This was an AMAZING and beautiful ending to this incredible TV-series! I'm crying so hard right now, everything makes sense and everything had to happen in order to end up here. I'm completely amazed as to how it ended. Well done and THANK YOU for The Affair.
51 Reviews
This is the way to end a beloved series!
scott-emily703 November 2019
All other series take note, this is how to end! I feel completely satisfied with the people I have grown to love like family! Thank you to the creators, writers, actors, musicians, cinematographers, editors, producers and all staff from the last 5 years, its been a pleasure. I laughed and I cried, two emotions that go so well together. I will miss these characters, I truly will.
Loved it
kerriherrick3 November 2019
This series finale truly surprised me, in that, I was 1,000% satisfied with the outcome. I cried multiple times. Everything did come full circle and felt complete. This is likely the only finale of any kind in which I wasn't completely disgusted with the outcome. I loved it.
Crying as I write a review
charlenegagliardi6 November 2019
Wow what a fantastic finale to end on.
Everything came together perfectly. It was so emotional and lovely to watch. Noah had me in tears throughout. Lots of unexpected things happened st the very end to. Well done!! Absoutely fantastic!!
good finale for a good show
benn-248495 November 2019
The show did have life and the finale was all about that, a thing called life.
and characters, It's nice to see a good show ends well. Good job.
A quality show about life on TV, with flawed and real characters and fantastic location, Montauk. Real enternaining drama. Cole and Allison weren't there but as helen and noah it was about them too.
Wonderful especially the finale episode
emmax-446587 November 2019
I can't believe this journey is over, what will I do without The Affair, I came across this series by accident one day and I was hooked. Without saying any spoilers and ruining the whole series the last episode has to be the best finale I've watched were I wasn't asking questions. I will never forget this show and the actors, you have made me laugh, cry and scream.
The end of a great Affair
BirdmanT710 March 2020
I must be the last person who watched the last season of ""The Affair" after it was aired in 2019. I just watched the last few episodes today and I am still so surprised and so moved with how this show ended that it really has been on my mind for hours that I had to come here to write this review. I remember the last time a show's ending had such an affect on me like this show was when I saw the last episode of "Six feet under" and I never thought any show could top that again, but I was wrong because "The Affair" final episode, the scene withNoah and Helen in the motel room and the scene with older Noah and Joanie was among the best writing I have seen even in any other tv show, it blew my mind.
The Affair was very different and kind of experimental as a show, the multiple perspective was one aspect but the writing and these characters like Noah, whom were full of flaws and contradictions was made this show so unique and the most adult tv show on Cable or tv period. I think the more we go forward, tv shows tend to get less with any depth but this show hit ball way out of the ball park and for those of you who came here and wrote these reviews about the ending, only made me happier that I am not in the minority for an adult male in his fifties who appreciates this kind of shows that are so rare and may take decades for something even close to it to be made again.
What moved me about the ending is how everything ended in a way at Montauk, this little suburb where Noah met Alison, yet Noah not only returned to but bought the very place where he met Alison. How Noah's daughter's wedding took place in the same city, how Eddie and Joanie met there, and how Noah and Helen finally find their way back together in that same city. I just wished that the ending could also include Cole whom I also cared a great deal about as a character, in season 4 when him and Noah joined to find Alison, it was among the best pairing of two characters that really what brought them together was the love of one woman. Cole died in Montauk and as Eddie said, he loved it more and more as people left and the place was returning to what it used to be. The seafood pregutory was actually the place where Joanie found the answer to the meaning of life from Noah, whom was also reading a book about Montauk at the end leaning against Helen's grave.
I think we all want to find where our Montauk, some find it like Noah and Cole and hold on to it and some of us never find it. I think we all had our own special affair with this show and we are all share the same sadness and happiness of what we learned from these characters and about maybe something more about life and how short it is.
The Affair was very different and kind of experimental as a show, the multiple perspective was one aspect but the writing and these characters like Noah, whom were full of flaws and contradictions was made this show so unique and the most adult tv show on Cable or tv period. I think the more we go forward, tv shows tend to get less with any depth but this show hit ball way out of the ball park and for those of you who came here and wrote these reviews about the ending, only made me happier that I am not in the minority for an adult male in his fifties who appreciates this kind of shows that are so rare and may take decades for something even close to it to be made again.
What moved me about the ending is how everything ended in a way at Montauk, this little suburb where Noah met Alison, yet Noah not only returned to but bought the very place where he met Alison. How Noah's daughter's wedding took place in the same city, how Eddie and Joanie met there, and how Noah and Helen finally find their way back together in that same city. I just wished that the ending could also include Cole whom I also cared a great deal about as a character, in season 4 when him and Noah joined to find Alison, it was among the best pairing of two characters that really what brought them together was the love of one woman. Cole died in Montauk and as Eddie said, he loved it more and more as people left and the place was returning to what it used to be. The seafood pregutory was actually the place where Joanie found the answer to the meaning of life from Noah, whom was also reading a book about Montauk at the end leaning against Helen's grave.
I think we all want to find where our Montauk, some find it like Noah and Cole and hold on to it and some of us never find it. I think we all had our own special affair with this show and we are all share the same sadness and happiness of what we learned from these characters and about maybe something more about life and how short it is.
The best Series Finale EVER!!!
dimitra-panagiotakis3 November 2019
Unbelievable
robgill-13-5122975 November 2019
That was kind of Perfect
Tv-Addict19914 November 2019
I absoluty loved the Series Finale of this unice Show !
Very Intimite as always, it was just perfect and reminded me in some ways of the Series Finale of Six Feed Under in a way !
Awesome
Goodbye to these Awesome Characters and this Beloved Show for me !
Very Intimite as always, it was just perfect and reminded me in some ways of the Series Finale of Six Feed Under in a way !
Awesome
Goodbye to these Awesome Characters and this Beloved Show for me !
Not too bad but there could have been more closure.
nietzsche_is_dead4 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I loved the show. The dialogue and acting was sublime. I'll sorely miss this show. A lot of people have had trouble with season 5 ended up but we have to take into account the fact that nobody really knows why Ruth Wilson had to leave. Whatever the reason was, the writers had to pick the show from there and when one takes that into consideration, I don't think they did bad at all.
Now when it comes to the finale, the way everything came full circle was nice to see. It started with Noah, really, and it ended with him. Having said that, I felt that many characters were not done justice in the finale who should have had more closure. We know Helen is dead but how did she die? What happened to Noah's kids? Are they estranged from him? We do see that Stacey becomes a writer herself as Noah is reading her book "Montauk" presumably based on her life growing up as a child and everything that happened with her parents but some further closure would have been nice. The other kids?
A little more closure about the characters would have been better.
But, like I said, it was in no way a bad finale. Quite the opposite.
Noah's mistakes caused his family, even through generations, a lot of pain. But the last conversation he has with Joanie, he breaks that cycle and stops the "pain to passover" any further as Joanie goes back to her family. He has, thus, redeemed himself.
Now when it comes to the finale, the way everything came full circle was nice to see. It started with Noah, really, and it ended with him. Having said that, I felt that many characters were not done justice in the finale who should have had more closure. We know Helen is dead but how did she die? What happened to Noah's kids? Are they estranged from him? We do see that Stacey becomes a writer herself as Noah is reading her book "Montauk" presumably based on her life growing up as a child and everything that happened with her parents but some further closure would have been nice. The other kids?
A little more closure about the characters would have been better.
But, like I said, it was in no way a bad finale. Quite the opposite.
Noah's mistakes caused his family, even through generations, a lot of pain. But the last conversation he has with Joanie, he breaks that cycle and stops the "pain to passover" any further as Joanie goes back to her family. He has, thus, redeemed himself.
Twee Saccharine Nonsense
rmildren6 November 2019
Great Series!
debbie-149364 November 2019
Incredible ending
robmane27 December 2019
Wow. What a way to end a series. The final episode was one of the series best. I honestly feel I'm walking away from this show with a different and better perspective on life, love, and the value of family. I don't impress easily, but wow.
Perfect.
jjulialrichardson18 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The most perfect ending to a T.V. show ever. Everything came full circle, the characters got a well rounded finality. Yes. Yes. Yes. I cried so many tears for so many reasons. Happiness in the ending and how perfect it was, sadness because the series was over. And growth. Because the one most disgusting horrible characters of the entire show for me grew so much through the story that realized they had to be awful to get the perfect ending and I cried for them. And I cried for my favorite character. I'm choking up writing this because it was so beautiful.
Perfect finale
sil-124 November 2019
Smart and bittersweet
mrwildkarrde6 November 2019
Executed with a level of respect for the hours the viewers of the Affair have gave to this intelligent and well rounded show.
For all characters numerous foibles (Noah has been a train wreck from the begining) you can't but help forgive and understand that all that came before led them to this. It demonstrates that love, life and living isn't perfect, it is at times near impossible. But this final episode shone a light on how forgiveness and compassion can sometimes be all you need to have a life of happiness.
Is this the greatest finale to a series? It is close. Executed with warmth and honest emotion, the writers, director and actors have gave their all and it shows. I can't think of another series that managed to wrap it all together in a bow and allow you to leave satisfied with the result.
For all characters numerous foibles (Noah has been a train wreck from the begining) you can't but help forgive and understand that all that came before led them to this. It demonstrates that love, life and living isn't perfect, it is at times near impossible. But this final episode shone a light on how forgiveness and compassion can sometimes be all you need to have a life of happiness.
Is this the greatest finale to a series? It is close. Executed with warmth and honest emotion, the writers, director and actors have gave their all and it shows. I can't think of another series that managed to wrap it all together in a bow and allow you to leave satisfied with the result.
they GOT it right!!!
rkd-adn5 November 2019
Excellent
jmefford-14 November 2019
After so many series endings that left one sad and with a sense of loss, this one left a warm smile and content that all has righted itself in this world we've looked in on for the past several years. Brilliant writing and performances. Bravo.
One of the best series finales in TV history
jimkost15 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I realize my title may seem like hyperbole, but after a second and third viewing, I am even more convinced of this feeling.
"The Affair" has both fascinated and repelled me during its 5 season run. Why "fascinated"? The intensity of feeling drew me in as well as the emotional spectrum from all characters. Multi-faceted and complicated. Plot twists that were unpredictable yet logical. Why "repelled"? This same intensity morphed into whininess, self-absorption and petulance and the plot twists became less credible and the overall feeling and message became nihilistic.
And parts of this season really lost me, especially the "Me Too" arc, which seemed heavy-handed and pandering. Not to mention the way Janelle was treated.
But all that changed in these last two episodes.
The reconnecting and reconciliation of Noah and Helen was so beautifully done, adult and intelligent. Tying their lives onscreen and (implied) off back together in a believable and mature way. Poignant and true.
Many may complain about plot and character loose ends (namely Ben meeting any responsibility for his crimes) but I believe "Old Noah's" a observations covered that. Helen's life after reconciliation and the Solloway children aren't really germane o the overall message, IMO.
What was especially transformative was how-after her talk with Noah, Joanie's shrillness and stridency melted away and went to reconcile with her husband and become a more fully present and loving mother to her daughters.
Healing and love thru time and generations......
It has to be mentioned that the acting of all, but most especially that of Julia Goldani Telles and Maura Tierney and Domenic West is of the highest, transcendent quality.
Domenic West's performance as "Old Noah" is one of the most moving I have ever seen. The writing and direction here, as thru this episode as well as the season and series is of the highest quality. In these final scenes most especially, it is a perfect symbiosis of acting, directing, writing and filmography.
The handling of the themes of intergenerational trauma, forgiveness, redemption love and commitment are among the most deep and compassionate I have seen on any celluloid medium. And this is my reason for my title!
It's not 100% perfect.... the irritating shoegazing music of the wedding singer is grating on the nerves. And I realize the writers wanted the Waterboys song to be the unifying thematic temporal tie-in, but I wished they could have used a better example!
But, otherwise, bravo!
"The Affair" has both fascinated and repelled me during its 5 season run. Why "fascinated"? The intensity of feeling drew me in as well as the emotional spectrum from all characters. Multi-faceted and complicated. Plot twists that were unpredictable yet logical. Why "repelled"? This same intensity morphed into whininess, self-absorption and petulance and the plot twists became less credible and the overall feeling and message became nihilistic.
And parts of this season really lost me, especially the "Me Too" arc, which seemed heavy-handed and pandering. Not to mention the way Janelle was treated.
But all that changed in these last two episodes.
The reconnecting and reconciliation of Noah and Helen was so beautifully done, adult and intelligent. Tying their lives onscreen and (implied) off back together in a believable and mature way. Poignant and true.
Many may complain about plot and character loose ends (namely Ben meeting any responsibility for his crimes) but I believe "Old Noah's" a observations covered that. Helen's life after reconciliation and the Solloway children aren't really germane o the overall message, IMO.
What was especially transformative was how-after her talk with Noah, Joanie's shrillness and stridency melted away and went to reconcile with her husband and become a more fully present and loving mother to her daughters.
Healing and love thru time and generations......
It has to be mentioned that the acting of all, but most especially that of Julia Goldani Telles and Maura Tierney and Domenic West is of the highest, transcendent quality.
Domenic West's performance as "Old Noah" is one of the most moving I have ever seen. The writing and direction here, as thru this episode as well as the season and series is of the highest quality. In these final scenes most especially, it is a perfect symbiosis of acting, directing, writing and filmography.
The handling of the themes of intergenerational trauma, forgiveness, redemption love and commitment are among the most deep and compassionate I have seen on any celluloid medium. And this is my reason for my title!
It's not 100% perfect.... the irritating shoegazing music of the wedding singer is grating on the nerves. And I realize the writers wanted the Waterboys song to be the unifying thematic temporal tie-in, but I wished they could have used a better example!
But, otherwise, bravo!
Great ending of a great series
pazmandy-szilvia4 November 2019
The final season of a TV series is a difficult problem, and most of the time the audience
Is left with nothing but the bitter feeling of the screenwriters and directors poor work. Not in this case! Superb screenplay, amazing acting and great directing! Watching this was like reading a very good book, it ended but lots of issues are here to think about: love, forgiveness, family, pain - and life. One of the best TV series ever.
Ok....
ckluci5 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
It seems most are happy with the series finale. I just thought it was ok. To be honest I never really cared about Joanie this whole season, and I certainly didn't care about her revelation. I thought adding Vic's son to it was just pushing things. The most developed and loveable character on this show was Helen, and to be honest I will miss her. I would have liked to have seen more for her. Noah is certainly no prize. All and all they managed to salvage the last season after losing two main characters, and other then everything Joanie was in, it was ok. Had Helen decided to blow it all up and set out on her own...I would have tuned in for that spin off.
Worst. Finale. Ever.
amandarjester8 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Helen deserved better. Noah didn't love her and for everyone saying how great it is that they got back together: you know he had to have cheated on her repeatedly before she died, right? He wasn't a good guy. He never was. He never tried to be. And that line about future generations was nonsense. If you're so horrible you can't figure out how to be a better person, it does not fall on your children to do that for you. If anything, you make it harder for them to figure it out too by not teaching them how to do it in the first place.
So Noah wins. Ben the murderer wins. Helen chooses a man who never loved her and will continue to treat her poorly. The children are traumatized but no one cares and we forgot that one of them even existed. Now the oldest daughter is in a loveless marriage of her own. Cole and Alison are dead. We have no idea what happened with the terrible #MeToo storyline so I guess even the writers didn't know what to do with that.
Oh, and that Whole of the Moon song is stupid.
So Noah wins. Ben the murderer wins. Helen chooses a man who never loved her and will continue to treat her poorly. The children are traumatized but no one cares and we forgot that one of them even existed. Now the oldest daughter is in a loveless marriage of her own. Cole and Alison are dead. We have no idea what happened with the terrible #MeToo storyline so I guess even the writers didn't know what to do with that.
Oh, and that Whole of the Moon song is stupid.
Good-bye Noah, Helen and everyone else. I will miss you all.
hdervic11 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
From the first moments of Season 1, Episode 1, I knew The Affair was to be a show like no other. It was smart. It dealt with happenstance and the subsequent emotional and physical fallout. The Affair was brilliantly written, acted, directed and produced. Fiona Apple's haunting lyrics and music in the song that opens each episode prepares the viewer for the turbulence ahead. I was hooked.
So I approached the Series Finale with both anticipation and dread. I needed to see how the Solloways and those connected to them would conclude their stories. I knew that the Series would not wrap up nicely, but I wanted to see if the show's producers would leave us the viewers with the satisfaction that an adequate catharsis would happen to these characters. Enough change to allow these people who we grew to love and hate, and love again change and grow. And that is exactly how the Solloways and everyone else left us.
I guess I knew in my heart there would be no antiseptic hermetically sealed formulaic conclusion. And that is why I dreaded the ending. Because I would have to leave these people, although they grew in character, to suffer through further uncertainty. But that's the beauty of this show; we look and Noah, Helen, the memory of Allison, Joanie in the future, Cole and even the perennial pain in the ass Whitney, and know that there are sure to be more bumps in the road. Episode 5.11 tells us all who know and love these characters that enough growth has occurred amongst them so that future challenges will be met with weathered perspective and experience. We know this as we watch the final scene: a flyaway of an aged Noah on a cliff humming The Waterboy's, The Whole of the Moon, and dancing to the choreographed flash-mob steps from Whitney's wedding. Queue lump in the throat!
So I approached the Series Finale with both anticipation and dread. I needed to see how the Solloways and those connected to them would conclude their stories. I knew that the Series would not wrap up nicely, but I wanted to see if the show's producers would leave us the viewers with the satisfaction that an adequate catharsis would happen to these characters. Enough change to allow these people who we grew to love and hate, and love again change and grow. And that is exactly how the Solloways and everyone else left us.
I guess I knew in my heart there would be no antiseptic hermetically sealed formulaic conclusion. And that is why I dreaded the ending. Because I would have to leave these people, although they grew in character, to suffer through further uncertainty. But that's the beauty of this show; we look and Noah, Helen, the memory of Allison, Joanie in the future, Cole and even the perennial pain in the ass Whitney, and know that there are sure to be more bumps in the road. Episode 5.11 tells us all who know and love these characters that enough growth has occurred amongst them so that future challenges will be met with weathered perspective and experience. We know this as we watch the final scene: a flyaway of an aged Noah on a cliff humming The Waterboy's, The Whole of the Moon, and dancing to the choreographed flash-mob steps from Whitney's wedding. Queue lump in the throat!
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