Happy Monday TV fans! After watching Showtime’s The Affair last night, I learned that it is possible for people to change and that sometimes we need to realize when it’s time to let go. That’s easier said than done, however; as we all have something we cling to from our past. Whether it is a memory, a feeling, or something material, sometimes it’s enough to allow us to keep the past alive without it impacting our present and future. But what happens when we can’t let something go? Please note spoilers are ahead if you have not gotten a chance to watch the latest episode yet. In last night’s episode, “402,” Cole meets with new potential business partners and decides on whether or not to franchise “The Lobster Roll.” Meanwhile, Alison is thriving at her new job at the Woodlawn Center and meets a heroic stranger who has the potential to spark a new romance in her life. My top 5 moments from The Affair season 4 episode 2 are:
5
Luisa gets pulled over.
Part one of the episode opens up with Cole and we learn that he is still with Luisa, but that she is undocumented and unable to obtain her green card. While living in a small town where everyone knows Cole has its advantages, Luisa runs into some unexpected trouble when she gets pulled over by a police officer when she is driving Cole home from the beach. Luisa starts shaking in the car and Cole holds her hand, as he tries comforting her and letting her know that everything will be alright. Luckily, the police officer gets another call that he needs to respond to and he lets Luisa off with a warning, but this scare is enough to bring her fears to the surface. I found myself holding my breath in this moment as well, but I don’t think this is the last time that we will see a potential problem for Luisa.
4
“We’re not in high school anymore.”
Cole and Luisa are meeting with potential business partners and Alison is late for the meeting. Alison is still Cole’s business partner, but he often feels like he is alone on this. Alison finally makes it to the meeting, but Cole is not happy with her. After the business partners leave, he asks Alison to “show up on time” and to “dry your hair.” Alison is surprised by Cole’s focus on appearances and asks him, “Since when do you care so much what city people think?” Times have changed, however; and Cole is right when he reminds her that they are not in high school anymore. It seems like Cole is desperate to go back to the past, however. He has a steady marriage to someone who truly loves him and the chance to make some real money, but Cole is still not happy. Even though he made the decision to be with Luisa, it seems like some part of him will always be with Alison. Will he ever be able to get over her? Is there any chance that they can still make things work after so much time and so much pain caused by both parties?
3
“You can’t shoot someone just because they drew on your face.”
After Cole wanders off alone on the beach at night, he comes across some of the surfers he ran into earlier and decides to sit down with them. Cole seems anxious to turn off his feelings anyway he can and zones out periodically, listening to the sound of the waves in the background. When Cole wakes up on the beach, the kids are gone and he discovers that they drew all over his face. Cole is furious, but Luisa makes light of the situation when she puts things into perspective. Later in the episode, Cole comes face to face with one of the kids who did this to him and threatens to call the police, but the kid gives him an unwanted dose of reality when he reminds him that his brother sold him the first drugs he ever did. It seems like Cole is unable to escape his past and reputation and is in desperate need of a fresh start. But is he ready for this step?
2
“It’s also something you and I built together.”
In part two, we see everything from Alison’s perspective and view the conversation between her and Cole differently. Alison seems ready to give up “The Lobster Roll” and reminds Cole that it was more of his brother’s dream than his. Cole confides in Alison and reminds her that it’s something they built together, revealing that he is still trying to hold on to something from the past. Alison seems ready to move on, but Cole is unable to break this hold she seems to have over him. While it appears that Alison is ultimately going to pursue someone else romantically, the feelings between Alison and Cole are still present underneath the surface, but nothing stays buried for long.
1
“What are you doing in 5 months, 2 weeks, and 2 days?”
In part two, we get a glimpse into Alison’s new life and I have to say I am so proud of her. Ever since I began watching the show, Alison reminded me of a wounded bird in desperate need of rescuing. The pain brewing inside her was so real and painful to watch and I couldn’t help but be sympathetic toward her. Alison relied heavily on actions of self-destruction, addicted to numbing the pain anyway she could, but times have really changed and it seems like completely immersing herself into her memories of Gabriel have been the key to getting her back on the right track. Alison does peer-to-peer counseling at the Woodlawn center and seems to really be making a difference with the people she is counseling. Alison is even strong enough to keep a photo of Gabriel right next to one of Joanie, which proves that she is finally dealing with the past in a healthy and acceptable way. Alison meets a dashing stranger named Ben who used to serve in the military and sparks are immediately detected between these two. When Alison is violently confronted by the husband of her patient, Ben comes to her rescue and saves her. This leads to a long conversation over a cup of coffee where Alison learns quite a bit about Ben and is intrigued by his commitment to staying sober and abstinent. It seems like they both have complicated pasts, but are ready to move on. Ben explains that he wants to meet someone where he doesn’t need to get wasted because he won’t want to miss any of it and Alison tells him she thinks that he is fascinating. After saying goodbye to Alison, he later calls her on Skype and asks her what she is doing in “5 months, 2 weeks, and 2 days,” recognizing that Alison is certainly worth the wait. It seems like Alison finally has the chance at a healthy relationship, but I can’t help wondering if the mystery surrounding her possible disappearance has to do with Ben? We will have to stay tuned to find out, but I am very excited to see this new romance unfold for Alison.
I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own theories and thoughts on The Affair below in the comments section. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!
Best,
Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl
@TV_Fanatic_Girl
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