10 Episodes
Short on time? Here's the essentials:
Season three of "The Affair" picks up three years after Noah Solloway, a writer, is released from prison, haunted by his past. His ex-wife, Helen Solloway, struggles with her own life and relationship with Vik, while Alison Bailey, Noah's former lover and mother of Joanie, attempts to regain custody of her daughter. The season explores the lingering trauma and complex relationships among these characters as they try to move forward.
Noah begins teaching at a university and is stabbed in his apartment, leading to a mystery about his attacker. He experiences severe hallucinations, believing his former prison guard, Gunther, is tormenting him. Meanwhile, Alison fights for shared custody of Joanie, creating tension with Cole Lockhart, Joanie's father, and his new wife, Luisa. A shocking twist reveals that Noah stabbed himself, not Gunther, due to his deteriorating mental state. Helen also confesses to killing Scotty Lockhart, a secret she has carried.
The season concludes with Noah traveling to Paris, where he helps his daughter Whitney Solloway escape an abusive relationship. He and Whitney return to the US, hinting at a potential reconciliation and a new chapter for them.
Season 3 of The Affair covers episodes 1-10. Here's everything that happened:
Season 3, Episode 1: Episode 1 - Noah is out of prison after serving three years and is haunted by his time there. He attends his father's funeral and sees a shadowy figure. Noah starts teaching at a university and meets Juliette. He is attacked in his apartment. The episode concludes with Noah being stabbed in the neck.
Season 3, Episode 2: Episode 2 - The episode revisits Helen a year prior, showing her relationship with Vik and visiting Noah in prison, where he demands to see his kids. Alison returns to Montauk after a crisis and seeks to see Joanie, but Luisa refuses. Cole later brings Joanie to Alison, against Luisa's wishes.
Season 3, Episode 3: Episode 3 - The episode opens with Juliette's perspective as she deals with students and her research. Noah, recovering from a stabbing, has flashbacks of prison abuse by Gunther. He's taken to Juliette's, where they almost become intimate, but he pulls away. Juliette later has sex with Mike. The episode concludes with Juliette covered in Noah's blood after he is taken away in an ambulance and calling her daughter. Noah doesn't remember who stabbed him.
Season 3, Episode 4: Episode 4 - Cole dreams of Alison as Joanie's birthday nears. Alison attends the party, causing tension with Luisa. Cole and Alison later argue about Noah's stabbing, but end up sleeping together. The episode concludes with Luisa granting Alison unsupervised visits with Joanie, while Alison spots Noah driving Juliette's car.
Season 3, Episode 5: Episode 5 - Alison and Noah spend a day together on Block Island, where Alison reveals she needs a divorce to gain custody of Joanie. Noah recounts his mother's assisted suicide, explaining his attraction to Alison. Back in his prison narrative, Gunther's obsession escalates. Alison visits Noah in jail, stating she wants a divorce. The episode concludes with Noah holding the divorce papers, undecided about signing.
Season 3, Episode 6: Episode 6 - Helen discovers Martin's been skipping school and confronts Noah's sister, Nina, who accuses Helen of not truly knowing Noah. Noah attempts to reconcile with Martin, revealing his mother's suicide and his own guilt. Helen sleeps with Max, but Noah's name is uttered during the encounter. Noah hallucinates a younger version of himself at the lake.
Season 3, Episode 7: Episode 7 - Helen finds a despondent Noah and brings him home, causing tension with Vic and Whitney. Noah's drug addiction worsens, leading to hallucinations and a violent encounter with Furkat. Vic leaves Helen. The episode culminates in a disturbing sexual encounter between Helen and Noah, where Noah becomes violent. The episode ends with Helen's realization that she doesn't truly know Noah.
Season 3, Episode 8: Episode 8 - Alison wins shared custody of Joanie after Luisa's surprising support. Alison advises a suicidal woman. Cole is arrested after evidence places him in New Jersey the night of Noah's stabbing. He confesses to Alison he visited her therapist, revealing he's still in love, but Cole chooses to stay with Luisa.
Season 3, Episode 9: Episode 9 - Helen visits her parents after Vik leaves, confessing to killing Scotty Lockhart and locking her parents in their panic room. Noah confronts Gunther, only to realize he imagined Gunther's torment. Noah returns to his apartment and remembers that he stabbed himself.
Season 3, Episode 10: Episode 10 - Noah visits Juliette in Paris, offering her support amidst Etienne's declining health. Noah encounters Whitney, who is in an abusive relationship with Furkat. Noah confronts Furkat and helps Whitney. Etienne passes away, leading to a strained moment between Juliette and her daughter. The episode concludes with Noah and Whitney returning to the US, hinting at reconciliation.
