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.