The Affair Review: 402 (Season 4 Episode 2)

Where do we even start with Alison and Cole? On The Affair Season 4 Episode 2, “402,” they’re still in Montauk, still battling the same demons — namely, each other.

Especially where Cole is concerned, it’s getting old. At one time, he was arguably the most likable character of the main four. Now, he whines just as much as the rest of them, if not more.

Luisa is right — he has everything at his fingertips on this episode, and he sees himself as the victim of it all.

He has a gorgeous wife who puts up with him, his ex-wife who he’s still in love with at arms length, a daughter who seems to be thriving despite the trauma her parents put her through, and the fate of The Lobster Roll is presumably in his hands.

Whether Alison wants to keep it or not, her attitude towards franchising in both perspectives suggests she’s not going to fight his choice. It is interesting that Alison’s opinion is different in the different perspectives, but at this point, that is just something to keep in mind for later, when the puzzle pieces of the plot are clearer and need to be put together.

The amount of privilege Cole unabashedly exudes in front of his wife — an undocumented immigrant — is, quite frankly, shocking. It’s even more jarring than him grabbing the gun to go find the kid who drew on his face and roughing the kid up.

The latter examples are Cole nursing his wounded pride. But his conversations with Luisa? They are scary for a different reason. People in the U.S. are experiencing the same kind of fear and anxiety as Luisa is right now — and some also have well-meaning but privileged and oblivious spouses.

So, let’s just leave Cole on the beach with permanent marker on his face where he belongs while we discuss Luisa and the immigration storyline.

We have high hopes for this story. First of all, the pacing is done well. She’s not detained, white-passing, and sent to Switzerland in one episode. Nothing is wrapped up in an unrealistic bow.

The fear of getting deported that she talks about? That we can see in her face and behavior when the cop pulls her over? The helplessness she feels about not being able to work and just being a trophy wife? She lives with that fear every day.

If she’s deported, the life that she’s worked hard for will be turned upside down.

It used to seem like Luisa was a bit blinded by love or by Cole’s charm, and then dumb for putting up with his love for Alison. He was, at times, arrogant and unapologetic about it.

To her credit, Luisa was never oblivious. But it wasn’t always as clear to viewers that Luisa may have stayed in her marriage in large part because she almost literally has no other choice.

Luisa knows she’ll never be equivalent to Alison in Cole’s eyes. Perhaps at one point she thought who she was would be enough for him. But from the moment she said her vows, she was always just stuck.

Luisa Lockhart is the strongest woman on The Affair right now, and now that we’re sure, we’ll be watching her.

Alison is running a close second at this point in the season. There is foreshadowing of her disappearance, of course. Tony attempting to assault her in her office is jarring.

The attempt is quick and realistic, if you ignore the fact that Ben steps in as the hero. It’s definitely not a scene where you can blink and miss it. We’re meant to remember that Alison is attacked. We see Tony being led down the hallway in cuffs, his son screaming for him.

Ben is really likable. We want to get to know him as much as Alison does. She deserves an uncomplicated, good man. But if something seems too perfect on a TV show, it probably is.

After all, Cole has whiskers, and the episode starts with Anton in the car with Cole and Noah. As we said last week… an earthquake is coming.

What did you think of this episode of The Affair? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

The Affair airs Sundays at 9/8c on Showtime.

Follow us on Twitter @telltaleTV_

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!