The Affair – “103” Review. A Man in Charge.

Season 1, Episode 3

Airdate: Sunday, October 26, 2014 at 10:00 pm ET/PT on Showtime

Rating: ★★★★★

“I can’t stop thinking about you…it’s not sweet; it’s a fucking problem. I can’t sleep. If I do, when I wake up, I’m thinking about you. I’m talking to my kids, I’m thinking about you. I’m fucking my wife, I’m thinking about you.” – Noah Solloway

Noah and Alison discuss their relationship.

This week’s installment of The Affair doesn’t further Noah (Dominic West) and Alison’s (Ruth Wilson) affair much although it does examine their relationship at this point of Detective Jeffries’ (Victor Williams) questioning. Instead, it delves into the history of a long-standing feud between the Solloway and Hodge families. Oscar Hodge (Darren Goldstein), Alison’s boss at The Lobster Roll, doesn’t particularly care for Alison’s husband Cole (Joshua Jackson), and “103” provides some insight into why. Of note is Noah writing about the feud in his first book, “A Person Who Meets a Place.” Has he used the feud to further his own agenda?

Noah’s Story

Whitney listens intently to the tale her grandmother Margaret is telling her.

Noah’s in-laws both have strong opinions about their daughter Helen’s (Maura Tierney) choice of a spouse. The story Helen’s mother Margaret (Kathleen Chalfant) tells Whitney (Julia Goldani Telles) after dinner about Helen and Noah’s wedding day seems inappropriate since it’s their daughter, especially with Noah sitting right there. Margaret’s description of the proper way to eat peas, however, is hysterical (See “Humorous Line” below).

During the first two episodes of The Affair, we learned Noah isn’t having much luck writing his second book. So, it’s Harry (Stephen Kunken) the literary agent to the rescue as he helps Noah formulate the story line for his next book. They say it’s best to only write about the things you know if you want your book to sell. So it comes as no surprise that Noah plans to write about his affair with Alison, couching it in a story about “the death of the American pastoral; how the authenticity of a small tourist town gets co-opted and commercialized until it becomes a parody of itself.” The strange thing about this new novel is the ending Noah is planning.

Alison shows Noah the dock in Montauk.

In “103,” Noah continues to paint Alison as the aggressor. To help with his book, Alison offers to be Noah’s guide around town, which initially takes them to Will’s (Sean Kleier) fishing boat. In last week’s episode, “102,” we learned about a possible drug operation when Alison dropped off some fish to who I now know is her brother-in-law, Caleb (Michael Godere). This story line is furthered in “103” when Cole’s brother Scotty (Colin Donnell) runs into Alison and Noah while visiting Will’s boat. The way Alison acts in this scene leads me to believe she is not happy about the Lockharts’ current relationship with Will. But if the Lockharts are truly involved in such an extracurricular activity, why the constant comments about the meager state of their finances?

Even though Noah tries to convince himself not to enter into an affair with Alison, his behavior belies his words, particularly when he follows Alison with his eyes as she walks away. West excels at the lecherous look, complete with randy smile. I knew exactly where this is heading, especially when the camera pans down to her shorts. The interesting thing is the absence of proof that Noah and Alison have yet to consummate their flirtatious advances.

As Noah’s story comes to a close, two important things happen. Not only does Noah make his feelings about his relationship with Alison perfectly clear to her, he also sees something on TV that, in my mind, might be where he gets the idea for a hit and run. Of course, that theory only works if Noah is, indeed, guilty of killing the victim at the center of Jeffries’ investigation. We still aren’t sure who the victim is, and while my husband the sleuth thinks it’s Alison’s husband Cole, I disagree.

Alison’s Story

Alison seems more happy-go-lucky in “103” than in previous episodes. I don’t blame her for not being grumpy; she has a nearly naked Joshua Jackson to leer at! In Alison and Cole’s conversation about the building being erected, Cole comes across as not only an environmentalist, but someone who cares deeply about his community. This comes into play later during the town hall meeting. Interestingly, in Noah’s version, he misses the community meeting but in Alison’s tale, Noah never even attempts to go despite her invitation.

Something strange happens when Alison tells Jeffries about Cole and Oscar’s conflict at the town meeting. Jeffries asks, “So why was he [Oscar] invited to the wedding?” Wait. Whose wedding? And after Alison answers his question, he goes on to comment, “So I guess that explains why you were there.” I am more than a bit confused by this conversation.

The scenes at the hospital are telling. It’s almost as if Alison is reliving events from her past. Did her son succumb to cancer? It’s a bit perplexing as Alison seems to blame Cole for their son’s death. Added to this mystery is Alison’s injury; when and how did that happen?

The differences between the scenes at the Montauk Library are curious. Noah claims he was sitting on the floor looking at his first novel when Alison showed up. But Alison claims she met Noah at the library—at his request—and found him sitting at a table doing research for his second book. While there, Alison talks about her upbringing, which leads me to wonder what happened to her parents. Why didn’t they raise her? Is her grandfather being a “story teller” the reason she’s so drawn to Noah?

Wilson is a wonderful actress but one scene in particular had me listening intently. The picture Alison paints of a fisherman’s daily routine comes to life through Wilson’s very words. She simultaneously makes you understand how bleak, yet how passionate, a fisherman can be about his life and chosen profession. She, too, is as fervent about Montauk as Cole is.

Humorous Line

Margaret: “Trevor? Those peas are dead…Well, it’s not necessary to stab them with the cutlery. Why don’t you use your knife to encourage them upon the fork and then lift them all gracefully to your mouth?”

Apparently, Trevor’s (Jadon Sand) grandmother doesn’t approve of his eating habits. LOL!

Overall

If there were one thing I would change about The Affair, it would be to see both Helen and Cole’s POVs. I’d love to know what they’re thinking about this time in their lives. And with both Tierney and Jackson being such great actors, it’s a shame not to take advantage of that. At least we see Jackson at his best during the town hall meeting where Noah so beautifully and passionately explains why he’s against Oscar’s new building. I wonder if this has anything to do with who was run over.

As the weeks go by, the differences between Noah and Alison’s stories are becoming more and more exasperating. I find myself examining each little alteration, wondering whether each one could be the clue to uncovering the mystery. I suppose that’s not such a terrible thing from the show’s viewpoint, since it keeps me coming back week after week. And that, after all, is what makes a show successful—having viewers who keep tuning in no matter what happens. And that’s exactly what I plan to do. I love me a good mystery!

What did you think of “103?” Leave me a comment below or tweet me @SeasideTV. I’d love to discuss it with you.

Tune in to The Affair Sundays at 10 pm ET/PT, only on Showtime.

Stay current with The Affair on its website: http://www.sho.com/sho/the-affair/home.

Socialize with The Affair on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, TVTag, and YouTube.

Follow these cast mates on Twitter: Noah/Dominic West @DominicWest, Cole/Joshua Jackson @VancityJax, Whitney/Julia Goldani Telles @JuliaGTelles, Jane/Nicolette Robinson @NicoletteKloe, Scotty Lockhart/Colin Donnell @ColinDonnell, Detective Jeffries/Victor Williams @BicVicWilliams, and writer Sarah Treem @SarahTreem.

And for fans of Joshua Jackson, join JoshuaJacksonFans @JoshuaJFan.

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Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!