Noah and Helen try for amicable divorce proceedings, but complications indicate inescapable conflict. Surprising developments in Helen's life reveal unexpected emotions.
The first season of The Affair started so strong but lost its way during the middle and especially the end. The story of how an affair can rock two different marriages offered a comprehensible narrative interested in perspective and how various people experience and remember the same event. The structural device that frames each episode of this show is very compelling and unique. Each episode tells the story from two different perspectives. In the first season, that was limited to just Noah and Alison - the two people engaged in the title affair. This season expands that focus to their spouses, Helen and Cole, as well. This first episode back focuses on Noah and Helen as they handle their divorce. It offers the episode a structure and a purpose that was largely void through most of the run last season.However, it's important to note that the show's memory trickery is still very much on display in the narrative. There's very little that can be defined as the objective truth. That ambiguity is something the show is very much interested in exploring. Events can shape each person who is a part of them but everyone has a different reaction to it. How the characters deal with such events informs the narratives of the show as these two marriages drastically change. And yet, the show has often misled the audience with its own device. It was at its most manipulative in the season finale when Noah recalled a physical confrontation with Scotty while Alison remembered Cole pulling a gun on Noah and his family. That moment was so radically different that it was hard to take anything on this show seriously. It wasn't clear what the show was trying to do except build momentum in an exciting way. The season didn't have much pulling it forward. Noah and Alison broke up and got back together several times. Minor details still change during each scene that mirrors another from a different character's perspective. That's clear in the mediation scene in this premiere. There's no real reason why Noah sees the mediator as trying to diffuse the situation with humor while Helen sees him as a serious professional only doing this for the money. It happens solely so the audience can notice. And yet, the show is always at its best when goes for the subtle over the broad.
It is compelling that both Noah and Helen want a civilized divorce. Noah sees the proceedings as more hostile. Helen is shutting him out while her mother is making sure he can't take any of the furniture or assets until they've been appraised. Helen sees the proceedings with a bit more uncertainty. She definitely wants to get divorced but she hasn't done the research. The mediation scene also plays on the fact that the person who's perspective the scene is being told from wants to have joint custody. The person opposite them in that scene then brings up the fact that Noah can't get a four bedroom apartment in New York City anytime soon. That is a major concern that is addressed but the show relishes in the ambiguity over who actually thinks that.
Additionally, both Noah and Helen are actively exploring romantic relationships. Noah and Alison are together. It may be in a cabin upstate. But he is enjoying the serenity of that landscape much more so than the chaos that awaits him in the city. That peacefulness wants him to change the ending to his book though. He wants a more subtle ending about secrets than finishing with a sensationalized murder. That is a consequence of him continuing to find happiness with Alison despite the novel being a work of fiction. The future of the story hinges on him getting his next book advance. Meanwhile, Helen has started a romance with Noah's good friend, Max. The two were shown to be really close last season in their brief interaction. But now, it's been confirmed that the two of them have been like that since college. She really could have chosen either Noah or Max. She went with Noah and got four kids out of it. But now, she is attempting happiness with Max who fits in better amongst her mother's high society environment and approval. But is it what makes Helen the happiest right now? It's not abundantly clear. That ambiguity is so very interesting. Helen's relationship with Max is only capable of being explored because her perspective has been added this season. So, this first episode back proves that the framing device is still a valuable tool for the show.
And then, the narrative still includes glimpses at the future with Noah being arrested for Scotty's murder. The present day stuff still doesn't feel like it's anywhere close to catching up to that story. So there needs to be a purpose for why the audience is seeing this now. It's not very apparent other than the show wanting to add some excitement to the premiere. Noah's arrest was a convoluted twist to give some resolution to that story at the end of last season. And yet, it didn't make the story any more necessary. Plus, the flash-forwards play much more straight-forward than the rest of the show does. It feels like it is definitively one story. Noah's includes him talking to the detective about needing to take a plea deal while Helen's picks up directly after that as she barges in with an attorney. Again, it's a story that alludes to an exciting and plot-driven story for these characters. But is that completely necessary for the narrative to show right now?
Some more thoughts:
- "201" was written by Sarah Treem and directed by Jeffrey Reiner.
- It's comforting to know that no matter who's perspective it is Helen's mom is always very opinionated about a number of topics. This episode she is furious about Noah wanting to just come in and take things and Whitney wanting to use their recent brush with death as a way to get into college. She's just so over-the-top and melodramatic.
- The male figure is the first piece of nudity this season. That is a nice change of pace from the norm. This show is also not afraid to go full frontal either.
- Noah and Helen's older son is having stomach problems. It seems to be stress related based on his parents' divorce. But could there be something even bigger at play too? And is that even remotely interesting to anyone in the audience?
- It never felt like those young movers that Noah hired should be very trustworthy. And yet, nothing happens to his stuff either. So perhaps I was reading too much into things.
- When did Helen's sexual relationship with Max start? Was it after Noah broke their family apart or before? Either one could be very interesting for the future.
- I forgot how much I love this show's opening title sequence and song. It's just so great.
