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The Best Episodes of The Affair

Every episode of The Affair ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Affair!

Binge this in 2d 3h•Peaking at 9.2/10

The emotional effects of an extramarital relationship between Noah, a New York City schoolteacher and budding novelist with a wife of twenty years and four children and Alison, a young waitress and wife from Montauk

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Affair Season 4 Episode 8 - 408
    9.2/10(1091 votes)

    #1 - 408

    S4:E8

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

    Director:Michael Engler
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. The Affair Season 5 Episode 11 - 511
    9.1/10(1438 votes)

    #2 - 511

    S5:E11

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

    Director:Sarah Treem
    Writer:Sarah Treem

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  3. The Affair Season 4 Episode 9 - 409
    8.8/10(862 votes)

    #3 - 409

    S4:E9

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

    Director:Sam Gold
    Writer:Sarah Treem

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  4. The Affair Season 2 Episode 12 - 212
    8.7/10(933 votes)

    #4 - 212

    S2:E12

    Events set in motion long ago come to their conclusion.

    Director:Jeffrey Reiner
    Writer:Sarah Treem

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  5. The Affair Season 4 Episode 10 - 410
    8.6/10(748 votes)

    #5 - 410

    S4:E10

    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.

    Director:Rodrigo García
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. The Affair Season 1 Episode 9 - 9
    8.5/10(1004 votes)

    #6 - 9

    S1:E9

    Noah and Helen face a revelation. Alison spirals towards a reckoning.

    Director:Jeffrey Reiner
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Affair

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  7. The Affair Season 4 Episode 5 - 405
    8.5/10(871 votes)

    #7 - 405

    S4:E5

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

    Director:Jessica Yu
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. The Affair Season 1 Episode 10 - 10
    8.4/10(1000 votes)

    #8 - 10

    S1:E10

    Detective Jeffries makes significant progress on his case.

    Director:Jeffrey Reiner
    Writer:Sarah Treem

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  9. The Affair Season 2 Episode 9 - 209
    8.4/10(800 votes)

    #9 - 209

    S2:E9

    Alison weathers a journey alone. Noah faces a terrible reckoning.

    Director:Jeffrey Reiner
    Writers:Alena Smith, David Henry Hwang

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  10. The Affair Season 5 Episode 10 - 510
    8.4/10(680 votes)

    #10 - 510

    S5:E10

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

    Director:Toa Fraser
    Writer:Katie Robbins

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  11. The Affair Season 2 Episode 7 - 207
    8.2/10(685 votes)

    #11 - 207

    S2:E7

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

    Directors:Ryan Fleck, Anna Boden
    Writer:Abe Sylvia

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  12. The Affair Season 5 Episode 9 - 509
    8.2/10(657 votes)

    #12 - 509

    S5:E9

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

    Director:Allison Anders
    Writer:Katie Robbins

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  13. The Affair Season 1 Episode 1 - 1
    8.1/10(1625 votes)

    #13 - 1

    S1:E1

    Noah escapes the city with his family to a Long Island estate. Alison and her husband struggle to move past a tragedy. Noah and Alison meet in a chance encounter.

    Director:Mark Mylod
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. The Affair Season 3 Episode 9 - 309
    8.1/10(661 votes)

    #14 - 309

    S3:E9

    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.

    Directors:Jeffrey Reiner, John Dahl
    Writers:Sarah Treem, Sarah Sutherland

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  15. The Affair Season 1 Episode 7 - 7
    8.0/10(905 votes)

    #15 - 7

    S1:E7

    With the summer coming to an end, the Solloways are returning to Brooklyn.

    Director:Ryan Fleck
    Writer:Kate Robin

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  16. The Affair Season 2 Episode 4 - 204
    8.0/10(699 votes)

    #16 - 204

    S2:E4

    Helen makes an innocent mistake that leads to outrageous consequences. Meanwhile, a court order leads to a dire setback for Noah and Alison.

    Director:John Dahl
    Writer:Anya Epstein

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  17. The Affair Season 2 Episode 10 - 210
    8.0/10(704 votes)

    #17 - 210

    S2:E10

    Noah grapples with questions. Alison considers a harrowing possibility.

    Director:Scott Winant
    Writer:Anya Epstein

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  18. The Affair Season 2 Episode 11 - 211
    8.0/10(638 votes)

    #18 - 211

    S2:E11

    A series of revelations rattle Noah. Alison makes a momentous decision.

    Director:Michael Slovis
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. The Affair Season 4 Episode 6 - 406
    8.0/10(573 votes)

    #19 - 406

    S4:E6

    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.

    Director:Stacie Passon
    Writers:Sarah Sutherland, Lydia R. Diamond

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  20. The Affair Season 1 Episode 6 - 6
    7.9/10(918 votes)

    #20 - 6

    S1:E6

    Noah discovers there's more to Alison than he's been led to believe.

    Director:Carl Franklin
    Writer:Dan LeFranc

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  21. The Affair Season 2 Episode 1 - 201
    7.9/10(852 votes)

    #21 - 201

    S2:E1

    Noah and Helen attempting to conduct amicable divorce proceedings, but complications bring about inescapable conflict. Meanwhile, surprising developments in Helen's life lead to unexpected emotions.

    Director:Jeffrey Reiner
    Writer:Sarah Treem

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  22. The Affair Season 2 Episode 5 - 205
    7.9/10(683 votes)

    #22 - 205

    S2:E5

    Alison is thrown by a shift in behavior from her hosts, and furious with Noah after a chance discovery. Meanwhile, Cole rejects Scotty's plan to make money - but not before Scotty catches him in a situation best kept secret.

    Director:Laura Innes
    Writer:Sharr White

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  23. The Affair Season 2 Episode 6 - 206
    7.9/10(666 votes)

    #23 - 206

    S2:E6

    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.

    Director:Jeffrey Reiner
    Writer:David Henry Hwang

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  24. The Affair Season 2 Episode 8 - 208
    7.9/10(658 votes)

    #24 - 208

    S2:E8

    Helen is bewildered by Whitney's plans. Noah's fame escalates temptation.

    Director:Laura Innes
    Writer:Sharr White

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  25. The Affair Season 1 Episode 5 - 5
    7.8/10(945 votes)

    #25 - 5

    S1:E5

    Alison and Noah are forced to confront new obstacles at home.

    Director:Carl Franklin
    Writer:Kate Robin

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Best Episodes Summary

"408" is the best rated episode of "The Affair". It scored 9.2/10 based on 1091 votes. Directed by Michael Engler and written by Unknown, it aired on 8/5/2018. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "511".