The Affair Review: 410 (Season 4 Episode 10)
As Helen heads to the hospital roof and stares out at the sunset over Los Angeles on The Affair Season 4 Episode 10, “410,” Death Cab for Cutie’s “What Sarah Said” is playing over the scene.
“So who’s gonna watch you die?” Ben Gibbard asks, over a black screen before the credits roll.
It’s actually a very peaceful and fitting ending to the season for Helen.
Her earthquake has come. Not only is Vic dying, but Sierra is pregnant with his child. But, Helen loves him enough to watch him die…though it’s worth noting he’s not dead yet.
The lyrics become more interesting when considering their prevalence to the other stories in the hour. With Alison, for example, consider the possible answers to that question.
Who’s gonna watch you die, Alison?
The show is unsuccessfully trying to lead viewers to believe that no one watched her die. Or, maybe we’re supposed to know that and wait for everyone else to figure it out. The first perspective in Season 4 Episode 9 is supposed to imply suicide.
I confess I missed that completely. Alison does mention feeling overwhelmed and unworthy of forgiveness and not wanting to go on sometimes.
But, she’s lost a child. Moments like that are expected.
Her actions throughout the season and immediately after that confession don’t support suicide — depression, maybe. But, she’s made so much progress; with work, with Joanie…there is no way she killed herself.
So, Ben watched her die, then — but that might be impossible to prove.
Thank Athena for that. Cremating Alison’s body was the worst choice she could’ve made. Alison hated the ocean, so the idea of her ashes being there is cringeworthy.
More importantly, now there is nobody for anyone to examine to change the cause of her death.
As we watch Cole wrestle with the death of the love of his life, one can’t help but ask, “Who’s gonna watch you die now, Cole?”
Joshua Jackson has been delivering wonderful performances lately, perhaps none as good as this episode.
The scene with his mother Cherry (Mare Winningham) stands out.
At one point, he’s a grown man laying in his mother’s lap at a grave site, crying. The description seems awkward as text on a screen. But watching it? He fits there, right in her lap, her words a comforting blanket over his pain.
Jackson’s delivery is always perfectly measured. He doesn’t overdue Cole’s pain or his tears. He is human. He is too late to save the woman he loves. His marriage is too broken to save.
As a whole, Alison’s death does very little for the series, except when considering Cole’s story. She was his wife. His one. They’ve experienced the miracle of raising a child and the devastation that comes when you bury a child.
Their love survives an affair. Not on paper, of course, but Joanie is evidence enough.
Cole’s life will now be split into two distinct halves: “Before Alison” and “After Alison.”
It’s a relief not to have to tolerate Luisa as his wife anymore. At the beginning of the season, it was easier to empathize with her. But, there is no need anymore.
How ironic that Cole and Luisa’s marriage will survive on paper…but love? It’s hard to say if they were ever in love.
It will be interesting to see how Cole moves through his grief. It changes people, but TV shows often jump over the process, because it’s slow. Jackson is good enough to go on a full journey, and I hope The Affair allows him to in the future.
So much beauty can come from that story. The idea of watching Cole find himself through his grief, without having a woman to distract him is the most exciting possibility going into the fifth and final season.
If Alison has to die, at least The Affair is owning the intensity of Cole and Alison’s love.
“410” returns to the theme of white privilege in Noah’s perspective.
Anton is a great character, but I’m not sure he’s been weaved into the narrative of the show successfully. On Season 4 Episode 8, he’s the perfect buffer between Noah and Cole. But even Anton doesn’t understand why Noah spends so little time with his own children.
If Janelle and Noah were more serious, perhaps it would make more sense. But, it’s unclear whether Anton or Janelle are returning next season. So, while race issues are important to explore on TV, viewers are left wondering…what’s the point?
Everything seems to come so easily to Noah. Almost every woman he has any kind of relationship with once had a crush on him, and viewers know it.
He’s “Noah fucking Solloway” writer of novels that inspire people to follow in his footsteps. He’s getting his black female bosses out of sticky situations one charter school at a time.
But what did he learn? What growth has come from his relationship with Anton besides that he is the hero yet again?
Looking back, Season 4 leaves a lot to be desired. Trevor’s coming out journey stalls without starting, the point of Noah and Janelle’s sexual relationship is still questionable, and viewers will forever be waiting for Alison to take Helen’s advice and change her life.
If I’m back next year, it will be for Cole.
What did you think of this episode of The Affair? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The Affair airs Sundays at 9/8c on Showtime.
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Esme Mazzeo
Esme Mazzeo is a lifestyle and entertainment journalist from Long Island. When she's not writing for work, she's writing for fun, or searching for something to satisfy her sweet tooth. She thinks rainy days are the best kind of days. Certified night owl.