The infidelity drama ‘I-SPY’ explores the issue of online affairs over five episodes. The fictitious couple - Rhianna and Oliver - struggle to hold their relationship together after engaging in online activities. These films illustrate how online affairs might start and can help those in relationships to have the conversation about what each partner feel is ok to do online, and what isn’t. You might also want to read our ‘how we can talk about what’s OK online’ page.
Below are the links to the five I-Spy episodes. At the end of each episode there are two questions for you to think about and discuss with your partner – one related to the unfolding drama and the other about relationship issues more generally.
It may be stressful to watch the couple in the I-SPY films if you are currently struggling with the impact of an online affair (or have so in the past). If you are experiencing emotional difficulty, because of an online affair, see our ‘counselling for online cheating’ page.
Episode 1:
Rihanna installs spyware on the laptop she has given as a birthday present to her partner Oliver.
Questions to think about and discuss:
- What do you think about Rihanna installing spyware on Oliver’s laptop?
- Is it ever OK to look at your partner’s private chats or messages?
Episode 2:
Rihanna finds out about Oliver’s online flirting and talks to a friend about it, whilst checking out Minnie’s Facechat profile.
Questions to think about and discuss:
- What do you think about Rihanna’s reaction to Oliver’s chat with Minnie?
- Do you think it’s OK for someone in a relationship to flirt with other people?
Episode 3:
Rhianna tries to find evidence of Oliver’s alleged infidelity online and the couple argue with each other when Oliver returns from the pub.
Questions to think about and discuss:
- What do you think about the way Rihanna tries to find out about Oliver’s online behaviour?
- Is it OK to look for sexual excitement on the internet if you’re in a relationship?
Episode 4:
Oliver believes Rhianna has ‘crossed the line’ and sets up a meeting with Minnie.
Questions to think about and discuss:
- What do you think about Oliver’s decision to meet Minnie after his ‘discovery’ about Rihanna?
- Is it OK to develop a strong emotional relationship with someone who isn’t your partner?
Episode 5:
Rhianna rushes to the hotel where she thinks Oliver is meeting Minnie after she finds out about his plans.
Questions to think about and discuss:
- What do you think about the fact that Rihanna and Oliver aren’t talking to each other about their relationship?
- What is online infidelity for you? What about for your partner? If you want to read more about this, see our ‘what is cheating online?’ page.
Who created and funded I-SPY?
I-SPY was funded by and created for OpenLearn, the Open University's free online learning resources. The films are based on the research of Dr Andreas Vossler and Dr Naomi Moller, both from the Open University. I-SPY was directed by BAFTA nominated writer/director Faye Gilbert, who also wrote the script for the films.
To see the full list of research references which have informed the content on this page, please see our research references section.
Page authored by Dr Andreas Vossler (The Open University)