The end of The Affair: Six reasons why the Dominic West-Ruth Wilson thriller was a cop-out and a con, by Jim Shelley

The end of The Affair was such a cop-out and a con it didn't even put us out of our misery.

After ten episodes of the thriller set in the Hamptons, viewers were still none-the-wiser about who killed Scotty Lockhart.

Unsatisfying end to the characters' stories: Alison Lockheart (Ruth Wilson) and Noah Solloway (Dominic West) sadly ended up with improbably or inconsistent behaviour after 10 episodes

The unconvincing 'cliff-hanger' that served as the finale meant the whole series was a waste of time - effectively little more than just a teaser for the second season.

Bit of a let-down: The end of The Affair was such a cop-out and a con it didn't even put us out of our misery, says Jim Shelley

True, the closing scene of the series saw the male protagonist (Brooklyn teacher, writer, and adulterous husband Noah Solloway) being arrested for murder. But even this only convinced you it almost certainly wasn't him. If it was, why didn't the writers just say and create a brand new 'Affair' for the follow-up (in the manner of 'True Detective').

As much as Noah contrived to act like the guilty party and provide evidence for the detective investigating the case, it was transparently circumstantial.

Most of his behaviour was at worst just improbable or inconsistent – which was the most consistent thing about him.

The same went for his female counterpart (Montauk waitress, grieving mother, and unfaithful wife Alison Lockhart).