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Season 5 – The Affair

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2:20

Aug 2019

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

15 Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

"The Affair" explores the emotional/psychological effects of two affairs. Young diner waitress Alison and her husband, rancher Cole, are struggling -- personally and financially -- in the wake of tragedy. Noah, a settled teacher and would-be novelist, is summering at his in-laws' Hamptons estate with his wife, Helen, and four kids. When Noah meets Alison, they begin an affair. For her, he's a welcome escape; for him, she's a pretty distraction. But, the tryst eventually ends two marriages -- one that was already a bit shaky, the other that was on solid ground.

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Critics Consensus

As addicting and outlandish as ever, season five proves the perfect farewell for The Affair.

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Matthew Gilbert

Boston Globe

Nov 6, 2019

No TV series has dropped the viewer in the middle of narrative discord quite so effectively, as each hour split its perspective among different characters.

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Susannah Butter

London Evening Standard

Aug 28, 2019

The original spark that came from Noah and Alison has fizzled out but there are still plenty of knotty relationships, zinging lines and even a larky cameo from Danish actor Claes Bang... This affair seems far from over.

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Hank Stuever

Washington Post

Aug 23, 2019

I'd probably follow these characters (even Whitney) for an indefinite number of seasons - partly because of the sucker that I am, but also because "The Affair" can never be completely considered down for the count.

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Dana Sloane

Mediaversity Reviews

Nov 26, 2019

B-

The overwhelming majority of The Affair's episodes are directed by men, making it difficult to push beyond the male gaze.

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Tim Appelo

AARP Movies for Grownups

Sep 6, 2019

The soapy plot is getting ridiculously bubblier - but some of us remain determined to find out what crazy thing happens next, dramatized by some of the best actors on TV.

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Ariana Romero

Refinery29

Sep 3, 2019

There is nothing more The Affair than these two getting together (and then inevitably falling apart in an epic catastrophe).

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J D

@RT74952676 Mar 21, 2026

Series 5 was abysmal, what a let down, this programme should have been 3, possibly 4 series at best

Sue S

@RT25487918 Mar 18, 2026

Really looked forward to this as I watched the original and loved it. This is a good drama with interesting storylines but spoiled by the long dragged out copulating scenes. Yes it’s about an affair but as is now the norm for dramas every intercourse has to be scrutinised. Also the awful weird and dismal music is dreadful. There were so many complaints about it that you would have thought they would have changed it, no one would mind

Elvis P

@RT45019792 Feb 13, 2025

The worst part of this show is the H oe that sings the intro music to each episode. It’s truly awful. I’m struggling to finish this final season … it’s boring me to death

KOOKLA C

@Kookla49 Oct 20, 2024

This is a drama series that will hook you in from the first episode and you will binge watch al of it .. great acting!

Dawn T

@RT52516301 Aug 4, 2024

Superb!! With All Excellent Actors. Heartfelt Story Lines, And Truth. The ending Was The Best, by far. Really had You into each Character, especially Noah, Helen, Cole. Alison, and Scotty, And I Really enjoyed Cole's Mother. Joannie's Character was suspect at first, when She was Grown, But pulled Her Character off exceptionally well in the End. And Helen's parents were unbelievable. Also, So Was Whitney! Very intriguing Story lines all the way through.

Sep 15, 2021

I thought this was a nice ending to the show. The beginning starts off a little silly but the last two to three episodes are just gold, and get back to the heart of the show – what it means to be a flawed being who loves another flawed being in a flawed world. There is a not black-and-white "#MeToo" subplot that lends itself very well to the Rashomon style of the show – that there are conflicting truths. The climate crisis and LA fires are a constant backdrop and the most realistic depiction I've seen of this new reality for many Californians. In all, it's bleak, it's realistic, it's hopeful, it feels real.

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Silas Howard

Director

Jeffrey Reiner

Director

Colin Bucksey

Director

Steven Fierberg

Director

Toa Fraser

Director

Allison Anders

Director

Episode 1

Aired Aug 25, 2019

501

Noah gets acquainted with his star, Sasha Mann; Helen mourns a tragic event; Sierra welcomes a new arrival; Joanie struggles with an upcoming birthday.

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Episode 2

Aired Sep 1, 2019

502

Janelle turns to Carl for support; production for the movie commences; Sasha takes an interest in Helen.

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Episode 3

Aired Sep 8, 2019

503

Sasha proposes adjustments to Noah's script; Sasha's relationship with Helen blossoms; Bruce's condition worsens; Joanie's business trip leads to violent encounters.

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Episode 4

Aired Sep 15, 2019

504

Noah attempts to sabotage Helen and Sasha's relationship; Whitney and Colin face the hardships of their relationship; Joanie visits the graveyard.

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Episode 5

Aired Sep 22, 2019

505

Sierra struggles to balance motherhood with her burgeoning acting career; Sierra's mother visits uninvited; Helen works her first design gig and begins to focus on herself.

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Episode 6

Aired Sep 29, 2019

506

Joanie and EJ begin to explore her family history in Montauk, N.Y. to try to discover the cause of her mother's death.

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Episode 7

Aired Oct 6, 2019

507

Noah and Whitney travel to Montauk, N.Y. to begin planning the wedding; Noah gets a concerning call; armed with new information about her mother's death, Joanie confronts a stranger.

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Episode 8

Aired Oct 13, 2019

508

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.

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Episode 9

Aired Oct 20, 2019

509

Controversy swirls around Noah; Helen and Whitney must decide where their allegiances lie.

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Episode 10

Aired Oct 27, 2019

510

Helen and Noah confront old wounds as they are forced to evacuate the city as wildfires threaten Los Angeles.

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Episode 11

Aired Nov 2, 2019

511

Everything comes full circle on the day of Whitney's wedding.

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Episode 12

Aired Nov 3, 2019

Although Noah, Alison, Helen and Cole are on separate journeys with the promise of new relationships and a fresh start, they question what they're holding onto when they find themselves crashing back into each other.

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The Affair: Season 5 Featurette - The Cast & Crew Say Goodbye