Psychological dramas are always interesting, which explains the success of both the book and the movie Gone Girl, one of my favorite novels. And while watching the second outing of The Affair, I couldn’t help but notice a resemblance between Nick and Amy Dunne in both Noah and Alison because, really, they could totally be screwing with our minds right now.
There are still many questions, but we did get a bunch of new material to ponder upon and now we’re left wondering, perhaps for the rest of the season, who is the murdered fella in those flash forwards, and why is Noah and Alison’s affair essential to that murder mystery?
Until then, the storytelling is still captivating to watch. I find myself constantly trying to memorize little details from Noah’s story to compare them later in Alison’s version, and it’s so amusing to watch those inconsistencies. The episode also introduces us to more supporting characters (I was particularly joyful to see Colin Donnell because I really loved him on Arrow) and how so many people had an effect on Noah and Alison’s affair.
Take Noah’s in-laws for example; he paints them both as being arrogant douche-bags who hate Noah. What kind of person publicly calls his son-in-law a schmuck, right to his face? But then again, the beauty of that scene (and of the show in general) is that it might not have been as bad as we’re seeing. These are just memories and Noah clearly hates Helen’s parents, so that’s how he’ll remember that scene went. Whether or not that’s entirely true, we can’t tell.
The scene at the beach in the end was powerful, how Noah discussed his rushed marriage before talking about living two parallel lives and the way it affects the future. It’s particularly amusing because that’s what we’re basically seeing with this show: events with the same people, but in different perspectives. I can’t wait for more of this show and more of these complicated characters. The possibilities are truly endless here, and with two leads as stunning and intriguing as Noah and Alison, this is going to be one hell of a season.
Unfaithful Flings & Bits
– The theme song is truly captivating and stunning for both the eyes and the ears. It’s called “Container” by Fiona Apple.
– The writing is very sharp on this show, which is more than I can say for most of the dramas on television today.
– I’m really starting to hate Helen’s parents as well. Very annoying people.
– It will be interesting to see Noah’s daughter taking horse-riding lessons at the Lockhart ranch. Their lives are starting to collide already. I smell trouble.
– I love how Noah and Alison’s stories start exactly the same (they are jogging or riding a bike down the same road) and then slowly start to diverge as the story develops.
Adulterous Sayings
Noah: Everyone says to you when you’re young who do you love, love is all you need and it sends you into a panic. At least it did for me.
Noah: I’m married.
Alison: Okay.
Noah: Do you know what that means?
Alison: Well, marriage means different things to different people.
Noah: You’re married too?
Alison: Surprise.
Alison: I was sure I’d never see him again. The summer people? They come in, they leave, they barely even notice us, the ones who wait their tables or bait their lines. We might as well be traffic lights to them. Stop signs, lamp posts. We blend into the scenery. I thought it’d be the same with him. For all I knew, he was already gone.
Conclusion
A near-perfect episode that is just as captivating as the pilot.
Chris Rating
A-
I love the title theme. Downloaded it already. It's so fitting and the waves are so ominous. Agreed with everything else you said 🙂