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The Worst Episodes of The Affair

Every episode of The Affair ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of The Affair!

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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 Worst Episode
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    The Affair Season 5 Episode 4 - 504
    5.3/10(6 votes)

    #1 - 504

    S5:E4

    Noah, Margaret and Stacey bond over their mutual distaste for Sasha. Noah attempts to sabotage Helen and Sasha’s relationship. Whitney and Colin face the hardships of their relationship. Joanie visits the graveyard.

    Director:Toa Fraser
    Writer:Donal Lardner Ward

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  2. The Affair Season 3 Episode 6 - 306
    5.7/10(9 votes)

    #2 - 306

    S3:E6

    An unexplained absence sends Helen on a journey of increasingly troublesome discoveries. Compelled to return to a place he's spent his life trying to escape, Noah attempts to repair his relationship with Martin.

    Director:Agnieszka Holland
    Writer:Alena Smith

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  3. The Affair Season 4 Episode 7 - 407
    5.8/10(6 votes)

    #3 - 407

    S4:E7

    Helen goes to Joshua Tree in search of meaning. Noah and Anton begin an adventure with high hopes until an ominous phone call alters their course.

    Director:Colin Bucksey
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. The Affair Season 4 Episode 5 - 405
    6.0/10(6 votes)

    #4 - 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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  5. The Affair Season 2 Episode 5 - 205
    6.2/10(12 votes)

    #5 - 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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  6. The Affair Season 2 Episode 9 - 209
    6.6/10(11 votes)

    #6 - 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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  7. The Affair Season 3 Episode 10 - 310
    6.6/10(9 votes)

    #7 - 310

    S3:E10

    Noah's visit to Paris provides Juliette with a distraction from unpleasant realities at home. A chance encounter offers Noah the possibility of healing a relationship in desperate need of repair.

    Director:Jeffrey Reiner
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. The Affair Season 2 Episode 1 - 201
    6.8/10(13 votes)

    #8 - 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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  9. The Affair Season 3 Episode 8 - 308
    6.8/10(7 votes)

    #9 - 308

    S3:E8

    An unexpected cause to celebrate provokes a sobering realization in Alison. Soon after, a startling warning leaves her pondering the unthinkable. Cole's frustrations with Alison come to a head, revealing a radical truth.

    Director:John Dahl
    Writer:Stuart Zicherman

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  10. The Affair Season 1 Episode 2 - 2
    6.9/10(18 votes)

    #10 - 2

    S1:E2

    Noah and Alison are forced to consider an inevitability.

    Director:Jeffrey Reiner
    Writer:Sarah Treem

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  11. The Affair Season 1 Episode 8 - 8
    6.9/10(9 votes)

    #11 - 8

    S1:E8

    A chance encounter with Alison leads to an uncomfortable truth.

    Director:Ryan Fleck
    Writers:Melanie Marnich, Dan LeFranc

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  12. The Affair Season 1 Episode 1 - 1
    7.0/10(18 votes)

    #12 - 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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  13. The Affair Season 1 Episode 3 - 3
    7.1/10(8 votes)

    #13 - 3

    S1:E3

    Noah turns to Alison to help him research the local culture for his novel.

    Director:Jeffrey Reiner
    Writer:Eric Overmyer

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  14. The Affair Season 2 Episode 8 - 208
    7.1/10(9 votes)

    #14 - 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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  15. The Affair Season 2 Episode 2 - 202
    7.2/10(10 votes)

    #15 - 202

    S2:E2

    Alison's summer with Noah is interrupted by an unwelcome guest. Meanwhile, Cole's self-destructive lifestyle causes everyone to become concerned.

    Director:Jeffrey Reiner
    Writer:Sarah Treem

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  16. The Affair Season 3 Episode 7 - 307
    7.2/10(8 votes)

    #16 - 307

    S3:E7

    Helen gives Noah the help he needs - but at what cost? At his absolute weakest, Noah's world has never seemed more hostile or bewildering. A vital moment of release turns suddenly into something that can't be undone.

    Director:Jeffrey Reiner
    Writer:Anya Epstein

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  17. The Affair Season 2 Episode 6 - 206
    7.3/10(10 votes)

    #17 - 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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  18. The Affair Season 3 Episode 3 - 303
    7.3/10(7 votes)

    #18 - 303

    S3:E3

    Running from secrets she left behind in Paris, Juliette finds Noah an alluring prospect. But a terrifying event shatters all hope of an easy affair. Meanwhile, Noah must fight like never before to make sense of what just occurred.

    Director:Jeffrey Reiner
    Writer:David Henry Hwang

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  19. The Affair Season 3 Episode 4 - 304
    7.3/10(7 votes)

    #19 - 304

    S3:E4

    Cole is put in an increasingly impossible situation by Alison's return to his life. Alison must contend with Luisa while attempting to reconnect with her daughter. Simultaneously, a dangerous passion threatens to wreck everything.

    Director:John Dahl
    Writer:Stuart Zicherman

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  20. The Affair Season 4 Episode 10 - 410
    7.3/10(6 votes)

    #20 - 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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  21. The Affair Season 1 Episode 6 - 6
    7.4/10(9 votes)

    #21 - 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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  22. The Affair Season 2 Episode 3 - 203
    7.4/10(8 votes)

    #22 - 203

    S2:E3

    Noah's undying love for Alison leads to serious consequences. Meanwhile, Alison discovers a surprising truth about how to sustain a marriage.

    Directors:Ryan Fleck, Anna Boden
    Writer:Alena Smith

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  23. The Affair Season 3 Episode 2 - 302
    7.4/10(7 votes)

    #23 - 302

    S3:E2

    One year earlier: after a stern request from Noah leaves Helen devastated, various pressures cause Helen and Vik to reexamine their relationship. Alison returns to Montauk after a crisis only to have her worst fears realized.

    Director:John Dahl
    Writer:Anya Epstein

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  24. The Affair Season 2 Episode 10 - 210
    7.5/10(11 votes)

    #24 - 210

    S2:E10

    Noah grapples with questions. Alison considers a harrowing possibility.

    Director:Scott Winant
    Writer:Anya Epstein

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  25. The Affair Season 5 Episode 2 - 502
    7.5/10(4 votes)

    #25 - 502

    S5:E2

    Janelle struggles with her relationship and work, so turns to Carl for support. Production for Descent commences, and Sasha takes an interest in Helen. Helen takes her first steps towards acceptance.

    Director:Colin Bucksey
    Writers:Katie Robbins, Jaquén Castellanos

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Worst Episodes Summary

"504" is the worst rated episode of "The Affair". It scored 5.3/10 based on 6 votes. Directed by Toa Fraser and written by Donal Lardner Ward, it aired on 9/15/2019. This episode scored 0.4 points lower than the second lowest rated, "306".