The Affair – “105” Review. The Victim is Revealed.

Season 1, Episode 5

Airdate: Sunday, November 9, 2014 at 10:00 pm ET/PT on Showtime

Rating: ★★★★★

Whitney doesn’t want to hear what her parents are saying.

Creator/writer Sarah Treem switches things up a bit with this latest installment of The Affair as Alison (Ruth Wilson) is the first to offer up her side of the story in “105.” Alison and Noah’s (Dominic West) affair heats up, and more details about their respective backgrounds are revealed, including the introduction of Alison’s estranged mother, Athena (guest star Deirdre O’Connell). But Athena isn’t the only relative causing problems as the behavior of Noah and Helen’s (Maura Tierney) daughter Whitney (Julia Goldani-Telles) leaves a lot to be desired. Although, that’s nothing new, is it?

Alison’s Story

There is something strange going on in Alison and Cole’s (Joshua Jackson) marriage. Sure, they still have cute little nicknames for each other but I don’t understand how they blatantly lie to each other and get away with it. It’s not like they don’t care for one another; it’s more like they operate under the adage, “If you don’t want to know the truth, don’t ask.” On the other hand, is it possible they have an open marriage? While it doesn’t really appear so, they do seem to have some kind of tacit agreement not to question blatant inconsistencies.

In my review of “103,” I wondered why Alison’s parents didn’t raise her. We get somewhat of an answer in “105” that has something to do with Athena’s frequent indiscretions with “boyfriends.” I’ll be honest; Athena creeps me out. Who says things like, “I felt you coming down the hall,” or “I sensed that my mother needed me?” Athena reminds me of a woman I used to know who called herself “Mother Earth.” She was very out there, extremely spiritual, didn’t believe in modern technology, and always professed to know what everyone was thinking. She was about as far from mainstream as anyone could be. The same can be said about Athena. I understand why Alison is hesitant to let her spend any time around her Alzheimer’s ridden grandmother Joan (Lynn Cohen). Athena certainly speaks her mind but being ‘different’ is no reason for Alison not to call her ‘mom’ or ‘mother.’ That’s just hurtful. But I don’t think Alison worries much about hurting other people’s feelings. Or perhaps, Alison calls her “Athena” as a defense mechanism, to protect herself from further hurt at the hands of her mother. After all, Athena was never a mother in the true sense of the word.

Noah and Alison share some very tender moments together at her friend’s cabin.

At the cabin Alison is housesitting for a friend, Noah paints her a picture of a lovely little town in Sonoma, CA. He makes Bodega Bay sound like it’s paradise on earth—as if it’s the perfect place to live an unfettered life, free of responsibility, troubles, and stress. “We’d drink wine all day on the beach, and stay in a cabin at night, with a wood-burning stove, no electricity, no Internet.” As idyllic as it sounds, many people, certainly modern 21st century hipsters and techies, couldn’t live like that. Real life, with its problems and responsibilities, has a way of intervening. Too bad their reverie is interrupted by Athena.

Athena “lays hands” on Mary-Kate. I hope it works.

Up until now, I thought the Lockhart brothers, Cole, Scotty, Hal (Danny Fischer), and Caleb (Michal Godere), got along pretty well for the most part. Such is not the case in “105,” where we learn a lot about them when they gather for a family dinner that includes a rather contentious argument. Let’s face it, every family has its problems, and every person has their own personality traits that may or may not clash with their siblings. In a rather benign moment, however, Athena works her magic on Mary-Kate (Kajis Matis), which may or may not make me a believer of her practices, depending on what happens in the future.

Another piece of the puzzle is revealed when Alison confirms Det. Jeffries’ (Victor Williams) statement about Oscar (Darren Goldstein). I think we can safely rule out Cole as the dead man. No detective would call a woman’s husband the “victim” when questioning her. Ah, hell, who am I kidding? Jeffries lets slip who the dead man is, and it’s not who I expected.

Noah’s Story

Oscar is always sticking his nose in where it doesn’t belong.

As slowly as Alison’s story unfolds, it’s quite the opposite with Noah’s version. My head was spinning throughout his entire account. The subject of bullying comes up when Noah and Helen (Maura Tierney) learn a friend of Whitney’s tried to take her life, which paves the way to an argument among the three of them. Not to be outdone, or should I say left out, are Helen’s snobby and pretentious parents, Bruce (John Doman) and Margaret (Kathleen Chalfant), who are more concerned about the almighty dollar than they are Whitney. It’s no wonder Helen turned out the way she is. At least Noah stands his ground but he would be wise to heed his words to Whitney about how to “un-asshole” herself. Their scene is a beautiful father/daughter moment that reminds me of the many conversations I had with my dear departed father. I wasn’t the perfect daughter either, although I was never a bully.

I knew I didn’t like Oscar before because of the way he treats Alison but now, it seems like he pops up during every inopportune moment, spilling facts so surreptitiously, only the quick-minded will pick them up. He is not to be trusted. I get why he might want to come between Alison and Cole but I don’t understand why he would want to break up the Solloways’ marriage.

Helen never takes Noah’s side where her parents are concerned. No wonder he resents them. Even if she agrees with her parents, she shouldn’t let them know. You discuss that in private with your husband. Although, it’s becoming apparent she has the same opinion of Noah as her parents do, and has little to no respect for him. It is easy to see why he is so unhappy in his marriage. The question Noah asks Alison doesn’t surprise me in the least.

Humorous Line

Mary-Kate: “How many wedding rings do you have?”

Athena: “I didn’t get the monogamy gene, darling. Not everyone does.”

Overall

Color me shocked! We’re only halfway through the season and we already know who the “victim” is. That leaves five more episodes to figure out who the killer is, if, in fact, there is a killer. Could creator/writer Sarah Treem be that sneaky that this whole thing will turn out to be an accident? Now that would be a twist for the ages!

What did you think of “105?” Do you have any thoughts on why the victim is who he is? Who do you think killed him and why? 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!