people would when their relationship lost the passion but couldn’t shake the habit.

And despite all the boring romances, Dawson was still Dawson. He grew up, became a little less naïve and optimistic. But he was still a dreamer, a movie enthusiast who wanted to make in Hollywood and a romantic. And guess what? 9 years after the show ended, I grew a very cynical side, did some things I said I’d never do (like falling for a friend, or liking two guys who happened to be friends-life imitating art and all that) but I still am a romantic movie addict who’s trying to make it as a writer.

You see, Dawson was my favorite character – not because I thought he was boyfriend material (though he was), but because he was the character I identified with the most. And 9 years in life didn’t exactly go the way I planned-but despite growing up, I’m still me. Despite all the complaints, and having lived in a big city (as opposed to Dreama’s small town character June), I did watch all episodes of Dawson’s Creek.

I honestly didn’t think the concept could be funny before I knew who Chloe’s bff was. Then I saw the trailer.

It is always over the top with the quirks and pretty much impossible to identify with James or Chloe. But it is entertaining, with some episodes making you laugh more than the others.

You don’t have to have watched Dawson’s Creek to enjoy this one, but it is funnier if you have loved or hated (or both) the show with passion at some point in your lives.

Episodes to watch out for:

Season 1

Episode 1 – how Chloe proves to be a friend by proving June that her fiancé is a cheater- by being caught on the act with him to June!

Episode 2- Chloe sets June up with her hot “friend” Scott (Michael Landes) who turns out to be a little more familiar with Chloe than June thought. And no, Chloe and Scott never hooked up. When I say familiar, I mean…

Episode-4 Chloe gets jealous of June becoming BFFs with James, so she crashes June’s friend’s wedding with Kevin Sorbo (played by Kevin Sorbo)-who she has brought under completely false pretenses.

Season 2

Episode 1- Attempts at a Dawson’s Creek reunion.

Episode 2- And Chloe meets her match