News: Showtime Renews Both Homeland and The Affair

Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison in episode 3 this season.

As an avid fan and weekly reviewer of both Homeland and The Affair, today’s news couldn’t have made me happier. Showtime has renewed Homeland for a fifth season, and The Affair for a second season, with 12 and 10 episodes respectively to air in 2015.

Having successfully reinvented itself this season, Homeland continues telling the story of Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) as she fights the war against terrorism, and an internal battle against the disease that could ruin her professional career. The show also stars Rupert Friend as Peter Quinn, Mandy Patinkin as Saul Berenson, Nazanin Boniadi as Fara Sherazi, Michael O’Keefe as John Redmond, Tracy Letts as CIA Director Andrew Lockhart, Laila Robins as US Ambassador Martha Boyd, and Mark Moses as her husband, Professor Dennis Boyd.

The Affair stars Ruth Wilson as Alison and Dominic West as Noah, and tells the tale of their extramarital affair and the emotional and psychological toll it takes on both of them. At this stage of The Affair’s freshman season, we now know Scotty Lockhart (Colin Donnell) is the dead man referenced in the season premiere, which leaves us five more episodes to figure out who killed him. So I imagine the direction creator/writer Sarah Treem will take us in the second season will be to figure out why the murder happened, and perhaps, even focus on the killer’s trial. Or maybe, the show will take a look at the affair through the eyes of the affected spouses, Helen (Maura Tierney) and Cole Lockhart (Joshua Jackson). Whatever is it, The Affair is such a mesmerizing show, I’m happy to be along for the ride.

For all the pertinent details, read Showtime’s official press release below.

LOS ANGELES, CA – November 10, 2014 – SHOWTIME has picked up a second season of the critically-acclaimed new drama series THE AFFAIR and a fifth season of the Emmy^® and Golden Globe^®-winning hit series HOMELAND, to air 10 and 12 new episodes respectively in 2015. The announcement was made today by David Nevins, President, Showtime Networks Inc. Season-to-date, HOMELAND season four is averaging six million weekly viewers across platforms – steadily building momentum and growing in each of its last three weeks. On pace to be the network’s most time-shifted original series, THE AFFAIR is averaging 3.9 million weekly viewers across platforms. The series has grown consistently every single week since its premiere, with 87 percent of the show’s audience tuning-in after the original Sunday 10 p.m. telecast. Both series currently air on Sunday nights starting at 9 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME.

“In its fourth season, HOMELAND has brilliantly reinvented itself. It continues to capture the attention of a devoted fan base, and has provided an enviable platform for the successful launch of THE AFFAIR,” said Nevins. “With thought-provoking, relevant and addictive storylines, both series have been embraced, dissected and much debated week after week. We’re excited to see more from these complex shows in 2015.”

The buzz for HOMELAND’s rebooted fourth season continues to grow, as Carrie Mathison (Emmy, SAG and Golden Globe Award winner Claire Danes) continues to fight the war on terror on the front lines while working as Chief of Station at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan. Her mission pulls her into the complex dichotomy between international diplomacy and clandestine operations. The series also stars Emmy and Tony^® Award winner Mandy Patinkin, Emmy nominee Rupert Friend, Tracy Letts, Laila Robins and Nazanin Boniadi. Produced by Fox 21, the series was developed for American television by Alex Gansa and Howard Gordon, and is based on the original Israeli series “Prisoners of War” by Gideon Raff. Along with Gansa, Gordon and Raff, the executive producers for season four are Alexander Cary, Chip Johannessen, Meredith Stiehm, Avi Nir, Ran Telem and Lesli Linka Glatter.

Ruth Wilson as Alison and Dominic West as Noah lock lips in episode 4 this season.

THE AFFAIR explores the emotional and psychological effects of an extramarital affair. The provocative drama, told separately from the male and female perspective, uses distinct memory biases to both misdirect and intrigue. Golden Globe nominee Ruth Wilson plays Alison, a young woman waiting tables at a popular Hamptons diner, trying to piece her life back together in the wake of a tragedy. Her husband Cole (SAG Award^® nominee Joshua Jackson), struggles to keep it all together, both with his wife and the financially-strained ranch that has been in his family for generations. Their emotionally-charged marriage becomes even more complicated when Alison begins an affair with Noah (Golden Globe nominee Dominic West), a New York City public school teacher and aspiring novelist who is spending the summer at his in-laws’ estate out on the island. Emmy nominee Maura Tierney plays Helen, Noah’s college sweetheart, best friend, mother of his children, lover and wife of 17 years. Award-winning playwright and writer/producer Sarah Treem and Hagai Levi serve as executive producers and co-creators. Jeffrey Reiner serves as executive producer and director, along with executive producer Eric Overmyer.

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Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!