The Ashley Madison Affair (2023) User Reviews

ABC Studios - Amateurs in Documentary Filmmaking

[cgho56 · 1/10 · 10 July 2023]

Hulu should be ashamed for continuing to publish lifeless, banal "original documentaries" created by the novices at ABC studios.

There is nothing compelling about watching hired actors recite anecdotes while playing endless scenes of stock video footage: couches, traffic lights, busses, dogs playing with sprinklers, bugs - yes, in a documentary about hackers breaching data to expose users engaged in extramarital affairs, the producers had the gall to show us a tick climbing a plant. Just call the documentary "We Think Our Viewers are Mindless Sheep".

Someone needs to clean house at ABC Studios, fire the incompetent employees who are creating and approving this uninspired drivel and hire a team who gives a damn about what they do.

Poor Quality

[NewYearsDayjob · 3/10 · 8 July 2023]

This is not...very good. Like I don't mean the subject matter is bad or troubling or whatever (which it is), I just mean the quality of this docuseries is poor.

The thing with the actors reading for Ashley Madison users is weird and confusing. But for me the worst part of this is the sheer amount of stock footage this docuseries has. Like hold of the interview subject for more than 2 seconds. Stop cutting to barely related stock footage.

It's really obvious to me that the filmmakers did NOT have enough footage to make this series.

Idk I remember when the Ashley Madison leak happened. I was in high school, and it was all over the news and social media. It was kind of...exciting...in a sick way, or at least it was the thing that everyone was talking about. This docuseries makes this huge scandal feel like watching paint dry.

85% Stock Footage and Over acting

[fzlylugbcd · 2/10 · 19 July 2023]

The idea of this docuseries is great. Give information about the Ashley Madison scandal, done. The way it's done however, is so incredibly poor. You'll get 10 seconds of talking followed by 30 second of garbage stock footage to pad out the episode. This reals like a way to just stretch 1 episode for 4-5 episodes as a way to pump out more content.

On top of that you get awful actors that are trying so hard to make this their "big break" instead of real people that suffered because of this site.

This should be an example of how NOT to make a docuseries. Slow it down, stick to only the facts and stop jumping to stock footage. We arent 2 year olds that need constant pictures shoved into our faces.

Interesting Series

[martinclough · 10/10 · 15 March 2024]

Really enjoyed this series. Really interesting story, and a good telling of that historical time. I remember this period well and seeing the hack on the news- fascinating to see what really went on behind the scenes. Ashley Madison was hacked in 2015, but also they were at the forefront of monetizing the internet in the early 2000s. This laid the groundwork for what we see today.

I also thought the analysis of the data from the hack was really well thought-out, and the graphics and archive were good too.

There was a real range of interviewees, from those having affairs, played by actors, to tech experts and journalists. They gave an overall rounded version of the story. Recommend.

Just Awful All Around

[helenahandbasket-93734 · 1/10 · 10 July 2023]

From the 'actors' supposedly retelling the stories, to the 'experts' to the storytelling, itself, this is just horribly done.

The actors, dear God. Absolutely horrible and so desperately trying to be seen. Between all of them there's not a single one that brings script reading ability- it's horribly bad and cringe inducing.

Every few minutes there's lurid AM-type ads, salacious, grotesque footage, the same nonsense over and over, used as filler, but turns an one episode story into three.

The story itself is so impossible to watch/follow; it's scattered, unpalatable and unintelligible. The story makes no sense and then is constantly interrupted with horrible acting, nonsensical ad-like pieces, and ridiculous commentary by someone like Sunny Hostin and the harpies from The View.

We struggled through 20 minutes of the first episode and had to shut it down. We went to the 3rd to see if there was any discussion of the Anonymous hack, and there was none. No discussion of the database that was brought to light that exposed the disgusting behavior by married people using this site to find opportunities to cheat- only one of the AM reps that constantly makes excuses as to why this behavior is totally fine.

Either way, this whole thing is just badly done and a poor excuse for documentary filmmaking. How it's hitting anything above a rating of 2-3 stars is proof that the attempts by this site to get rid of bots is clearly not working.

total nonsense

[howboutthisone_huh · 4/10 · 12 July 2023]

The interesting part of this biz and website is that after the data was hacked, a huge percentage of the actual activity was not about people hooking up. Yes, they claim in the series that there were 6 to 1, men to females and there were men complaining about the site but that's only a small part of the documentary. That number needs a fact check though because some sources on the web claim that 99% of all the profiles were from men, which says most women were actually men on the site. Google for yourself. Anyway, most of it is about the ceo, his marketing techniques and the backlash against the morality as if that was the actual activity, which it wasn't. Even though they had people claiming to, or representing actual users that engaged in cheating. Actually, that didn't happen. Actually, the site was a mating marketplace for men seeking sex for which there was very little interest from women. So, as they say in the film, the biz was monetizing men but you wouldn't get that impression watching the whole series. What they should have said is that the website was designed to dupe men since they paid for the service and what almost all got in return was bogus contacts and contacts to sex workers. What came out after the data hack was that the website is a fraud but it still survives because 'meet girls' businesses always manage to find those looking for a fantasy. I can't personally understand it since there are other competitors now that are free but it's part of the human experience that goes back thousands of years. So not only is this poorly made but also poorly researched and preys on a fantasy that ashley madison never provided.

Bad Actors instead of Real People

[suzannesolow · 1/10 · 9 August 2023]

Bad Actors instead of Real People

Woo boy did I turn this off fast!

Don't know about you, but when I settle in to watch a documentary, I look forward to hearing from the REAL victims and all those affected by the scandal.

I appreciate the rawness and vulnerability of real people. Welp, on this one, instead of hearing from the actual people involved, they opt to have actors read testimonials as though it were their own.

They are set up in front of some corny looking props with their names in quotes.

On top of that, they are baaaaaaad actors.

I really hope this is not a trend here to stay.

If you can't get real people to participate in your doc, shelve it and wait. Don't insult the audience with this clownery.

TWO , Very Basic Reasonable reasOns that help with refuse Sex OUTSIDE marriage

[joanna-42824 · 1/10 · 23 May 2024]

Simply , There are TWO Very Basic Reasonable reasOns that help with refuse Sex OUTSUDE marriage : * First reason (Which is The Most important !!! ) : An unplanned, wrong Pregnancy (it may happen EVEN with known Contraceptive precautions !.. , yeeees IT OCCURS ! ) ,,, so the person becomes " responsible " for the REST of his life about a Child ... a Human being !!! , came to the world !!! , will Live and Grow and Suffer !!!

Yes , responsible the REST of his life ( for a child , a human being !) , before God , before himself , and before others ... , ( This is in the event that a decision is not made to have an Abortion , which is Worse , because it Kills an innocent person ! , ... Even if aborting a fetus that is only One day old ! , "who knows!" ; abortion in that case can ALSO be considered as Killing a human being ! ) All of these are because of just a passing sexual pleasure !!!

* The Second reason : Increasing the chances of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, such as AIDS , and different types of hepatitis viruses and ... etc , ( OF COURSE no one performs a Medical Examination and Laboratory Tests ! , for his friend before " Every " Sexual Act !!!... )

• BUT WITHIN the framework of Marriage:

First: Even if an unplanned pregnancy occurs, the newborn child is inside a Fortress!, a Strong !; It is the "family" and baby grows safely within it ..., This is why God created the family ... Second: The possibility of one of the spouses contracting sexually transmitted diseases is small or almost non-existent, given that they know each other well and of course neither of them has sex outside of marriage .

Sorry for length Thanks.

Highly watchable

[alhepworth · 8/10 · 25 March 2024]

The Ashley Madison Affair is a highly watchable docuseries that lays out the story of the seedy company's rise to success, shedding light on its founder, Noel Biderman, who unapologetically champions infidelity as a lucrative business endeavor. While the series may not extend much sympathy towards the clientele of Ashley Madison, it's a great roller coaster portrayal of the company's ris , fall and rise .

From the outset, Biderman is depicted as a figure who fearlessly markets infidelity as a viable solution for troubled relationships, bolstered by provocative advertisements that position Ashley Madison's services as a remedy for marital discord. The series doesn't shy away from discussing the repercussions of extramarital affairs, illustrating the devastation they can inflict on individuals and families alike. Consequently, viewers may find it challenging to muster empathy for both the company and its patrons, despite their victimization in a malicious cyberattack.

One of the most intriguing aspects of The Ashley Madison Affair is its exploration of the media frenzy surrounding high-profile individuals, whose names appeared in the site's subscriber list. The sensationalized coverage often led to the vilification of these people, regardless of their actual involvement or circumstances. The series poignantly highlights the tragic consequences caused by such public scrutiny, serving as a cautionary tale about the dangers of moral judgment in the age of digital exposure.

The series features victims, former employees of the company, journalists and data analysts. Most of the users of the site are portrayed by actors, the adulterers presumably anxious to preserve their anonymity, reminding us how society still views infidelity. The series does have some bigger points to make beyond the immorality of cheating, as it offers a sobering lesson about the importance of accountability and discretion in navigating the digital landscape.

Despite its contentious subject matter, "The Ashley Madison Affair" is a compelling exploration of human nature, corporate ambition, and the intersection of morality and technology.

Good Story but Amateur Doc

[e-jackson1985 · 4/10 · 19 May 2024]

Good story, well told but dwells on select people cases too much (the vlogger couple in particular) and artistic dramatic slow downs (person looking longingly into the sky to show they are reflecting) etc.

The doco completely skipped over the cyber attack suspects, the police investigation, the legal action outcomes and how the business was still able to operate, the processes they have put in place so that it doesn't happen again etc. This is critical information and should have taken precedence over a handful of case studies.

It is watchable because its an interesting story, just think netflix could have regulated the content focus a bit more.

A giant advertisement for Ashley Madison

[seanmezin · 3/10 · 19 May 2024]

So much was left off. And to have a customer service rep say the CEO "took the fall." Ridiculous. He had services they explicitly sold and knew they didn't exist.

The series puts Ashley Madison in a positive light. Ends with sermonizing not to "judge people" and then totally ignores what happened after the CEO resigned.

Very clearly pro adultery take on this.

And why was there no women impacted by this except the one who claims the leakers killed her husband. No, your husband choose to live a double-life and lost his job at the seminary because of HIS choices.

Finally, who now owns Ashley Madison and why are the owners so hidden. Hmmmm.

Ashley Madison Hacked

[gurumaggie · 3/10 · 16 May 2024]

Where to begin hmm the beginning, a poorly dressed oaf fusses over sunglasses and acts like an oaf.

Sam and Nia seem fake to me, if a man stole urine to check if I was pregnant I'd go a bit drama queen to be honest her reaction seems totally fake to me, but her smile doesn't reach her eyes, this is only my opinion.

Most participants seem to work for Ashley Madison and seem to not care about the families of the people who cheated, we aren't judging as long as we make money, and we'll lie to you on the phone because it suits us.

I'm sure there is a story to be told but Netflix gave money to the wrong people to make it.