My wife and I just binge watched the five seasons of The Affair. It's an addictive show to watch, certainly because the way the story is been told. The plot unfolds slowly by telling the story like each character sees it, or remembers it. Each character sees or remembers the story differently and that's what made this show stands out from the rest. You never really know who tells the truth or lies. The different characters probably think their version of the facts is the truth. It's just about their perspective of the facts, it's about how people see things differently and are convinced their version is the only truth. The first three seasons are better than the last two but overall it's a satisfying show to watch. A very good cast made it all more believable. No actor or actress really stands out, they just all delivered in their own way. Maybe the writers did at one point overdo it, with too many affairs and sorts, and that's why I thought the last two seasons were not of the same quality as the first three. For a drama series it's captivating and entertaining. Much better than the daily soaps with the same gossip stories we are bombarded every day.
322 Reviews
brilliantly shot show, told like a book!
Undomestic-Goddess30 November 2014
The affair is a deliberately slow- paced,beautifully shot,compelling show. The 2 main characters recount their truth in regards of the forming of "the affair" with a crime mystery in the background as an excuse to do so . We, as viewers,must decide and deduct our truth from their accounts. I love the psychological aspect of this show. In fact it's the main reason for my watching. How a very same event is viewed and felt and told differently from the people who experienced it.If you enjoy this show, I would recommend you also read "The One" by Vivienne Harris-Scott. The premise is nearly the same: what happens when 2 people fall in love when they should not.Each chapter is told from one person's Pov as Alison and Noah's, and it is as compelling to read, if not more,as there is also a suspense element. In fact, I had Déjà- vu when watching the first 3 episodes!Anyhow, with this as with H.Levi's " in treatment " Showtime has hit the jackpot. A mature and sophisticated audience will thoroughly enjoy this.
the theme may be done to death, but the execution is excellent
melancholicmoon16 July 2015
The theme has been done to death, but this time prepare to be pleasantly surprised, for the execution of this short series is quite good and features not only lust but also the characters' psychological descent as influenced by loss, poor communication, and bad parenting.
I have just finished the entire first season, and I must say, it was not at all what I expected. I thought it would be a simple, sexy, scandalous story full of clichés; instead I found myself more and more drawn to a deeper, psychologically complex drama that perfectly illustrates how there are three sides to each story: his version, her version, and the truth. Expect solid performance, melancholic scenery, careful art direction, and excellent choice of costumes as per each character's persona.
Oh and you have got to love the opening theme performed by Fiona Apple.
I have just finished the entire first season, and I must say, it was not at all what I expected. I thought it would be a simple, sexy, scandalous story full of clichés; instead I found myself more and more drawn to a deeper, psychologically complex drama that perfectly illustrates how there are three sides to each story: his version, her version, and the truth. Expect solid performance, melancholic scenery, careful art direction, and excellent choice of costumes as per each character's persona.
Oh and you have got to love the opening theme performed by Fiona Apple.
The End
mhpayne785 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Oh, how I will miss this show. Sometimes writers get it right and this series was no exception. I wish there were more shows that really looked at life like this one did. Yes, I missed Allison and Cole this last season but I felt their storylines were handled well..... and life doesn't always give us happy endings. It also allowed for more time to focus on Noah and Helen which I appreciated because they really delved deep and made "the affair" in and of itself an event that took place in the past. What I loved about this show, especially this last season, was its ability to showcase true human nature. It was like a study on human beings.... the mistakes we make (and why), the vulnerability and also strength within all of us, the lessons we learn (or don't), etc. I also enjoyed seeing, especially in the first few seasons, how differently two people can recall a certain memory/event. I was never sure whose "perception" to believe, but I knew the truth would most likely lie somewhere in the middle:) This was a great show and I'll never forget it.
Brilliant!
ognjen-janic2 January 2017
I troubled myself to understand the thing that makes this show so seductive, so different. To discover what is the ingredient that creators ably slipped into this immensely emotional and sensual potion. Something that imbues this show to its firm core. After a long consideration, I realized, that this one thing I was looking for is nonexistent. Because this show in its entirety is that special thing. The combination of intriguing, complex characters, empathy that they draw from the viewers. Mystery, that so elegantly dances through the plot, while hypnotizing us to follow its perfectly composed, unpredictable step. Casual, compelling, conversations that silently pull you even deeper down this beautifully directed world. By telling this story through the eyes of the characters, we find out that their view of the same situations vary. Not only that they see or understand something through their psychological state, this multi-character experience exposes us to realization that each person is living a life as vivid and complex as our own. This would be impossible to achieve if not the breathtaking actors and actresses that catapult this show to another dimension, yet never more close to humanity, to now, to us.
INCREDIBLE
christinapatras-318615 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I am so impressed with this show down to every detail. The acting, the characters. The director. The lighting. The story line. The music ... wowwwww. I was so invested in watching this. I love how they made it feel poetic and like a love novel. I wish there were more seasons although I felt it ended appropriately time wise. Better than dragging it on when there's no story left to tell. I just can't put into words how amazing this show was. It was just done sooo well. It will forever be a favorite of mine and I will start from the beginning and re watch it someday. Helens character and attracting was great. Noah... I'm speechless. He's a hell of an actor. Their daughter was great. Allison was excellent. Such a powerful character and left such an impact on me. I wish this show wasn't ending. I just finished the last episode . I felt so many emotions. I cried at that wedding. I was sad Noah was missing it. I'm happy him and Helen are reconciling. What a show
This is the best tv show ever
ninuski9 August 2018
They don't make tv shows like this. This is drama at its best. Superb writing and cast of actors, so much talent in this one show. I wished there were 10 seasons of this because it never gets old, it never gets tiring or dull or pointless like many other shows do. Probably season 4 is my favourite because we have travelled so far with these characters that they feel like friends now or people we care about, so human and so fragile and imperfect and real. I love that the show doesnt focus on just Alison and Noah, because the rest of characters are equally fascinating, like Helen, Cole, Ben... all their individual stories matter and their interactions and views make this show riveting. The script is beautifully written, all full of nuances and subtle details that make you pay attention, no words are wasted, there are no filling scenes. Wonderfully shot too with brilliant cinematography, just beautiful. Its a show about people and nothing else, and that's why its so fascinating and unique. I wish it would never end.
Awesome season 1 and 2 - the other seasons are just okay
Butterfly_4729 November 2019
Season 1 deserves a 10 star rating in my opinion. Loved the 2nd season as well. Afterwards, it's just an okay show but since I fell in love with (some of) the characters I just had to continue watching it till the end.
Overall, I think they focused on too many other things like Whitney's story, also Joanie's in the future. It didn't catch my attention, at times I found it quite boring and unnecessary. In later seasons, the parts that were told from Noah's and Helen's perspective were by far the most interesting ones.
Good show with a brilliant season 1 and 2 but sadly with a lot of flaws in later seasons.
Good show with a brilliant season 1 and 2 but sadly with a lot of flaws in later seasons.
Loved it...until I didn't anymore
susantos-8478925 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I remember wanting to watch the affair since it started but I couldn't find it in any platform in my country. I finally had the chance to watch it and honestly I absolutely loved season 1&2. Not sure what they were trying to attempt on season 3. I still watched 9 episodes hoping for it to get better...I kept thinking "I bet Noah is having hallucinations" and it just confirmed on episode 9. I just gave up. Honestly it started a 10 out of 10 but lost the magic on season 3. I don't even want to know anymore what's gonna happen. I gave up.
Brilliant narrative, well written!
prettymoni126 April 2015
Love this series, the way the episodes play out showing both sides of the story from two different perspectives is brilliant. The acting is superb! Ruth Wilson won best actress award for her character in this show, and well deserved! I only wish Dominic West had also won, although he was nominated! Anyone who gives this series a bad review simply does not understand great writing! It's very intriguing to see how two sides to the same story are similar, yes, but very different at the same time! I thought I would just like the show and maybe watch it "On Demand" when nothing else was on, but I love this show and can not wait to see what the writers have planned for season 2!
Season 3 Train Wreck Derails Great Series
bt698nhj29 December 2018
Alternative titles for Season 3:
This review is based on the series through Season 3. If imdb.com allows editing, I will update upon finishing season 4.
The Affair is an intriguing menagerie of self-analysis, self-righteousness, compelling raw psychological drama, and absurdity.
Seasons 1 and 2 contain a full storyline with a little, but just a little, padding. The drama is rich, the feelings are raw, the tension is real. The tiny pixels leap off the screen into your mind, body, and soul. They compel tears, angst, occasional laughter, feelings of triumph, feelings of despair.
Season 3 is an uneven departure that vacillates between deeply moving psychodrama and meaningless French rabbit trails. Half the episodes provide a worthy progression of the story; the other half will leave you wondering is Season 4 will redeem the series.
One consistency, however, is that superfluous sex scenes (and, to a slightly less jarring effect, liberal profanity) are a signature of the show. At times, this phenomenon undermines the show's virtousity. It also undermines the progression of the characters, and that applies to EACH of the four main characters. Are they so immature and emotionally stuck that they consistently turn to impetuous sex as a vapid form of immediate relief? Does none of these four adults ever mature, despite the life-altering things happening to them that would tend to accelerate maturity? Maybe we viewers are not accustomed to such a real-life slow progression to maturity and self-awareness.
After season 2, I would have rated the show an 8, an unusually high rating for me. You can see that season 3 brought the rating down to a 7. Similar to how the color episodes of The Andy Griffith Show should not have happened. Well, that's a little harsh; season 3 isn't THAT bad.
Would I recommend the show? Heartily. Even Season 3. Just be ready to accept the flaws and enjoy the many mountaintops.
- Between Absurd and Divine
- Sex Cures Everything
This review is based on the series through Season 3. If imdb.com allows editing, I will update upon finishing season 4.
The Affair is an intriguing menagerie of self-analysis, self-righteousness, compelling raw psychological drama, and absurdity.
Seasons 1 and 2 contain a full storyline with a little, but just a little, padding. The drama is rich, the feelings are raw, the tension is real. The tiny pixels leap off the screen into your mind, body, and soul. They compel tears, angst, occasional laughter, feelings of triumph, feelings of despair.
Season 3 is an uneven departure that vacillates between deeply moving psychodrama and meaningless French rabbit trails. Half the episodes provide a worthy progression of the story; the other half will leave you wondering is Season 4 will redeem the series.
One consistency, however, is that superfluous sex scenes (and, to a slightly less jarring effect, liberal profanity) are a signature of the show. At times, this phenomenon undermines the show's virtousity. It also undermines the progression of the characters, and that applies to EACH of the four main characters. Are they so immature and emotionally stuck that they consistently turn to impetuous sex as a vapid form of immediate relief? Does none of these four adults ever mature, despite the life-altering things happening to them that would tend to accelerate maturity? Maybe we viewers are not accustomed to such a real-life slow progression to maturity and self-awareness.
After season 2, I would have rated the show an 8, an unusually high rating for me. You can see that season 3 brought the rating down to a 7. Similar to how the color episodes of The Andy Griffith Show should not have happened. Well, that's a little harsh; season 3 isn't THAT bad.
Would I recommend the show? Heartily. Even Season 3. Just be ready to accept the flaws and enjoy the many mountaintops.
The psychological underpinnings of drive and desire
shoreup15 December 2015
The Affair is one of the few recent productions on TV which deals with the hard psychology of man woman relations and its myriad entanglements. An affair between two married people is largely a narrative device through which the series explore what drives men and women to seek out risk, love, chaos and meaning throwing all the comforts of a "settled" life to the bin. Though there is a moralistic angle to it, but its kept at the sidelines with the primary focus being the psychological subtleties of love and betrayal. One can say that the series is heavily driven by pitch- perfect reactions of characters to each other and the ambiguity of desire. Jealousy and possessiveness haunts the characters in the initial part of the story where an affair, quite necessarily is creating new avenues for the intensity of desire to gush forth. There are lives being left behind in the promise of a better one and the collateral damage to the once dear. Season 1 is concerned with the question of carnality as a means to feel alive again. The greatness of the story lies in its astute understanding that men and women are similar in some ways and different in many others. Desire is the self trying to complete itself through another but men and women understand completeness differently many times and this creates timeless problems between them.
Season 2 deals with the aftermath of the affair and I think there is a lot said here about what are the fundamentals of any relationship which determines which relationship lasts and which fails. One of the most brilliant aspects of the second season is the way it brings out the life is approached differently by men and women. What gives life meaning is not a solved question and in pursuit of what one considers meaningful, we are ready to make many subtle self- deceptions. Many times, complexity is just weakness given a flair of rhetoric. At the end of our lives when we are less driven blindly to achieve and more likely to take a dispassionate view of life, much of what we called "complexities of life" will turn out to be a desire to avoid responsibility. Neither man nor woman has the absolute answer to what a good life is. Perhaps we can someday realize that its always in the middle that the answer lies. Mean while, The Affair can teach us how to reflect on these questions and find our own answers
Season 2 deals with the aftermath of the affair and I think there is a lot said here about what are the fundamentals of any relationship which determines which relationship lasts and which fails. One of the most brilliant aspects of the second season is the way it brings out the life is approached differently by men and women. What gives life meaning is not a solved question and in pursuit of what one considers meaningful, we are ready to make many subtle self- deceptions. Many times, complexity is just weakness given a flair of rhetoric. At the end of our lives when we are less driven blindly to achieve and more likely to take a dispassionate view of life, much of what we called "complexities of life" will turn out to be a desire to avoid responsibility. Neither man nor woman has the absolute answer to what a good life is. Perhaps we can someday realize that its always in the middle that the answer lies. Mean while, The Affair can teach us how to reflect on these questions and find our own answers
Good for 3 seasons
ericanjensen22 September 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Season 4 and 5 suck so bad. It's so damn boring. The story used to be so intriguing and exciting. I do love all the actors, and feel they do a great job, but the story has become dull. Why did Allison have to go :(
Helen is my favorite character. She's very strong, yet super wild, and has dealt with a lot.
Helen is my favorite character. She's very strong, yet super wild, and has dealt with a lot.
Waste of time starting seson 3
teanegru30 October 2020
It's such a pitty they weren't able to follow through the original story. Starting season 3 they are going full bananas... nothing makes sense anymore, it's boring and gets a soap opera smell. It's like GoT with his season 8. What a dissapointment...
Alison was treated badly by this show and deserved so much better
katieduffy-1874610 July 2019
Warning: Spoilers
So Alison's perspective was always the most interesting, she was a good but very broken person, Everyone else, other than Cole, are very selfish and my least favourite character Is Luisa. She thinks that she had some sort of ownership over Joanie since Alison left for 6 months, to get healthy and be a better mother. She was the worst and Joanie, Cole and Alison should've lived happily together but the show did not allow that to happen. It should've ended with Alison finding happiness, something she was refused the whole way through
Great (Before It Was Terrible)
Astaroth2211 April 2020
Seasons 1 and 2 were terrific. And consider that I never thought I'd like it in the first place. Furthermore, with all the crap out there, I'm not used to singing praises like this often. Case in point was season 3. It was so bad that I stopped watching so I have no idea about seasons 4 and 5. Not sure what happened but I honestly do not care because there's no coming back from that mess. Regardless, to give this an overall rating is, simply put, a crime.
I would recommend to anyone that they watch seasons 1 and 2 then consider it over. Definitely an 8/10 at that point for sure.
I would recommend to anyone that they watch seasons 1 and 2 then consider it over. Definitely an 8/10 at that point for sure.
Fabulous Finale
conway30005 November 2019
The series finale of The Affair was terrific! Perfect ending. Acting, writing,closing of story themes were all brilliant. The music choices added to the brilliance of the finale. It opened with the The Whole of the Moon (1985 hit)by the Waterboys and ended also with a new poignant rendition of The Whole of the Moon by Fiona Apple. Fiona Apple was the artist who sang the opening theme song.
Series Finale Came Full Circle!
mandaleigh20003 November 2019
Love this show - never leave reviews- but after watching the series finale I had to. This show is unbelievably beautiful. It will make you laugh, cry, scratch your heard, and wonder what the heck is going on. But most importantly, it always leaves you wanting more. The last episode was so perfect- I won't ruin it for those who have not seen yet but I am telling you this show is so awesome and is a must watch!!!
Two sides to the same story
prf0406-19 December 2014
This series is meant to keep viewers hanging on. I like that. We're witnessing a train wreck. I can't stop looking, waiting for the outcome. Like any train wreck, there are eye witnesses with differing accounts of the events leading up to the aftermath of the event. Alison and Noah are providing their perceptions of the wreck and collateral damage. The train hasn't stopped screeching toward halting to a stop. The debris field isn't complete. The Affair is a piece that makes you observe and think. I don't find it all that entertaining. Those reviews that are complaints are looking to be entertained. Asking why are the characters doing this or that...IT'S A STORY. FICTION. A WRITER'S STORY. It may also hit a nerve for viewers who've had an affair or contemplated one. Art imitating life?
Seasons 1&2 YES - 3&4 NO
depstein60225 January 2019
I wish this show chose a different path. Season 1 was amazing and season 2 was great. Noah's storyline in Season 3 & 4 have been horrendous to the point where I skip them. I wish they stuck to the original cast and their complexities and didn't add in so many unnecessary characters and relationships. I'm just watching it to finish the series, but I wouldn't even bother after season 2.
Nothing Good Ever Happens in an Affair
fitzzi-121-3645323 November 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Strictly from a man's perspective, who has gone through an affair, I really like the way this series is heading. To me, the subject matter is not anything we have'nt seen before, but the way the story is being told is just brilliant. To use both versions of the events that take place is presented in a way that does'nt seem repetitive. We do however in episode 4 see how both versions of the affair become similar and the story continues to move forward. What does kind of get lost is this so-called murder investigation, which I'm sure will become more apparent as the series continues. I believe what captivates me the most is the stellar performances by the actors. You can honestly feel the chemistry between them and that's what separates this series from others with a similar subject matter. But, in the end, and I've experienced it, nothing good ever comes about from an affair.
A good show that I will miss (though Season 5 - save for the finale - was terrible)
concernedcitizen-525216 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Just an additional reminder to proceed with caution: MAJOR spoilers ahead
Seasons 1-3 of the Affair was excellent television. The show offered very nuanced take on two flawed but not unsympathetic people (Noah and Allison), as well as the ripple effect their affair had on their partners (Helen & Cole respectively) and their families. A murder-mystery and it's consequences were skillfully weaved into the plot as well. The way the story was told through Noah and Allison's dueling perspectives, with Helen and Cole's being added in seasons 2-3, was very clever.
Season 4 was very good as well. The main storylines revolved around the respective tragedies of Allison & Vik, along with the ripple effects they had on Cole, Noah and Helen. These storylines were well acted, well written and easily overshadowed the relatively minor flaws the season had. Joshua Jackson really stood out. His acting throughout the series was terrific, but even he really turned it up a notch in the second half of the season: From the episode where Cole goes to Morro Bay through the season finale you could feel how lost he felt and his pining for Allison. You could feel him getting his hopes up as he and Noah went back east and sadly, you could also feel his utter devastation at the end of the season. I think the episode where Alison died was the most powerful of the series. Now as I mentioned there were some small flaws in the season: The kid who played Anton is a good actor, but the Noah "white savior" narrative seemed like it was shoe horned in, as was the bizarre feminist group in the desert (a minor storyline that bled a little bit into season 5). Overall though the season was solid.
Unfortunately -with the notable exception of the last two episodes - Season 5 was terrible. In fact, Im not sure I've ever seen such a good show go off the rails so quickly. The season spanned 11 episodes, the first 9 of which were hot garbage. Quite frankly those episodes felt like they were written by loser hipsters who lack the life experience and/or talent to write storylines that are compelling to people who work for a living. Superfluous storylines & scenes that checked off PC boxes (but contributed little to plot or character development) were ram-rodded into most of these episodes: Glorification of dishonest & self righteous women who made false "me too" allegations: check. Unhinged, barely coherent rants where woke buzzwords like "patriarchy" are thrown around: check. Bizzare, dystopian future sequences where the world is ending because of climate change (or the new ice age or the hole on the ozone or whatever the latest apocalyptic environmentalist fad is.): check. Additionally - due to a combination of inept writing and Anna Paquin's bad acting - scowling Joanie is easily the most unsympathetic and unlikeable character in the show's 5 seasons. In addition to being self absorbed and whiny, she was also as dumb as a rock (seriously, how did she not record Ben when she was in his office?). Back in the present, Sasha Mann's & Sierra's respective storylines seemed clunky as well.
Now all that being said, I will concede that the penultimate episode was ok and the finale was actually very good. These two episodes were not enough to redeem the season, but they at least allowed the series to end on a high note. The wedding scenes in particular were very well done. Additionally, older Noah reflecting on life and Allison towards the end was pretty good and, in my opinion, the only future sequence of the season worth watching. The scene at Helens grave was very touching. Whole of the Moon was a nice touch too.
In conclusion, I give the Affair 7 stars out of 10. It would have been an 8 if the bulk season 5 hadn't stunk so badly. If you decide to binge this show, my recommendation is to watch the first 4 seasons, then skip ahead to the last 2 episodes of season 5, you won't miss anything.
Seasons 1-3 of the Affair was excellent television. The show offered very nuanced take on two flawed but not unsympathetic people (Noah and Allison), as well as the ripple effect their affair had on their partners (Helen & Cole respectively) and their families. A murder-mystery and it's consequences were skillfully weaved into the plot as well. The way the story was told through Noah and Allison's dueling perspectives, with Helen and Cole's being added in seasons 2-3, was very clever.
Season 4 was very good as well. The main storylines revolved around the respective tragedies of Allison & Vik, along with the ripple effects they had on Cole, Noah and Helen. These storylines were well acted, well written and easily overshadowed the relatively minor flaws the season had. Joshua Jackson really stood out. His acting throughout the series was terrific, but even he really turned it up a notch in the second half of the season: From the episode where Cole goes to Morro Bay through the season finale you could feel how lost he felt and his pining for Allison. You could feel him getting his hopes up as he and Noah went back east and sadly, you could also feel his utter devastation at the end of the season. I think the episode where Alison died was the most powerful of the series. Now as I mentioned there were some small flaws in the season: The kid who played Anton is a good actor, but the Noah "white savior" narrative seemed like it was shoe horned in, as was the bizarre feminist group in the desert (a minor storyline that bled a little bit into season 5). Overall though the season was solid.
Unfortunately -with the notable exception of the last two episodes - Season 5 was terrible. In fact, Im not sure I've ever seen such a good show go off the rails so quickly. The season spanned 11 episodes, the first 9 of which were hot garbage. Quite frankly those episodes felt like they were written by loser hipsters who lack the life experience and/or talent to write storylines that are compelling to people who work for a living. Superfluous storylines & scenes that checked off PC boxes (but contributed little to plot or character development) were ram-rodded into most of these episodes: Glorification of dishonest & self righteous women who made false "me too" allegations: check. Unhinged, barely coherent rants where woke buzzwords like "patriarchy" are thrown around: check. Bizzare, dystopian future sequences where the world is ending because of climate change (or the new ice age or the hole on the ozone or whatever the latest apocalyptic environmentalist fad is.): check. Additionally - due to a combination of inept writing and Anna Paquin's bad acting - scowling Joanie is easily the most unsympathetic and unlikeable character in the show's 5 seasons. In addition to being self absorbed and whiny, she was also as dumb as a rock (seriously, how did she not record Ben when she was in his office?). Back in the present, Sasha Mann's & Sierra's respective storylines seemed clunky as well.
Now all that being said, I will concede that the penultimate episode was ok and the finale was actually very good. These two episodes were not enough to redeem the season, but they at least allowed the series to end on a high note. The wedding scenes in particular were very well done. Additionally, older Noah reflecting on life and Allison towards the end was pretty good and, in my opinion, the only future sequence of the season worth watching. The scene at Helens grave was very touching. Whole of the Moon was a nice touch too.
In conclusion, I give the Affair 7 stars out of 10. It would have been an 8 if the bulk season 5 hadn't stunk so badly. If you decide to binge this show, my recommendation is to watch the first 4 seasons, then skip ahead to the last 2 episodes of season 5, you won't miss anything.
When you don't find the words to your own feelings and a show does!
nufafa23 November 2019
I loved the interactions and the dialogues between Helen and Noah in the last episodes of season 5.
As someone that recently divorced and does not hate my ex, I enjoyed the courage and candid way in which they talked about everything, and they go through their flaws and virtues. Kudos to the script writers!
I am yet to go through the last two episodes again and review the dialogues in depth. There were a couple of occasions where Helen and Noah fully replicated my current feelings. I was really moved!
Maura Tierney is my absolute favorite and I hope she gets awarded again.
In my opinion, other stories and characters of season 5 (Sasha, Joanie, the fotographer) were totally dispensable. But, the Helen - Noah line was great and made it up for the season. And yes, season 1 are 2 are still the best!
An exhausting story with good actors
jronly5 February 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The affair starts surprisingly different from other series but does not hold that promise. After two seasons, the series in a constant cry of Allison collapses and anger attacks by Cole. Too bad because it started out pretty original.
Enjoyed Seasons 1 & 2 but not Season 3
beachmeisters7 July 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I would have given Season 1 a "9" and Season 2 a "6", but since I gave Season 3 a "1", that averages out to a 5 or thereabouts. Season 1 was gripping and compelling because of the passion between the two characters, and the suspense of what would happen to them and their families, etc. Season 2 was still intriguing since the characters' lives were so out of control and, of course, there was a mystery to be solved. I'm mainly writing this review after watching Season 3 because I feel there are some "serious" questions left unanswered and I assume there is NOT going to be a Season 4. I just can't imagine what the writers could possibly come up with since "the affair" itself is long over and they've given a semblance of closure to a number of things at the end of Episode 10 in Season 3. However - now "Here Come the Spoilers!" - Season 3 has many episodes depicting Noah in prison, being taunted, abused, bullied and physically attacked by this guard named John Gunther, who he knew as a boy in high school. John Gunther supposedly was jealous of Noah's swimming skills back then and the fact that Noah made it out of their small town in PA and the fact that Noah went to college and made something of himself. So now, in prison, we are to believe that Gunther is extracting some kind of revenge on Noah. He injures Noah's shoulder so badly that Noah is prescribed Vicodin for the pain and subsequently becomes addicted. After prison, Noah notices Gunther following him and ultimately Noah is stabbed in his University housing and nearly dies. We can only assume that Gunther is the culprit. Later Gunther tries to run Noah off the road. But Noah is having a rough time and he's also hearing things and is becoming unstable. He goes to Gunther's house to confront him and Gunther disables him, but doesn't hurt him, as we would expect. Gunther also acts as though this is the first time he has seen Noah in 30 years. He appears to be a pretty decent guy who is just trying to live his life and take care of his wife and autistic son. Later we realize that Noah has imagined everything about Gunther and that Gunther was not the guy who stabbed him. Noah did that to himself. So here's a question: If everything we were shown about Gunther in prison was in Noah's mind, then how did Noah hurt his shoulder? Or was his shoulder even hurt at all? But if his shoulder wasn't hurt, then WHO originally wrote him a prescription for Vicodin that got him addicted in the first place - because that was not fake. He was definitely taking prescription drugs and somebody must have written the Rx. Another question: In the scene at the lake house, his neighbors tell him that property out there is NOT selling at all. They've been trying to sell their place for a long time and no one is buying. Noah is broke. So how does he have the money to suddenly pack up and go to Paris, rent an apartment and live for several months (Paris rents are astronomical) with no job. Are we to assume that Noah's father's place sold immediately when his neighbor's property wouldn't sell for months, if not a year? His father's place was a dump, so at best it would only be worth what a lot would be worth. But in ending this review - I just have to say that Season 3 was absolutely "agonizing" to sit through. My husband and I did sit through it, hoping each episode would get better, but they never did.
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