The BEST episodes of The Affair

Every episode of The Affair ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Affair!

At once deeply observed and intriguingly elusive, The Affair explores the emotional effects of an extramarital relationship. Noah is a New York City schoolteacher and novelist who is happily married, but resents his dependence on his wealthy father-in-law. Alison is a young waitress trying to piece her life and marriage back together in the wake of a tragedy. Set in Montauk at the end of Long Island, the provocative drama unfolds separately from both the male and female perspectives, using the distinct memory biases of both to tell the story.

Last Updated: 3/11/2024Network: ShowtimeStatus: Ended
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Episode 11
star
8.14
423 votes

#1 - Episode 11

Season 5 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/3/2019

It’s Whitney’s wedding day and everything comes full circle.

Directors: Sarah Treem
Writer: Sarah Treem
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 12
star
7.98
1050 votes

#2 - Episode 12

Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/20/2015

Events set in motion long ago come to their conclusion. Alison is honest with Noah -- and herself. A dispute between Cole and Scotty is followed by tragedy. Meanwhile, a turn in Noah's trial results in a shocking event.

Directors: Jeffrey Reiner
Writer: Sarah Treem
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 8
star
7.98
608 votes

#3 - Episode 8

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 8/5/2018

A hopeful epiphany leads Cole on a journey to a horrific discovery. Noah questions his role in tragic events.

Directors: Michael Engler
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 10
star
7.98
550 votes

#4 - Episode 10

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 8/19/2018

Noah and Anton visit Yale where Noah encounters an old friend. An immensely difficult day forces Cole and Luisa to reexamine their relationship. Helen gets a new perspective on life.

Directors: Rodrigo García
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Episode 9
star
7.96
584 votes

#5 - Episode 9

Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/12/2018

Ben finally confesses the truth to Alison. But is it too late for their relationship?

Directors: Sam Gold
Writer: Sarah Treem
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Episode 5
star
7.82
586 votes

#6 - Episode 5

Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 7/15/2018

Vik decides it’s time he started living for himself. Cole meets Nan, an old friend of his father, who sends him on a journey to exorcise the ghosts of his past.

Directors: Jessica Yu
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Episode 9
star
7.75
379 votes

#7 - Episode 9

Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 10/20/2019

As controversy swirls around Noah, Helen and Whitney must decide where their allegiances lie.

Directors: Allison Anders
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Episode 9
star
7.74
1042 votes

#8 - Episode 9

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/14/2014

A revelation about their daughter Whitney makes Noah and Helen realize their troubled marriage is directly affecting their children. Bending under remorse, Alison spirals towards a reckoning.

Directors: Jeffrey Reiner
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 10
star
7.72
1039 votes

#9 - Episode 10

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/21/2014

The disappearance of Whitney spurs Helen to scrutinize Noah and his relationship with Alison and her family. Cole searches for answers at Lockhart Ranch. Meanwhile, Detective Jeffries makes significant progress on his case.

Directors: Jeffrey Reiner
Writer: Sarah Treem
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Episode 10
star
7.69
387 votes

#10 - Episode 10

Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 10/27/2019

As wildfires threaten Los Angeles, Helen and Noah are forced to run for their lives and confront old wounds along the way.

Directors: Toa Fraser
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Episode 11
star
7.66
986 votes

#11 - Episode 11

Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/13/2015

Cole and Luisa take a serious step forward. Meanwhile, a series of revelations cause Noah to reconsider everything he thought he knew about Alison - and a momentous decision Alison makes may just end their relationship.

Directors: Michael Slovis
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Episode 9
star
7.62
1014 votes

#12 - Episode 9

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/29/2015

Alison weathers a momentous journey alone. Helen receives unexpected attention from a sexy yet exasperating source. Noah faces a terrible reckoning. An array of challenges pushes Cole to the very edge.

Directors: Jeffrey Reiner
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Episode 8
star
7.61
376 votes

#13 - Episode 8

Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/13/2019

Allegations against Noah surface and he seeks guidance on how to handle the situation. Helen celebrates a birthday and protects Sierra during an extremely trying time.

Directors: Colin Bucksey
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 1
star
7.59
1158 votes

#14 - Episode 1

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/4/2015

Noah and Helen attempt to conduct amicable divorce proceedings. Surprising developments in Helen's life lead to unexpected emotions.

Directors: Jeffrey Reiner
Writer: Sarah Treem
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 7
star
7.59
1029 votes

#15 - Episode 7

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/15/2015

Alison's mother raises concerns about her and Noah's new lifestyle. Alison confronts Noah about his book. Cole lashes out at Luisa and is further alienated from his family in the wake of startling revelations.

Writer: Abe Sylvia
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Episode 6
star
7.57
978 votes

#16 - Episode 6

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/8/2015

A medical emergency casts Helen and Noah's litigation process in a new light, causing Helen to make a long overdue decision. The dynamic of Noah and Alison's relationship shifts as troublesome discoveries are made.

Directors: Jeffrey Reiner
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Episode 7
star
7.55
1089 votes

#17 - Episode 7

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/23/2014

With summer coming to an end, the Solloways are returning to Brooklyn - a welcome relief for Noah following recent revelations. Meanwhile, Cole is forced to confront Alison when the Lockhart side business hits too close to home. And Helen and Noah grapple with the results of an unexpected emergency.

Directors: Ryan Fleck
Writer: Kate Robin
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 10
star
7.55
977 votes

#18 - Episode 10

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/6/2015

Noah grapples with essential questions. Alison begins to doubt a recent ambition, and renewed interactions with the Lockhart brothers force her to consider a harrowing possibility.

Directors: Scott Winant
Writer: Anya Epstein
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 9
star
7.52
1169 votes

#19 - Episode 9

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/22/2017

Helen's escape to Montauk exacerbates her guilt and hastens an identity crisis: should the truth finally come out? Noah's world collapses, leaving him to process something horrific.

Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 4
star
7.51
1313 votes

#20 - Episode 4

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 12/11/2016

Cole is put in an increasingly impossible situation by Alison's return to his life. Alison must contend with Luisa while attempting to reconnect with her daughter. Simultaneously, a dangerous passion threatens to wreck everything.

Directors: John Dahl
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 6
star
7.51
585 votes

#21 - Episode 6

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 7/22/2018

Noah supports Anton in a decision about his future which puts Janelle in a complicated spot with her ex-husband. Alison makes a surprising discovery about her father, and another about Ben that eventually leads her back to Noah.

Directors: Stacie Passon
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 5
star
7.49
1275 votes

#22 - Episode 5

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 12/18/2016

Alison is motivated to spend a memorable day with Noah on Block Island for an unusual reason. Noah is left wistful by their profound connection, until the problems from which he was escaping return with a shocking force.

Directors: Jeffrey Reiner
Writer: Sharr White
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 8
star
7.49
987 votes

#23 - Episode 8

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/22/2015

On the college campus where they first met, Helen is amazed to see Noah in a new role, and bewildered by Whitney's future plans. Meanwhile, Noah is in danger of spinning out of control as his fame and related temptations escalate.

Directors: Laura Innes
Writer: Sharr White
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Episode 2
star
7.47
1295 votes

#24 - Episode 2

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/27/2016

One year earlier: after a stern request from Noah leaves Helen devastated, various pressures cause Helen and Vik to reexamine their relationship. Alison returns to Montauk after a crisis only to have her worst fears realized.

Directors: John Dahl
Writer: Anya Epstein
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 6
star
7.47
1105 votes

#25 - Episode 6

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/16/2014

After Noah spends a night out with his best friend Max, he discovers there's more to Alison than he's been led to believe. At home, his wife Helen hopes to make the most of the family's time in Montauk. Meanwhile, Alison and her husband Cole work to keep the Lockharts from danger.

Directors: Carl Franklin
Writer: Dan LeFranc
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV