The Affair : Just my thoughts

I've been watching the show since it began, and I'm one of those few, apparently, who have liked all three seasons.

Season 1 was great, but I wouldn't say it was "magical" (well, as a show, per se, yes, it was magical in terms of writing and direction) mostly because no, I never thought what Noah and Alison had together was "the one true love", as much as I know this simple definition is pure silliness. I don't think you have one true love, I think love has many forms, but as much as both Noah and Alison loved many things about each other I always thought they were not well suited. Both saw in each other a chance to break free from deep pain, from a life they realized they weren't understanding anymore.
And I always thought Alison still loved Cole. Their pain was recent, and devastating. It's very hard for a couple to have to face their child's death, and "very hard" doesn't even begin to describe what is really is. Alison wasn't carrying a life long pain, it was something that completely destabilized her, understandably.
I thought Noah had it worse. We didn't know at the time, but it was clear something hadn't been right for a long time, and it was quite ridiculous to just assume what he was lacking was passion or freedom (I did it, too, so I now realize how my first assumptions were actually ludicrous.)

In season 2 they tried to be together. It was a disaster, and I expected it to be. Noah and Alison are not just "different", they are worlds apart. And I don't mean that as in upbringing differences, different cultures or "she likes grunge rock, he likes jazz" kind of thing. They want different things, they aspire to different lives, and that can't be good. While being similar in interests and point of vies is very helpful to have a good relationship, wanting the same things is fundamental, and they didn't have that. And when Alison felt like falling apart she turned to Cole, because he's the only one who loves her for who she is, warts and all. Yes, Cole sees her faults, as Noah pointed out (in a far worse way than just saying "her faults") but, still, he loves her, he knows her. Pain brought Noah and Alison together, but they didn't "know" each other.

Helen differs greatly from Noah, too. She's a very no-nonsense woman, and I think that's what Noah loved about her, she felt like a safe haven after what he had been through, something he didn't have. He wanted to be a good man and a good father, and he thought she could help him achieve that, which, for twenty years, she did. What was Helen "lacking" wasn't passion, it was the ability to touch darkness in a much clear and deep level (not her fault, just what she is.) She understands there are bad things, she just doesn't want to, or knows how to, wallow into them. Vik is kinda perfect for her. No-nonsense, doesn't let himself be dragged down by bad things, he's pragmatic but still knows how to "be there".

I didn't like Juliette at first. Season 3 premiere was almost boring to me. But she's grown on me, and I loved her in the finale. I finally saw Noah with someone much better suited for him, and I realized this made him better, a better person. I may be wrong, but it's what I felt, and I really hope they don't just leave it like this, I want to see more of this relationships, just as I want to see more of Alison and Cole, and of Helen and Vik.
Plus, I liked the whole paranoia-Gunther storyline.

Sorry for the long post :-)

Too longsorry

It seems I am one of the few who appreciated season three also. The psychosis that Noah experienced after all he had been through in his life starting with watching his mother die from a terminal illness and assisting with her death made sense. He had a lot of time in prison to dwell on his guilt about his mother, his failed marriages, and his troubled children. That guilt and living in a prison environment, along with constantly swallowing pain killers would drive anyone crazy. Meeting the French professor did not bother me. I like the addition of her, and Irene Jacob's performance in the finale was moving. It's three years later. Noah was finally free from prison. Allison and Helen had moved on. Juliet was in the USA by herself, and they had something in common. Knowing what it's like to have a terminally ill loved one in their lives. In the finale, Noah followed Juliet to Paris, because she helped him after his breakdown, and they formed a bond. Noah admitted to his therapist (Cynthia Nixon) in season two that what he really would like to do is spend some time in Paris. Now he had even more of a reason to follow through with this dream. Noah was there for Juliet when Etienne passed away, and he was able to help her rationalize the guilt she was feeling, since he had just come to terms with the same kind of guilt. I agree that a lot of time was spent during season three of Noah being chased by his demons in the disguise of Gunther. I didn't care for the pretentious college students, but unfortunately, these types exist. Even the over the top FurKat character and his repulsive "art" exist in real life. There were details which were sloppy, too coincidental or contrived, but I think season three was mostly about showing how having "The Affair" has its consequences. The story needed to evolve somehow, and rehashing the same story lines will get tedious and boring. Maybe season four will focus on Allison and Cole. It's been revealed that the passion for each other is still there, but Cole's reason for staying with Luisa is that it's easier than being with Allison. That's a recipe for disaster, and possibly the next step will show this side of the story and that true love will prevail over a convenient relationship.

Some of my thoughts were the same



Rachel

I just did not feel Cole and Luisa were not real. So he still has feelings for Allison. If there is a season four I believe something's happens to Luisa, but It unlike Cole to set out and knowingly ruin his thing with her for the
thing he's done with Alison. Yes he had the affair but I don't think he goes much farther than that. I have always known Cole and Allison would get a second chance as parents. So as I said something happens to Luisa or Alison falls on her sword and let's Luisa share parenthood with her and Cole.

Good comments, Op



Rachel

Thank you :)

I'd actually imagine it would end up being Louisa leaving Cole. She seems too responsible to finalize an adoption or a surrogacy if she realizes Cole can't love her as much as he loves Alison. I don't think she'd take a child into that mess (and I mean that as a compliment, even if I don't really like Louisa).

I'd like it if the show went in the direction of Luisa leaving Cole, rather than Cole leaving Luisa for the fantasy Cole sees in Alison, which is in reality a drama-filled mess of a life that has to ultimately end in sorrow.

I don't think either Noah or Alison set out intending to destroy their marriages, and therefore harm their spouses, and in Noah's case his kids as well. They were both very damaged, in different but similar ways, and self-centered, and what happened came out of that.

I think Cole loves Luisa, and he also loves Alison, but his love for Alison is more a matter of his own childhood damage, which enmeshes with hers. Unlike you, I do like Luisa. She has her flaws, as all these characters do, but IMO her intentions are more pure than the others.