Devastated no more Alison she was the affair this program has got rid of one of its main characters don’t make sense she should be able to make a opinion if she felt it was right .the programs not so excited as when it was just four of them now other characters coming in which are useless so I think it be by by affair"
It has been years since I've actually waited anxiously for an episode of a TV program to air at a certain time. But I could not make myself go to bed last night, knowing that episode 9 would be released for streaming at midnight. I started watching at 12:01. I loved the approach to the episode and cannot wait for the episode 9 recap.
2
@CF probably the best writing of a tV show
I'm heartbroken
Can you explain why Allison had two different outfits and her apartment looked so different?
I think it’s Luisa who killed Alison. I don’t believe she would have left Joanie.
4
Alison's death was quite clearly the 'horrific discovery' and 'tragic events' Noah alluded to in Showtime's weekly episode previews, and thus entirely predictable. A show that lacks a unified vision and is instead crafted by a myriad of writers, often feels inconsistent and unlikely. I'm long past caring about the characters that drew me in so powerfully in the first 2 seasons. I read the recaps and comments because I'm still intrigued by where Sarah Treem and co intend to take this tale given the self indulgent storyline in Season 3. Since viewer satisfaction seems low on the agenda, I guess I'll never get to hear Helen confront Noah about his assault on her, nor question his decision to conceal Alison's involvement in the accident. Instead of catching up on the Solloway children, Helen's parents and Cherry Lockhart, I am subject to an array of new characters who are merely a distraction. Perhaps Ben acquired his addiction through the drugs supplied by Alison in the basket of her bicycle all those years ago, and came back to seek revenge. It's unlikely that Alison would abandon the child she fought so hard to gain custody of, so foul play seems obvious. In the end, The Affair has had little to contribute to the conversation about mental health, addiction and healthy human relationships in a fragmented society.
3
@Elle The show is now in season 4.
@PrairieFlax um, yes, that much is clear! I was referring to season 3's somewhat bizarre and unnecessary detour. It is possible to completely ignore the whole sorry season, and move on directly to season 4 without really missing a beat. Surely, the best indication that the writers room indulged themselves, and in so doing shortchanged their viewers. And as if to emphasise that point, they have failed to pick up any of the story lines: Noah's deception, his assault on and persecution of Helen. The poor Frenchwoman who was apparently his medical saviour. The older children, so dysfunctional and damaged by the fallout. It seems clear that contrary to his claim of fidelity until his chance meeting of the late lamented Alison, that Noah was more probably always unfaithful in his marriage to Helen, and will find committing to any one woman an impossibility.
If Ruth Wilson did leave the show (in whole or in part) because of pay inequity with Dominic West, I certainly support and applaud her for doing so. It seems to me this was the ideal situation in which to take this stand. Wilson’s Alison IS this show (just look at the opening credits, especially from Season 1), and without her it will surely have no soul. West was the star lead who got viewer’s interested, and likely got the show funded to start with, so the pay discrepancy was seemingly justified. But it was Wilson and her amazing talent which kept the show compelling after Season 1 (with an assist by decent guy Joshua Jackson). Boggles the mind that the producers didn’t recognize what was obvious to all.
(PS. I chuckled aloud when I read another reader’s comment about being “stuck with Helen”. I was hoping that when Vik got transferred to CA, he, Helen, and Noah would all just quietly leave the show. Though with their self-absorption they seem to fit right in!)
2
Think the show this season can't fine it's tone - and enough already with the comely young women that are being thrown into these scripts for gratuitous sex scenes; this time the waitress, prior episodes the supermodel-caliber female intern "that came with the room" (blech) and the LA nymph who spends most of her time gathering up garbage cans in her free people wardrobe.
Didn't think the motel scenes were funny at all.
Wasn't particularly shocked with the suicide plot twist. My guess is that it will be discovered to NOT be suicide but who knows.
Of course I'll be watching the rest of the episodes despite all the forgoing criticism.
3
Sayeth Prince Escalus: All are punished.
1
The review expressed my feelings. It's sinking in that now I'm stuck with Helen. I don't think I'm up to it. My only consolation is that Allison is always there on demand.
4
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I was surprised but didn’t make sense to me. I thought Helen’s words to Allison about changing the narrative struck a chord with her.
2
@ALISA: In retrospect that conversation makes Alison's suicide even more poignant. It would mean that she didn't believe she had the power to change the course of her life.
If it turns out not to have been a suicide, her abrupt death in light of her potential to make a fresh start feels even more tragic.
In breaking up with Ben she said she was "standing up for [her]self," which would seem to indicate a shred of survival instinct. We should learn more about her final hours next week.
4
Here it is Wednesday and I'm still stunned by her death, the possibility of which had completely eluded me. All of the characters are so rich and flawed as all of us are. I'm going to go back to watch a few episodes to see what I may have missed.
2
@Susan MacRae
I just watched episode 8, totally shocked me. Was not expecting that. Episode 9 is on DVR so cant wait to see that. This season has been so much better that last season. Vik's situation was also an omg moment. Last season got way off track. Wish there were more episodes left in this season.
The timing of this recap ruined the shock of the unexpected death for me. I thought this was the recap of the previous week and I usually read them to see if I overlooked any nuances leading to the next episode. It would have been nice to experience the moment as designed by the show creators but shame on me, not realizing somebody (the NYT, no less) would publish recaps before pretty much anyone had seen the show yet. It's good to be first, I guess.
Last week almost convinced me the sharks had all been jumped but I oddly enjoyed this week's road trip. I would like nothing more than a spin-off for Cole, the most decent and compelling but under utilized character until recently. Throughout this uneven series, he has been the biggest reason I've stayed with it.
4
Once we get to know ALL the major characters, we do know that they were all damaged in their family of origin. A reminder of just how few parents are steadfastly good ones. Research backs this up for all economic classes. It’s a hard job. So hard that we are left with the philosophical attitude that we need to be transcendental and author our own path. Sound familiar? That said, given a choice, I would have had Noah killed off.
5
While mulling over this episode, I remembered a scene from the second season in which Noah was meeting with his publisher, Harry, after turning in what he hoped would be the last draft of his novel. Harry rejected it because Noah's ending had changed from what he pitched: that the protagonist kills his mistress. Instead, in the draft he turns in, they sit down at a table, with a terrible secret between them.
Harry invokes Of Mice and Men saying, "The murder at the end of that book felt surprising while it was happening and completely inevitable in retrospect." Later, after pretending for months that she hadn't read the book, Allison cries out to him during an argument during their Thanksgiving get-together, "and then you killed me. You killed me at the end of your book."
Now we have our surprising but completely inevitable ending for Allison, an ending that is different than the one Noah wanted for her, but one that he wrote anyway. What other parts of this story will turn out to be completely inevitable in retrospect? Have there been hints along the way?
7
Dominic West is paid the most as he has done two highly successful shows which means in order to sign on to this project he had the control. They needed him more than he needed the network. Ruth Wilson now will have that power but when she signed onto the project, she obviously needed the network more than they needed her. It isn't chauvinism it is basic supply and demand people- Get a grip! No one should get paid the same just because they are a man and a women doing the same job. We get paid for what we sell as our agency- our method of persuading others and that usually has to do with not only the experience in the field but the perception of that experience to influence. Logic/ Aristotle all the way.
4
I suppose you believe “free will” is also a thing that is true too.
I saw on social media that something dramatic happened and I was sure that Anton was the victim in this episode.
I am relieved that the story went another way. Sorry Allison.
2
It's a sign of compelling storytelling and a strong performance, because I haven't felt this badly about a fictional, TV character dying since Josh Charles's character, Will Gardner was killed on "The Good Wife," and, reaching back further, when Peter Horton's Gary was killed in an accident on "Thirtysomething." As for "The Affair," I've grown so frustrated and have wanted to "wring its neck" with the plot's ludicrous tangents and unbelievable characters, particularly last season. However, whether Allison is viewed as redeemable or reprehensible, Ruth Wilson's presence is luminous, and I will miss her.
14
I assume the autopsy confirmed Alison had both her kidneys?
I love reading these recap comments -- they give me narrative ideas I'd never dream of. Such as the possibility that Luisa lured Alison to her death in order to gain legal alien status as Joanie's stepmother. Or that Alison's father might be holding her hostage in his mansion after killing off a body double.
The mind boggles with theories, even as we're shocked by the Alison's demise, which is right up there with the loss of Nate in "Six Feet Under," the shooting death of Jan Meyer in "The Killing" (the Danish production, not the crap American one), or the courtroom murder of Will Gardner in "The Good Wife."
9
@Demetroula Alison in the same league as Nate? LOL!
2
Allison's suicide: Ripped from the Headlines.
Robin Williams! Chris Cornell! Kurt Cobain!
And now, Allison Lockart!
Sad, but I saw this as the writers' escape hatch for a character's demise, in a mediocre series, which I found alternately: boring, preposterous - and often, hysterical. Case in point: Cole visits late fathers lover's (kudos to Amy Irving, btw) studio/home, is treated with hospitality reserved only for a Hollywood script, as Delphine coos: "I come with the room!".
Gimme a break!
6
@John G: This was no "writers' escape hatch." Alison Bailey was written out because Rita Wilson decided to leave the series.
@JR
Ruth Wilson. Rita Wilson is Tom Hank's wife. ;)
1
I think Dina Meyer's younger wife character, Julie, looks steely enough to commit murder. Baby octopus, anyone?
11
Noah WAS selfish and awful as always when Alison appeared, and Allison was selfish and awful when she used the ticket meant so Noah could visit with Joanie to leave Joanie in the lurch with poor Luisa after claiming to care for her daughter. Each of them is supposed to be irresistible to the opposite sex but they are not only objectively unattractive in this show but also quite obnoxious in their lame flirting as well as irresponsibly self-medicating in the most unattractive way. The heavy-handed way they belabored Allison's drowning dream and loss of drowning fear thanks to her infatuation with another immediately besotted pursuer registered as clumsy foreshadowing earlier. I'd hoped it meant Allison would save somebody from drowning by paying attention this time. She was so self-absorbed even as she was hyper vigilant. It would have been nice to see her move beyond her self-absorption, if just for a moment of heroineism! So relieved not to have her in any scenes. Disappointed to see that the true story of her death(of course it won't be suicide) will be strung out next week. Such a heavy-handed episode, with the waitress theme done twice and the Three's company era gay couple assumption worsened by the "redneck" stereotyping cliche. Even the cleverest line of the episode "This state goes on forever" was heavy-handed.
6
Lots of lying in this episode:
- Ben lied. That's not how Alison found out he was married. There's much more there.
- The father lied. He didn't "get to know her." He met her once for 15 minutes.
- Athena would NOT have called the father with that news. That phone call was faked.
Don't know what to make of it, but the father is a very rich man. Is it possible he found a double for Alison and killed HER instead? Is Alison locked up in that mansion someplace?
5
Yes, her supposed father and his wife give me the creeps. Still believe that Alison is the daughter of Bruce Butler and that “Athena” betrayed her somehow with this awful fake father. Alison certainly had her faults, but I grew to love her.
4
For the commenters who think Alison was killed off because she wanted more money for acting, dont you realize she will still be in most of the remaining episodes in flashbacks until we learn how she died? I expect this murder mystery will take us to the end of the series (season 5) and we will see her in every other episode, just as we have this season.
5
This was an epic work of art and deserving of every award there is for the episode itself, but more, for me, because of how we got there. Sarah Treem and the team of writers are seriously gutsy. Much like Mr. Collins, I couldn't collect my thoughts either and cried from the moment we heard about Alison through till the credits rolled and then some. I walked round in a stupor. And thought "she's with Gabriel again." And how a mother could survive everything Alison survived and then ... get off the merry-go-round. I remember an episode from seasons past where Alison goes into the ocean on a rough day, and seems to be considering just giving up then, but someone came along and she came out of the water. Did she really intend to kill herself, or did she think about it and then was overwhelmed by the waves and didn't have the opportunity this time to change her mind?
I can't imagine this show without Alison, and without Ruth Wilson. And god do I feel so sorry for Cole and Noah, Athena and poor little Joanie. But Cole most of all. I can't wait to see what will happen with him and Luisa now, now that Luisa is clearly no longer "peripheral" or whatever that was to the family, and Cole, although he may leave for his own reasons, won't be leaving for Alison.
Ironically, I think it will actually be harder for Luisa now, as Cole is going to be inside out for a good while, perhaps forever.
I'm still in disbelief.
12
@Rain Now that I've read Ruth Wilson asked to leave the show, and her death was written in and all her scenes filmed first, I understand why she was killed off. And Sarah Treem said her story is not over -- yay!
1
Just a random aside - I’m watching season 2 of The Sinner (Carrie Coon!!!) and who do I see but Detective Jeffries from The Affair! He’s a detective in this too. Guess he’s moonlighting. I loved him on King of Queens, my guilty pleasure lol. Deacon!!!
6
@Kellycc88
Carrie Coon is another heartbreaker.
2
I just watched this week's episode tonight and had not read any recaps or comments beforehand. Alison was my favorite character, and, for me, it is one thing to kill off a character for plot reasons, but quite another to force someone out because an actress learns that she is not being paid fairly. Although I think the main actors/actresses in this series are exceptionally good for a "soap opera" and Ruth Wilson was the best of them, I cannot as a woman who faced this kind of discrimination throughout her career watch this show any longer.
8
@GinaK
Ruth Wilson asked to be written out of the show.
2
@Margo Channing Certainly Ruth Wilson has a growing career elsewhere. I think she is coming back on Luther (British TV) and she has two movies coming out -- one fairly high profile (The Little Stranger). She has also had considerable success on the British stage. In a way, I am happy this happened since now I won't be tempted to watch this soap opera anymore. I have always had mixed feelings about watching it after the first season (which I actually bought on DVD) because, in my humble opinion, when it was good, it was very good, but when it was bad.....and that was too often after Season 1.
1
"i have only one thing to do and that's be the wave that I am and then
Sink back into the ocean" Fiona Apple
Shocking, heartbreaking episode. Ultimately, I do believe it was suicide.
Though clunky and out of step with the usual narrative, I laughed out loud for the first time in four years watching the motel scene with Cole, Noah and Anton.
13
@DD
It was not only out of step but came from a another universe, completely unbelievable.
I was so happy when they were back in the car and this stupid side show was over.
Wow. Punched in the stomach. This was the most emotionally intense episode of the series because the loss of Allison - was a loss, truly. Felt so bad for her; this is a rare moment where you say .... it's fiction, fiction.
I had heard in the air about a "tragic" loss, for some reason I thought it might be Cole.
A great episode, loving the season ...
7
I hadn't watched The Affair
for a long while. The characters
and the story became personally
too painful. The cruelty was vividly
realized. So much hurt.
It was strange to pick up their
stories at a pivotal and inevitable
moment. Watching Noah in the
final scene as he observes the
young waitress, we see that he
realizes the pain and destruction
of their acts of faithlessness. It
was heartbreaking.
15
I will be very disappointed if SHO didn't bridge the supposed gap/ appreciation for the last and final season with the main character of the show.
‘But in February Wilson complained about pay parity on the show when she discovered how much more West, her scene partner, was paid. She told Radio Times:
“I definitely get less money than a male in my situation would. Definitely.”
12
This is America where women are still very much second class citizens and all nj industries, especially show biz are pretty much boys' clubs, what do you think?
I certainly was not expecting Alison to die. Alison suffered so much with the death of her son, she could not get past the trauma and her own guilt as a nurse for letting him fall asleep after he was initially saved from the water. In many ways, she died with her son years ago.
So many possibilities of foul play, and several speculations including that she returned and took up her dad's offer ($$ for kidney) and put the money in a trust for Joanie. She might have actually decided to give her kidney to her dad or not (given dad & mom's story line) and then decided to go to where she almost drowned as a child and where her dad saved her life. She might have just gone to "relive" the experience that haunted her and the waters were too rough, etc. or maybe she decided Cole and Luisa were better parents to Joanie than she could ever be as a mom, so she left the money and returned to the "original" place where she almost died.
Luisa could also have told her about her deportation problem and might have asked Alison if she could state that Luisa is more essential to Joanie, because she has been more of the mother figure in her life. Alison may have then decided everyone would be better off without her. She may have seen herself as unavailable as her mother was to her, so she might have wanted to become useful and taken her father's money to leave for Joanie, so Cole and Luisa could raise her, and also allow Luisa to stay.
5
@Tara, In Episode 6 Alison tells Athena that she moved the money from the sale of The Lobster Roll into an account for Joanie. This was just before she met her father.
10
I just want to stop in and say that this is a very well written article!!! Kudos!
15
I'm thinking about Anton - going upstairs to take a shower. What did he see? What was the point? What is the point of Anton at all - unless he is furthering the narrative and key to finding out what happened to Allison. I think Anton saw something in the father's house that is a clue to her death. I feel like her father had something (directly or indirectly) to do with it. Otherwise, why introduce him at all?
13
@LA Woman I agree. The idea that he asked to take a shower was so insanely far-fetched -- who does that? -- the upstairs shower has to further the plot in some way.
Ruth Wilson said in a recently surfacing interview in February that she was unhappy that she was being paid less than Dominic West. She said she didn't want an exorbitant amount of money, just to be paid as much as West was being paid.
That's probably the answer to why the character was killed off.
Wilson won a Golden Globe award for her role on this show. The producers are sleazy that they treated her like this.
25
@fast/furious The producers knew Dominic West could carry a show. He was the lead on The Wire for its five seasons. I never heard of Ruth Wilson before The Affair. Maybe the pay disparity had to do with their respective track records in American tv.
3
In the remaining two episodes of this season we will learn more about what happened. My own opinion is that it was an accident, perhaps precipitated by an argument with one of the show's characters, or with no precipitant. The writers are pointing us in the direction of suicide with all the very recent painful emotional experiences of late for Allison but it seems too obvious. Ultimately, I don't think the show will want this character's end to be by suicide. It may even be that she was in a good place before her untimely but accidental death.
9
Did Luisa have a hand in this???
Talk about motive! (Gets her out of the way vis a vis Cole; immigration woes get some help as she becomes Joannie's mom...).
Say it isn't so. That would be way too much daytime soap opera. Hate it.
5
Becoming the parent of a U.S. citizen is not a path to legalization until the child turns 21 and sponsors the parent for a green card. This is Trump times. She would be deported.
Loved this show since it first aired, but for the sake of your TV section's writers, please don't ever "spoil" an episode for us again. You ALWAYS print, "spoiler alert, may contain....", and with putting this recap online early on Sunday morning, before the episode aired, you ruined the show for us! You owe the readers an apology! We watch these shows to be surprised, good or bad, and you had no right to ruin our enjoyment of experiencing this show especially since we've watched every episode before it. And you probably won't print this due to your collective egos! C'mon NYT, you can do better!
1
@rex
Here's a though, don't read it until 10:00pm Sunday. Problem solved.
17
Dear Bette, my though(t) was that I was reading last weeks recap, not this weeks, and I'd DVR'd it as I wasn't home. I still disagree with the editors explanation. They have not done that in the past.@Margo Channing
Austin: please, next season, start reviewing Succession in NYT. Loved the recap of the finale today, and the praise for Jeremy Strong but where has this been in the recaps so far? The drama and financial machinations, plus family treachery on Succession, makes Billions look like a frat party, and I love Billions.
4
Great summary and exactly how I felt; I was sick to my stomach for hours afterwards. I so wanted Cole and Alison to get back together. What an actor he is; and so handsome. Hope he doesn't reconcile with Luisa. Don't like her at all.
13
This episode, as someone else said, kept me up last night. Love these actors, Ruth Wilson will be missed.
I agree that it might be Ben (might be red herring); also didn't think of it until someone said Luisa. I just don't know if she has that in her, though.
Did anyone else notice that Alison's father (love Tim Matheson) said well, this isn't the first time she has run off and done this, maybe she's just having one of her episodes. Cole says, how would you know that? He responds, we have been getting to know one another. Not! She only talked to him that one time. So maybe he had her killed for the kidney? Hmmm.
I am so sad about his. I just loved her, even with her flaws in judgement. Just call me the pot lol.
8
@Kellycc88
That kidney is useless to him now. Love Matheson too, good actor and underused.
2
Unless the kidney has been harvested. That would be a sick twist fir shock value - and not up to the shows dramatic psychological realism.
The sex romp sequence with the fake gay couple and the redneck motel owner was an odd completely false insert into an otherwise excellent episode. Unless Anton comes around and has a real impact in the final two episodes he is a wasted character - but a great actor.
3
I believe that it was Luisa who asked to meet with Allison on the jetty to talk about Joanie. She wanted Allison to sign to the document relinquishing her custody of the girl in order to secure her own citizenship. A scuffle ensued and Allison fell into the water hit her head on the rocks and died. Cole finds out, divorces Luisa who goes to prison and takes Joanie to Morro Bay where his father was happy for probably the only time in his life.
24
@Constance an interesting theory would actually be an interesting plot
1
@Constance hmmm...I dunno if Luisa would risk deportation by committing murder. She seems to smart for that.
3
I stopped watching this show a long time ago and only read the recaps thinking "How is it still on?". Anyhow, I am sure the producers of the show consulted an immigration attorney if they are indeed going that route: becoming a parent of a U.S. citizen is not a way to get a green card until the child is 21 when she can sponsor the parent.
1
I never liked Ben, even before we found out he was married. Seemed selfish & manipulative, taking advantage of a woman in an emotionally frail state. Being in the mental health field he would have known how this would affect someone like Alison. I wouldn't be surprised if he played a role in Alison's death.
17
@In the Know - I agree 100%...he was way too eager to get her to spill her deepest traumas, and was practically salivating when she let her guard down. Made me think of him as a predator from the beginning; his fixation on Alison was basically a replacement for alcohol in his addictive behavior.
10
@SC
The scene a few episodes back when he pushed Alison to go out in the boat with him was creepy. I kept thinking he would push her overboard. Maybe that scene was a hint at what would happen to her.
I wouldn't be surprised either. I am thinking he engaged her in some sort of therapy he learned, acting like he was trying to help her with her fear of water.
1
This episode reminds me of the two masks, one for tragedy and one for comedy. For about two thirds of the show it was a funny road trip with Cole and Noah finding emotional connection in their intertwined lives. Anton was along for comic relief and seemed more of a plot contrivance to Cole and Noah to meet up than an essential character in the story. This was especially true in the devastating final third, though his comment about the shower was hilarious. Like Sean, I did not want to believe that Alison was dead, was sure it was another body. I am not buying the suicide and agree with Cole that she would never leave Joanie. Alison had found meaning and purpose in being a grief counselor. She had the strength to reject a married man who would have hurt her. I don't believe she would have thrown away the life she painstakingly built. More to come on what really happened to her.
Regarding Cole, he has only one option - return to his beautiful, loving wife and raise Joanie. Not at all a bad ending for him.
9
@nancy hicks Don’t always get these characters, I feel bad for Allison but don’t understand why the characters look for something when the answer is right in front of them. Louisa is a wonderful, beautiful woman, Cole should appreciate that.
3
@Kevin
Agree, Kevin. Have never been able to figure out why Cole is not more appreciative of Luisa. He may just have a fatal attraction to broken birds.
@nancy hicks
I have to amend the last two sentences of this post. Some thoughtful reader comments on Luisa's possible involvement in Alison's death - jealousy, her immigrant status - have made me push the pause button. This would certainly set up a good storyline for the next season and the motivation is plausible. Don't know how I missed that.
3
Very powerful. I just hope that the final scene featuring Noah watching a family much like his own used to be doesn't prefigure a reunion with Helen (assuming that Vik eventually dies, as appears likely). That would be too cute. Life doesn't work in such nice symmetrical ways. Far better to end it with a whole bunch of lives shattered through the impulsive actions of the characters from whom the title of the show is derived. Like a modern day Hardy novel.
13
@Marshall Auerback I agree, I don't want them back together. I'm not really liking Sanaa Latham's character (she bit Beyonce lol) with him, either. It seems forced. But I love Anton's fresh viewpoint.
4
I have never lost sleep over a TV show. I did last night. The only thing I can liken it to is when Gary died on thirtysomething and I thought, no, this isn't possible. But he was a big character, but not one of the characters. I am still reeling. And it's only a TV show!
13
Personally, I think it was Noah. We never saw her get back on the plane by herself and go home. Would Noah really send her back in that state of mind by herself? I'm thinking back to their conversation.. about when he told Allison that he helped his mom die. Maybe Allison wanted to die, and maybe Noah helped her. I think they introduced Ben and Allison's dad to throw us off.. to possibly make us think that one of them killed her, all the while, it's someone you'd never suspect. Noah.
Also remember, at the end of his book, he wrote, "in the end, he kills her". It's not going to be an obvious person like Ben, her dad or Luisa to do something like kill Allison. The writers aren't going to give that away so easily. Anyone else have the same thinking??
3
@Jenna um, no.
2
@Jenna
An intriguing theory, and you may be right.
1
@Jenna Certainly, though, that Krishna statue that Athena gave Allison has to play into this? Perhaps. She had head lacerations. Hit with the statue Krishna? And I also can't help but remember in Season One, early on, Noah and Allison, earl after their Affair started, both standing on a staircase by a beach and talking of someone drowning. I need to review that episode.
1
I think I heard Alison's dad mutter, "Can I have her kidney now?"
10
@Robin
It's useless to him. She's been dead far too long to long and that kidney as well as her other organs are past their prime.
I'm in denial. I'm still waiting for Brody to return.
38
@Isabel
Apparently we are two birds of one feather. Me too.
2
@Isabel I miss Brody too. And I’m still trying to figure out if Renee on The Americans was a KGB spy or not. But I’m certian Alison is gone, and if they make us watch her drowning from her own POV next week, it will be even more heartbreaking than just hearing the news that she’s gone.
7
@Isabel
Yes, I would not believe Brody was gone till I saw a photo of Damien Lewis in Henry VIII garb filming Wolf Hall. As for the end of Ruth Wilson's contribution to the show ... it is an appalling turn of events. The grief experienced by the audience is a testament to Ms. Wilson's compelling, extraordinary talent .... The producers made a big mistake ... big .... huge!
2
SUCH a great recap of this amazing episode. This is Soprano's final show level shocker. Where did it come from? Great writing and great acting. I'm so happy, and now so devastated that I've hung in with The Affair. Ruth Wilson is so, so good, and SO beautiful and captivating, she made me keep watching. And now she's gone.
Kudos to the creators and participants. Top notch television.
22
The actress portraying the character complaining about pay inequality?
1
Does this mean that this evening soap opera is finally at an end? I certainly hope so. Each week as I watched this show, so full of coincidences and unreal characters, I questioned myself as to why I wasted any time on it. I am now forced to turn the page and get on with it and watch some better crafted show. A truly soapy ending for a truly soapy show. “Much ado about nothing”.
4
@Elena Marcusi
It's been renewed for next season.
7
Season Four now seems to be a perfect last season. We have the death of a principal character. Let's not make her a presence in another season. I'll dread it. So far I enjoyed Season One. Season Two seemed like a continuation for its own sake. I didn't enjoy Season Three at all. I didn't think Season Four was promising at all after its first episode. To my surprise, though, the subsequent episodes turned out to be all right. I also wanted Cole's trip to California to be longer. He never has any fun. I know this won't matter but Episode Eight had three characters in it I really liked, because they were happy and showed a sense of humor. They were Anton, the girl at the hotel desk, and the waitress in Noah's segment. They were such a welcome change from the gratuitous and silly Vik, the out-of-place Helen, mopey Cole, and empty Noah. So, let's not have a fifth season, OK?
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@abmcgu01 Too late. They've already announced season 5!
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@Rand Raynor Yes. I knew that last week. Hope springs eternal, though.
@abmcgu01
My guess is the producers have decided to end this show and the death of Alison was a way to get a 'shocker' before closing the series - which may end with Vik's death.
I had grown tired of Alison and while this was a surprise I didn't particularly care. This has been a strange show and
it's been easy to be into it and then sick of it, back and forth. The one thing it hasn't been is consistently good.
7
Just wanted to add that Ruth Wilson is also great in the BBC show Luther, with Idris Elba. I think it's on Netflix now.
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@E
Disagree. I love "Luther" but the episodes in which Wilson played a seductive psycho killer were the worst of the series. I never believed Luther had any romantic/sexual interest in that insane character. Idris Elba deserved better than most of the "Luther" scripts. He's a fantastic actor and the character of Luther was made for him. I'm sorry the show itself didn't do him justice.
4
I can't really argue with that. I thought of Wilson and the show as a kind of guilty pleasure.
Most interesting thing to me was what the detective said, she had decided to live until 35 and if things didn't get better she would commit suicide, things were going relatively well for her and then everything just fell apart, she realized life would always be full of pain, it had in the past.
6
@wayne griswald That cop was never correct about anything.
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@wayne griswald
I never believed someone would say that to a police officer who was investigating a murder involving people she knew. Not even Alison.
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Allison was always portrayed as a tortured soul. Her affairs never saved her. Ben was the first man she didn’t fall into bed with. It doesn’t surprise me that she would take her life in the end. That said, I was still shocked that she did.
14
Yay. Allison is a predictable cliche. More Helen.
9
Post-episode tease revealed that the run-up to the drowning will be explained next week.
Wish I could be less cynical about the Allison character's death, but having witnessed the making of sausage like this, the first thing that occurred to me, while Cole was throwing up, was "Ruth Wilson is free to pursue other projects!"
Kudos to everyone at the network for keeping a lid on this. Most likely this development was in the works at least a year ago. I must've missed the announcement at deadline.com.
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I think viewers are surprised because Alison's death wasn't really organic to the plot. Whenever an actor wants to "move on," show writers have to figure out how to remove her. The departure usually feels odd and sudden, and I think that's the case here.
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@Barbara Ilike when viewers are surprised by a death. It's much more true to real life, where we often don't get a run-up to a death unless it's a very long illness.
6
Someone confronted Alison, she ran towards the jetty with the other individual chasing her. She slipped and fell into the water and smashed on the jetty. If the person was Ben, Alison ran as she again realized she would again become involved with a married man and impact his family- and hers. However I think Ben is a red herring- I think her talk with Helen hit home and she was ready to change her narrative. If the person was Luisa- confronting her about leaving Joanie in her care consistently and asking again for custody so that she would be eligible for a green card.Luisa did ask Cole to ask Alison to relinquish custody so that she would be integral to Joanie's care, and Cole refused. Yet, during Cole's walkabout Luisa is again caring for Joanie- remember Alison requested COle change weekends so tat she sould attend the conference in Milwaukee- yet it is Luisa who is actually caring for Joanie, not Cole. We did hear Luisa calling Cole while he was traveling- perhaps to tell him what may have happened.
What is odd is Athena calling Alison's father first. Perhaps the reason was to make him feel guilty- OR- to drive home the point that he would not get a kidney from Alison. But- I still would think she would reach out to either Cole or Noah first.
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@robin I assumed that she did reach out to Cole and/or Noah first, but their phones were taken away because Alison's father's wife did not allow devices at the table.
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@Marcy. Correct. Also recall that it was Athena who gave Allisons father’s home address to Cole and Noah while they were on the road, so she knew they would both be there. Since their cell phones were in the basket, once Athena couldn't reach them, she called the father’s home to let them all know.
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@robin The wife made Noah and Cole put their phones in the basket during dinner, so Athena had to call the home phone.
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Shocking episode to say the least. I didn't see that one coming at all, but I'm with Cole in that I don't believe that Allison killed herself. For all of her pain, she wouldn't do that to her daughter. There is something weird about Ben and his story doesn't seem to add up, but in my opinion Ben is a red herring.
I think Allison was killed and I think that the trail will lead to Louisa, Cole's current (temporarily) wife. Jealous of Cole's love for Allison, Louisa most likely lured Allison to the Jetty with a lie about her daughter being missing which is why she left her apartment without taking any personal possessions.
We'll find out in the next few weeks.
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@Kevin C - one more thing. Wasn't there an episode this season where Louisa mentioned that her immigration application status would be helped if she were the parent of Joni and that she wanted Allison to terminate her parental rights so Louisa could adopt Joni?
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@Kevin -- Ben's response to Cole's interrogation didn't make sense to me, he seemed to be covering up something, he talked like he decided to tell Allison he was married, but it was Allison that decided that and decided to confront Ben and tell him off (Helen's suggestion). Ben said it was a amicable parting. The detective said Allison had an alibi, to me an alibi means you have an explanation, its not always true.
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@Kevin C I like your theory, but I'm hung up on that Krishna statue and the lacerations on Allison's head. What was the point of that Krishna statue? IMHO, it had no real meaning other to emphasize Athena's POV, but we already had gotten that and didn't need to be reminded of, nor was it pertinent to this season, as far as I can tell.
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Maybe the abusive husband who threatened Allison in her office killed her.
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@JP
I thought that too.
I find it hard to believe Alison’s mom would call Alison’s dad, (the rapist), and tell him instead of calling Noah or Cole. She hated Alison’s dad.
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@Robin I agree but she could have called Cole and Noah and hung up after she got their voicemail.
I wondered about that too, but, yes, they had been relieved of their phones, so even if she had called they wouldn't have gotten in. Also, they were in touch with Athena and they very well could have checked in with her before going to the father's house.
@Robin Seems the Writers have a reason for letting Allison's father tell them, otherwise it doesn't make much sense to write into the story the strange bit about putting phones in a basket
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"In my own way, I had come to love this person, the way you love any great character. Perhaps you had, too."
Always hated the homewrecker. Glad she's gone. Glad she wrote this narrative this way. Why was this recap posted before the show aired?
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@PrairieFlax
I wish the very concept of "homewracker" were abolished. And I find amusing that you consider Alison to be one, and not Noah: is it a title reserved for women? After all, Alison was married as well when they met.
People make choices, good or bad (or neither), and they have responsibilities toward their partners. Noah had a responsibility toward Helen; he chose to betray her. He is the "homewracker" of his own home. (The same goes for Alison and her relationship with Cole, obviously). Responsibility is personal.
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@PrairieFlax
Agreed. As far as I’m concerned she always brought unnecessary drama. I actually predicted her death.
Great episode. There are several characters who would have a motive to kill her. Can't wait until next week!
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@Josh My thought is that Alison's death involves Julie. Something is bubbling under that character's demeanor plus....you don't bring Dina Meyer in for a mere background role.
2
I was really enjoying the three guys together, so the news about Alison shocking. I don't see how they could misidentify her. Didn't she have Gabriel tattooed on her body?
Perhaps Luisa killed her? Somehow Alison's mom disappears after watching Joanie for a few days, then suddenly Joanie's with Luisa and Alison's condo is empty except wallet?
Alison had lost it, of course, after finding out about Ben. But before then she seemed stable, liked her job, etc. I'm not sure she would kill herself.
6
Well, that was a shocker. Like many other viewers, I'm still reeling.
The only strange moment for me, in retrospect, was when Athena called Alison's father to give him the news. Why would she call him -- of all people -- before telling Cole, especially since she knew that Cole and Noah were out looking for Ali? Athena despised this man.
Looking forward to some answers from Alison's POV next week.
3
Whew...just finished watching, shocked and will have to think some more. But, there I was, saying to myself, wow, I don't ever remember this show being so funny. Then, well, you know. Suicide. I don't want to believe it, I want to think Noah is wrong. If he isn't, Ben was the red herring; now I think it's Alison's Father. She confronted him about her mother's rape and something happened . Or her fathers new wife; she seems very off. All that said, how can this show go on without Alison? The preview looks like it will be from her perspective, they said , "The secret will be revealed." Sure, the unraveling of a mystery would be great, but if Alison is really dead, I expect us faithful viewers will continue to grieve. Magnificent episode. I felt it in my body.
12
An interview with the showrunner, Sarah Treem, confirms it is Alison. No case of mistaken identity here. According to the interview, which was just published tonight, Ruth Wilson asked to leave the show.
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@JJ
Oh no!
2
Devastating episode. At the same time, it makes sense. Someone with the chaos inside Alison’s head would be at risk in real life too. RIP Alison. Your impulsiveness but tenderness will be missed.
5
Still can't believe that ending. Alison at the center of things again and causing upheaval but with a very different ending. Didn't see this coming at all. I know the memories of her dead son are always there for her. I guess it got to be too much for her to bear. But all of the previous episodes thus far did not prepare me for this ending of her character. Many flaws and all.
I always enjoyed her and Cole's story lines better than Noah and Helen. This threw me for a loop.
2
Most of the comments about this show are critiques of the characters--especially Alison. I am struck by the comments today, which show empathy rather than the usual disdain for Alison. Kudos to Ruth Wilson and Dominic West, who are so talented one forgets they are British.
25
At my age, I've lost people I loved. We all have. This episode captured that feeling and put in in a one hour bottle. I went from denial to acceptance at the drumbeat set by the writers, actors and director. Well done to all. Easily the best episode of this show. It's going to stay with me for a while as I mentally page through images of those I've lost. That's powerful television.
22
Great recap. Alison's death is devastating and shocking.
I think it's leading back to a season 5 that is closer to season 1, with an investigation at the center. I disagree that Ben's confession was convincing. 1st - as you noted, when Cole sees Ben in Milwaukee, he says that Alison had already broken up with him - allegedly after he told her he was married (we know this untrue because Alison discovered that for herself) and that she had headed to LA after that. A prior episode confirms that the conference was held on a weekend. When Cole arrives at the conference it's already on day 3. At least 24 hours pass between that time and when the trio get back to Long Island and confront Ben (probably more) - so when Ben answers Cole's question about the last time he saw her as "a couple of days ago" - that's a red flag because it has to have been at least 5 days according to Ben's original story (probably more, factoring in her LA trip - he also says he last saw her on "Thursday" but we don't know whether that makes sense yet). Also, the detective describes the fact Alison had transferred money to Jonie as a suicide tell. But we saw in ep. 6 that Alison had already talked to Athena about creating this account with proceeds from The Lobster Roll - before she found out that she was the product of her mother's rape, before meeting her dad to find out he only wanted her kidney, and before learning that Ben was married (when she was feeling happy and hopeful) so it's irrelevant.
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@MGS Didn't the preview from last week show Allison alone on the beach?
@MGS Good argument. Having your mistress show up in front of your wife isn't exactly discreet, and given his emotional state and his combat experience... let's see how this one will go.
3
@wayne griswald that seemed to be a flashback to me - all of those scenes seemed to be flashbacks except the one where she is peering through the door in the rain - that one I don't recall.
I swear I could feel it coming. As the comedy of the road trip went on, I got this sense that this was totally out of character for the writing of this show. It's always been very very dark. The gravity of a missing person, in a potential panic-stricken state was somehow being glossed over. I watched it with my wife and I'd wished that I said something about it when it hit me. I just felt like it was what had to happen for everything else to make sense. It wouldn't have had the impact it had without the lightweight scenes leading up to it. I know there's speculation that's she's not dead. I'm sure she is. I hope it isn't a murder mystery, but instead an examination of how her mental state was overlooked by everyone around her. People do get so absorbed by their own personal dramas that this isn't the least bit unrealistic. From the previews for next week, we'll get at least one more episode from her point of view, hopefully clearing up that it was her intent to do it. I don't think it means that we won't see her character again. Lots of shows find creative devices to bring back the dead (flashbacks, dream sequences, etc.). Frankly, as tough as it was to watch, it redeems the season and gives me hope that it's just going more absorbing in the final 2 episodes. I also hope that the writers have already determined how the series will end in season 5 and aren't going to be making it up on the fly.
18
OMG! Alison was the center of all the emotional strength and beauty in this show. We will miss you, Alison. Please let the show go on and bring her back as memory. Love this show! #1 in my book!
11
I streamed this episode shortly after midnight on Sunday morning. Of course, I was nearly jolted out of my bed in disbelief. I’m absolutely gutted for Cole and Noah.
14
Stellar performances from Josh Jackson, Dominic West and Chris Meyer in tonights episode. A heartbreaker.
Everyone loses.
31
Why Why Why? A shocker. Alison is the emotional center of the show. I feel deflated and a sense of loss. The fate of her character is SO NOT what I wished for!
The last time I felt this sad, depressed and attached to characters, was at the end of " Six Feet Under". And, learning the fate of Betty Draper in "Mad Men".
Ruth Wilson and the writers of "The Affair" have created one of the most memorable characters in the history of series television.
Thank you!!!
26
This was simply the most devastating episode of a TV series that until now seemed to be going nowhere, or perhaps even backwards, until the last three amazing episodes. Allison’s death ties together every charcter and theme on The Affair in a way that nothing else quite could.
This all began with a journey out West which has completely transformed the four main players. The trip to California for Helen, Noah, Cole and Alison was a trip of self discovery for each, yet it is only Helen who seems to have grown, even as she loses Vic to cancer. As intrusive as Noah has always been, he seemso to have discovered his mission in life is to try to help others, and he has even found some empathy along the way. Yet Cole, having finally come to understand more about his father’s past, is now completely broken, and Alison, whose entire trip to California was like a waking nightmare, is gone. Devastating. And the performances have all been stalled.
This episode is why we stick with a series all the way through, in the hope that the story will lead to something meaningful. For most season they had us worried about Vic when it should have been Allison we were worried about. Alison’s “worst day in her life” episode was filled with so much trauma that her sudden death should not have come as such a surprise, and yet it was as stunning as any moment in the series. Like the reviewer of this excellent recap, I am still in denial that she is gone.
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I'm adding this - if Alison truly is dead, and Vik dies, next season should be very interesting.
5
@Person: She is truly dead. Show runner Sarah Treem has confirmed that Alison was written out of the series at Ruth Wilson's request.
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@Person FWIW-perfect ending to a deeply troubled character. I expect a lot of Anton next year-just a hunch.
@Person
Great episode and recap. Not surprised that Ruth Wilson wanted to leave. She, as well as a lot of viewers, got tired of that depressing life with no way out. And the (other) duck lip.
Noah, Cole, Helen and New Age Girl will move to Aspen to raise Helen's/New Age Girl's daughter and Joanie. They have made peace and will now (sort of) act like grown ups. Why Aspen? Mystery to be solved in season 422, episode 18
1
Thank you for this beautifully written piece.
For me Allison is the wounded heart of this series and Cole the soul. Maybe actually the other way around. Ruth Wilson created and indelible character and I don't want to say good by to her. Allison Bailey.
Heartbreaking.
The actors are superb every one but Joshua Jackson was especially riveting tonight. This penetrated deeply.
Incredible episode.
30
Goodbye, Allison, we all loved you.
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Your article was by far the most heartfelt of all the reviews I read on line. You expressed all the emotions I felt as I watched this episode. Thanks.
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I did not expect this ending. also felt as though I was punched in the gut. Great recap. I am still trying to work out the timing. Ben was at the conference in Milwaukee-said he broke up with Allison before she went to LA which was the week before.Then, seemingly 1 or 2 days later he is back at work, and said he saw her 2 days before and broke up with her then. Can anyone explain this?
12
@Michelle Ben's timeline is off. Something isn't right.
8
This was an hour of brilliant television. Like another commenter, I too wonder just a bit if the body Noah identified us in fact Allison. It probably is but maybe it’s just my own wish that this wonderful character remain with us. The last scene with Noah is heartbreaking. He sees a man and his family ordering a meal from a young and pretty waitress and suddenly realizes the enormity of what he has done to his own family, to Allison, to Cole and to himself. For the first time, he feels and expresses genuine remorse.
22
Your article so beautifully encapsulated every emotion I felt during each part of this very powerful episode. I watched it over again two more times hoping for a different outcome with each viewing. To me, Alison was the nucleus of the show, with each character orbiting around her, desperately trying to find their way. / Thanks for writing this and giving us a place to grieve for this beautiful, complex being.
19
Shocked? Yes. But after watching the ending two times(!) I want to go on record that I feel it was definitely NOT Alison in the morgue. The viewer might remember the mention that she was dead for three days when found and very battered - I consider this more than a hint at Noah's error in identification - not a red herring. Also, it is too neat an ending for Luisa, who needs to be Joanie's "mom" in order to stay in the country.
The show has been booked for a fifth season, and I can't imagine the story line without the Alison viewpoint. Let's see what transpires in the last two episodes.
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@JB Showrunner Sarah Treem said in an interview that Alison is definitely dead.
3
@JB: Sarah Treem has confirmed that Alison is dead, owing to Ruth Wilson's decision to leave the show.
5
It was a shocker. I still couldn't believe it until Noah identified her body.
On the other hand, this may have been the best episode of this show. I couldn't stop laughing at times-great mix of drama & comedy.
It was definitely the most consequential episode of the series.
Yes, next week will be an Alison segment-from how my cable guide describes the episode it features the Ben/Alison final breakup,
12
This is exactly the way my husband and I felt after watching this episode. This is the first time I have logged into writing something beneath an article in years.
I feel relieved to read your article because it's nice to know that we are not alone in how Alison's death seemed so shocking an unexpected.
THE AFFAIR may be some of the best character development have watched on a television show. The flawed characters but lovable--just like Alison--have etched their way into my heart ...
Great write. Thank you, m
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@machel This means a lot to me to hear. Thank you very much. And yes, it's a remarkable show.
14
@macheli I agree. Sometimes these reviews come out of left field with a jab or comment about Blue Lives Matter to make an irrelevant political point. This review was spot on. I felt for Allison and grieved for her character. It was good job by all those involved in creating the drama where emotions are actually felt. The writers did a good job at illustrating Cole’s and Noah’s attempt to demonize others for their own faults and shortcomings. Cole even turns on Noah at one point, the frenemy who assists on his quest to reunite with Allison. Louisa will be devastated if he accomplished his goal. These are interesting people but flawed.
2