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<i>The Affair</i> – “107” Review. Confessions Can Be Cathartic.

  • By

  • November 23, 2014

  • 10 mins to read

Season 1, Episode 7

Airdate: Sunday, November 23, 2014 at 10:00 pm ET/PT on Showtime

Rating: ★★★★★

 

“Helen…I’m so sorry. I’m so stupid…and it was nothing. I wanted just to pretend it never happened because it meant nothing but I can’t … I can’t keep it from you. I had a fling this summer.” – Noah Solloway

Captivating. Heartbreaking. Surprising. These are the words that best describe “107,” the latest installment of Showtime’s hit new series, The Affair. In last week’s episode, Detective Jeffries (Victor Williams) disclosed the victim in our murder tale was Scotty Lockhart (Colin Donnell). I love how he just slipped that into the conversation, as if it weren’t a big reveal. Now, as summer’s end approaches, and the Solloways leave for home, Noah (Dominic West) and Alison (Ruth Wilson) confess their sins to their respective spouses, although for different reasons. And while episodic writer Kate Robin may be leading us to believe illicit narcotics play a role in Scotty’s (Colin Donnell) death, I have a theory of my own that has nothing to do with drugs.

Noah’s Stor

I’m not sure therapy will help Whitney.

Noah and Helen’s (Maura Tierney) two kids, Whitney (Julia Goldani Telles) and Martin (Jake Richard Siciliano), couldn’t be more different if they tried. Instead of owning up to her actions, Whitney can’t seem to accept her role in the bullying incident in episode “105.” But Martin wants to “accept responsibility”—as Helen puts it—for what happened with the Lockharts’ new mare in episode “106.” Whitney doesn’t realize how close to the truth she is when she tells her therapist (Marin Hinkle) her father “is miserable,” although it’s not for the reason Whitney thinks. I’ll say one thing, though; there’s no way I would ever allow my daughter to talk to me the way Whitney speaks to Helen. Whitney may be dealing with typical teenage angst but in my mind, she’s nothing more than a brat.

But Whitney isn’t the only one acting like a brat in “107.” Her grandfather, Bruce Butler (John Doman), throws a temper tantrum with his wife Margaret (Kathleen Chalfant) over a magazine article. While laughable at best, Helen says something to Noah about it that hits home later in the episode. “That’s what happens when you don’t apologize for 50 years.”

Oscar reveals his true nature in this conversation with Noah.

I’m surprised Helen doesn’t question the speed with which Noah makes the decision to return home immediately. They seem happy to return to Brooklyn, though, where such things as Trevor (Jadon Sand) clearing his own plate from the dinner table is the norm. Can you believe the difference between the Butler home and the Solloway home? That’s not the only difference, though, as Helen acts like the loving wife I thought she was when The Affair first started. Everything appears to be copasetic until Noah starts thinking about Oscar (Darren Goldstein) and his demands. Oscar is a real dick jerk, let me tell you. Now Max (guest star Josh Stamberg), he’s a different kind of guy. He’s a man’s man who comes through for Noah, offering some great advice in the process. ”Don’t get all sensitive and tell Helen…” Too bad Noah doesn’t take that advice. Guilty conscience, much? Of course, the various texts Noah gets from Oscar don’t help, especially when Noah lands in the hospital with a possible heart attack.

The scene in the Solloways’ bedroom is heartbreaking. While I do not condone extramarital affairs, hearing Noah explain why he cheated on Helen is just plain sad and seems to tug on Helen’s heartstrings. Believe it or not, it makes me understand why some women stand by their man. Not that I ever would…

Alison’s Story

As Alison’s tale begins to unfold, Detective Jeffries (Victor Williams) travels the road to The End, and stops to take a picture of the accident scene. It’s obvious he thinks Noah is the murderer by the question he asks the hotel clerk (Annie Funke). I agree. Even though we are being led to believe the Lockharts’ connection with drug dealers plays a role in Scotty’s death, we should remember it’s never the obvious person.

Remember back in “102” when Noah catches Whitney taking Scotty upstairs to her room? Now, in “107,” Mary-Kate (Kaija Matiss) mentions seeing Scotty in town with “some little brunette.” Ding ding ding! Red flag, people! I think in the coming episodes, Noah will find out Whitney has been having an illicit affair of her own with Scotty, causing Noah to freak out. In my little scenario, it’s possible it’s a very dark night when Noah runs over Scotty by accident following an extremely emotional confrontation. I don’t know, but I’m willing to bet it’s more than possible Noah is the killer. I can’t wait to find out if I’m right!

I don’t think Alison can believe what Cherry does.

I love the way Mare Winningham is utilized in this episode. The story her character, Cherry, relates to Alison about Cole as a baby is a clever way for Cherry to warn Alison about hurting Cole. Too bad Alison will never know what is in the note Noah pins to her bicycle earlier in “107.” Damn, I want to know too! While Winningham hasn’t been given a lot to do this season, she makes the best out of the scenes she has. She easily conveys her role as matriarch of the Lockhart family without even speaking. In this scene in particular, Cherry goes from loving mother to protector with a single look, although she doesn’t mince words when it’s time to get her point across.

With the Lockharts’ finances suffering, Cole and Scotty visit Oscar to mend fences. But what starts out as a friendly gesture among neighbors turns into a brutal fight with Oscar taking one hell of a beating from the Lockhart brothers. This normally would lead the audience to believe Oscar kills Scotty, but I’m going to stand by my wild hair theory about Noah being the guilty party.

So far, we don’t really know much about Alison’s waitress friend Jane (Nicolette Robinson). In “107,” Jane plays a pivotal role when we find out she lives in Brooklyn. The minute I heard that I knew Alison would visit her there although I didn’t anticipate the outcome. Jane is quite the little troublemaker!

It’s hard to get through this scene without shedding a tear or two.

While Noah chooses to confess his affair to Helen, Alison is forced to tell Cole when he insists on knowing who her lover is. Although he says it has something to do with their drug stash being stolen, I think it’s more about morbid curiosity. It is so sad when Cole asks, “Is it something I did?” Jackson absolutely shines in this scene. I think I lost a piece of my heart when Cole breaks down in tears, telling Alison a tale about he how dealt with the pain of their son Gabriel’s passing. The way “107” ends is a surprise, to say the least. Do you think what Cole asks Alison is the right way to go?

Humorous Line

Helen: “Maybe your age is catching up to your legendary hard-on.”

No man wants to hear that, Helen!

Overall

“107” is an extremely emotional and compelling episode that focuses more on Noah and Alison’s affair than furthering the who-killed-Scotty story line. It’s about making apologies for unacceptable behavior, accepting responsibility for your actions, and how spouses deal with those apologies. It also contains some of the best acting I’ve seen from all the major players, and provides some interesting insight into the total tale. This is great storytelling at its best.

What did you think of “107?” 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.

 

All photos © 2014 Showtime Networks, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

 

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!

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!