It’s the end of “The Affair” at Showtime, as the premium cable network announced Thursday that it has renewed the drama for a fifth and final season.
The Sarah Treem and Hagai Levi-created series explores the emotional and psychological effects of an affair that destroyed two marriages, and the crime that brings these individuals back together.
“We love the intimacy, the nuance and the emotional honesty of ‘The Affair’s subjective examination of both infidelity and fidelity,” Gary Levine, president of programming at Showtime Networks, said. “Sarah Treem has always envisioned this as a five-season series, and we will be fascinated to see where she takes her talented cast and all of us next year in its climactic season.”
The currently airing Season 4 finds Noah (Dominic West), Helen (Maura Tierney), Alison (Ruth Wilson) and Cole (Joshua Jackson) “in their own orbits, alienated from each other, spinning further and further away from where they all began.”
Per Showtime: Every character is involved in a new relationship, forcing them each to decide if they’re ready and willing to leave the past behind for good — with a season about new beginnings, tragic ends and the ever-elusive possibility of forgiveness. Sanaa Lathan (“Shots Fired”) guest stars as Janelle, the tough-as-nails principal of the charter school where Noah teaches. Their professional relationship soon turns intimate and is further complicated by the presence of her brilliant, misunderstood son Antoine, a student in his class played by guest star Christopher Meyer (“The Fosters”).
Ramon Rodriguez (“Iron Fist”) guest stars as Ben, a Marine veteran now employed by the VHA and Alison’s new love interest. Additional season four guest stars include Russell Hornsby (“Grimm”), Amy Irving (“Yentl”) and Phoebe Tonkin (“The Vampire Diaries”).
Treem serves as showrunner and executive produces the series along with Levi and Jessica Rhoades.
The Season 4 finale is set for Aug. 19.