S04.E03 Episode 3 2018.07.01

[RedheadZombie]

3 hours ago, subina167 said:

 

I don't think Vik ever seriously thought about having a baby until he got the bad news. And I also don't think that the quickie in the kitchen was about love or lust. Vik is a mama's boy. He's now bent on leaving a part of him to Dragon Lady without any regard for Helen. I've seen this happen in real life.

Noah and Janelle and the teacher/savior bit? Oh please. Kill the storyline.

I agree.  It was about him, he even walked away from her right after when she tried to show some tenderness.   Why does TV always show women getting off with less than fifteen seconds of foreplay?   And they're often in uncomfortable environments - getting a hand job while standing up on the beach, pushed up against a tree, and both Helen and Luisa were just tossed up on the table.  Cole would have gotten the closed legs from me after releasing Luisa's updo, and going at it when she was dressed up and about to go to the fancy dinner.   All these characters take out their negative emotions through sex, and the sex has turned as unerotic as The Girlfriend Experience.  When the couples do nothing but argue and bitch at each other, there's nothing to root for especially if they aren't tender in their love scenes.  I remember tearing up a little when Alison and Cole made Joanie.  

And I agree that VIk's a mama's boy.   I think the actor is hot. but I've never liked the character.  I've never bought his relationship with Helen, or the fact that he was willing to take on and support Helen and her kids, and become super-dad.  He always looks pissed and resentful.  A man who's made it to his late 30's to 40's with no desire to move beyond hookups from a phone app, turns his life around because of Helen.  Helen!  And this after he knows she was the one who killed Scotty and happily let Noah take the rap and be vilified by his children.  Plus, he's always known that Helen has never gotten over Noah and maybe even suspects that Helen cheated with Noah.

[DiabLOL]

The neighbor's "trashcan issue" is so forced! They had Helen practically crawl into one and then yell dammit why is this always in the way. Ridiculous.

I think the writers we're making up Vikram as they went along in a very sloppy way.

[bilgistic]

In episode one, Vik specifically said to Helen, "We're down to two kids," which implied that he was fine with not having a biological child and was looking forward to the time he and Helen would have alone once the two younger children left home for college or other reasons.

Only his mother brought up the children issue (which surprised Helen) and then Vik did after/the same day as his diagnosis. It's completely unfair and manipulative to put his desire for another child on Helen. Were I her, I'd say no, and tell him that he got to make the decision about no treatment for his body; she gets to make the decision to not carry a child in hers (and then raise it alone after he dies).

My hotness equation: Cole > Vik > Noah

[Elizzikra]

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They didn't tell us what stage etc, 

Vic was described as having "end stage" pancreatic cancer.

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the fact that he was willing to take on and support Helen and her kids

I don't think Vic supports them financially - Helen has family money. I'm guessing her money bought the LA house, not Vic's. 

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happily let Noah take the rap

I don't know that Helen necessarily cried a river, but she did feel pretty extensive guilt. 

[Razzberry]

When Sierra kept going on and on about crystal cleansing, the look on Helen's face was priceless.   Vik not only listened but managed a joke.   That's when I feared the predictions of Sierra as surrogate were correct, although I can't see why on earth she would agree to it.

[sadie]

18 minutes ago, Razzberry said:

When Sierra kept going on and on about crystal cleansing, the look on Helen's face was priceless.   Vik not only listened but managed a joke.   That's when I feared the predictions of Sierra as surrogate were correct, although I can't see why on earth she would agree to it.

I only wish I had a cool neighbor in my new town that lived in a magnificent house and invited me to hang at Joshua Tree despite me being the least coolest person ever. Of course in Sourpuss Helen’s world the woman might as well asked her if she wanted to drive spikes up her vagina. Helen may just be winning most joyless character in tv history. 

[Gem 10]

19 hours ago, hoodooznoodooz said:

I liked, “Two f- - -ing children coming up.”

The funniest line, for a change.  Lmao.

[Gem 10]

12 hours ago, sadie said:

Just watching Helen gives me anxiety. She’s the most unhinged person on this show and it’s not pleasant to watch. I don’t mind watching stories where characters struggle but her actions just seem so unnatural. The way she talks to the therapist, I mean why bother going, she never answers his questions, never does what he is asking and it just seems like a waste of time and money. Tell me again why this young handsome successful doctor loves her?

And Noah. Ugh. Sure Noah encourage the kids to all go protest and then when it turns into a riot take no responsibility. 

I hate all these characters and I loved season 1 of this show so much that I feel compelled to stick it out but I’m questioning even that at this point. 

I feel the same way.  After last night, I said I’m not watching this show anymore.  It’s dark, dreary, and Helen.  Who wants to see school scenes.  I’ve had enough of schools.  Go back to the Hamptons, the Lobster roll, and all the shenanigans that were.  I’m on here to see what everyone is saying.   Are they running out of story lines?  This used to be a good show.

Edited July 3, 2018 by Gem 10

[preeya]

Based on the previews it looks as if the alternating coasts moves east next week.  Mare Whittingham is back.

[Gem 10]

10 hours ago, hoodooznoodooz said:

Helen could be a character on The Simpsons with that protruding upper lip.

Her swinging earring was upstaging her in the post-award dinner car conversation with Vik.

Is the lip botoxed?  Big mistake if it is as it’s VERY annoying to look at.

[Former Nun]

10 hours ago, hoodooznoodooz said:

Helen could be a character on The Simpsons with that protruding upper lip.

Funny...I mentioned a season (or more) ago that Allison's mouth resembled Marge Simpson's!

Before this most recent episode, I thought that Ruth Wilson's mouth was the most unattractive; now (strangely) Maura Tierney has won that award from me.  What's different?  She sure was working that thang on the last episode.  The director has a great sense of humor and Maura doesn't even get it.

Someone should draw a cartoon of Marge, Helen, and Allison together...in profile.  Wish I had the talent.

[Gem 10]

5 hours ago, subina167 said:

 

I don't think Vik ever seriously thought about having a baby until he got the bad news. And I also don't think that the quickie in the kitchen was about love or lust. Vik is a mama's boy. He's now bent on leaving a part of him to Dragon Lady without any regard for Helen. I've seen this happen in real life.

Noah and Janelle and the teacher/savior bit? Oh please. Kill the storyline.

The “quickly” in the kitchen wasn’t about love or lust.  It was a need within him after a devastating happening.  My husband wanted sex the night his Father was buried.  I thought it was weird, but learned it was a need to comfort him.

[Former Nun]

1 hour ago, sadie said:

That's when I feared the predictions of Sierra as surrogate were correct, although I can't see why on earth she would agree to it.

'cuz she's so cool about everything/anything, girl.

[WaltersHair]

If I keep watching, I think I'm going to skip Noah's segments. I survived high school in the last millennium and I don't want to go back again. Ever again, which includes television. And yes to everyone up thread about Anton, his mother, etc. I don't want to be lectured about any of the political nuclear bombs that are being tossed all over the place.

Re the neighbor. I watched it twice to be sure, but she was next to Helen the SECOND she fell. WTF? Was she watching the house?

Vik is being incredibly selfish about the baby business. Even if the show pretends Helen is of child bearing age, she's still at a very high risk for having a Down's baby or any number of congenital problems. Nothing wrong with that, but he clearly won't be there to help what should be a two person job for a child that may never grow up. Vik's mom is a flaming bitch and do we really have to watch that for 10 more episodes?

Edited July 3, 2018 by WaltersHair

[Former Nun]

2 hours ago, RedheadZombie said:

Why does TV always show women getting off with less than fifteen seconds of foreplay?   And they're often in uncomfortable environments - getting a hand job while standing up on the beach, pushed up against a tree, and both Helen and Luisa were just tossed up on the table.  Cole would have gotten the closed legs from me after releasing Luisa's updo, and going at it when she was dressed up and about to go to the fancy dinner.   All these characters take out their negative emotions through sex, and the sex has turned as unerotic as The Girlfriend Experience.  When the couples do nothing but argue and bitch at each other, there's nothing to root for especially if they aren't tender in their love scenes.  I remember tearing up a little when Alison and Cole made Joanie.

Because most writers are men who have had little success with women? They're guessing this is how it is in real life--although it never happened to/with them.  Of course, so many of the "love scenes" on television either badly done or completely unnecessary.  Even many of the women characters are written without regard to how women viewers will think of them/their storyline.  

[Former Nun]

23 hours ago, subina167 said:

Up until tonight, I liked Vik. I feel terribly bad for him but asking Helen to have a baby is simply unfair. He will never know that baby. Being saddled with an infant, she will not be able to move on. Don't like this storyline.

Vik is definitely NOT thinking clearly.   When he's able to take a breath, he'll realize no baby should have THAT for a mother!   

3 hours ago, RedheadZombie said:

Helen, who's reasonably attractive, was said to have been able to have any man she wanted.  Max lusted after her for decades, and Vik, who was swiping left and right for hookups and initially written to be a very shallow person, throws it all away to financially support Helen and raise Helen's children.

(1)  Maybe Helen had a decent personality (and mouth) at some time in the past.    (2)  Like other posters, I think Helen/her family is doing most of the financial supporting.

[Toodleoo]

Not sure why I watch this show anymore; Helen drives me absolutely batty. I'm sure Maura Tierney is a lovely person but she portrays Helen so much like she did Abby in ER that I think Maura's just...one-note.

Helen just suuuuuuuuuuucks the life out of everyone and everything and gaaah get off my tv.

[TexasGal]

Freaking late stage pancreatic cancer.  Like this show isn’t depressing enough already.

[Elizzikra]

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I only wish I had a cool neighbor in my new town that lived in a magnificent house and invited me to hang at Joshua Tree despite me being the least coolest person ever.

I can't think of anything more boring than a "crystal cleansing" (whatever the hell that is) that takes all weekend. I LOVED Helen's "I really don't" response. I was right there with her.

Quote

The “quickly” in the kitchen wasn’t about love or lust.  It was a need within him after a devastating happening.  My husband wanted sex the night his Father was buried.  I thought it was weird, but learned it was a need to comfort him.

I think that Vik needed to feel a) alive and b) close to someone.........

[DiabLOL]

2 hours ago, WaltersHair said:

 

Re the neighbor. I watched it twice to be sure, but she was next to Helen the SECOND she fell. WTF? Was she watching the house?

Maybe she popped out of the other trashcan?

[LuvMyShows]

6 hours ago, RedheadZombie said:

 Why does TV always show women getting off with less than fifteen seconds of foreplay?   And they're often in uncomfortable environments - getting a hand job while standing up on the beach, pushed up against a tree, and both Helen and Luisa were just tossed up on the table. 

I've actually never had this issue with any show except this one, and on this show it was 'thrust' in our faces right from the start (I think it was the Cole/Allison by the car which Noah thought was rape).  It happens so very often on this show, and the women characters seem to be just fine with it.  From a purely practical level, I had two issues with the Vic and Helen sex:  1) He kissed her once, thrust three times, and was done  2) there would have been some mess to clean up, but he just zipped up, and I think she went on to wear that outfit. 

16 hours ago, sadie said:

And Noah. Ugh. Sure Noah encourage the kids to all go protest and then when it turns into a riot take no responsibility. 

So very, very much about the walkout/riot made no sense... from Anton getting the idea to do it in the first place, to everyone in every class being gathered so quickly, to the police arriving basically before the students even got out of the school, to the presence of no other staff outside besides the very few that we've been shown, to Noah's fantastically wonderful de-escalating of the tension, to his weirdly weird speech.  

6 hours ago, chocolatine said:

It does seem odd that the writers would come up with an elaborate backstory for Vik's parents if they don't plan to expand on it. 

What struck me as odd, is that the way it was played, Helen had never heard the backstory before...IRL, that would have been discussed during the dating/mating period.

 

And just for fun, I'll ask the question we've asked previously in similar circumstances...whose point of view is the Cole/Noah/Anton scene coming from?  We've had a few 'objective' scenes in years past, but I can't recall what they were (Noah in prison and being visited by Alison....the courtroom scenes of Noah's trial?).  

[CarpeFelis]

I can’t wait to find out why Anton is in the car with Cole and Noah looking for Alison.

Do Vik and Helen know ANYTHING about each other? Why would Helen not have known the story behind Vik’s wanting not to ruin the evening for his parents? Why would Vik expect Helen to actually, oh, I don’t know, DO WHAT HE ASKED HER TO?

[chabelisaywow]

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I can't see why on earth she would agree to it.

In exchange for rolling back her trash bins

[mochamajesty]

10 hours ago, RedheadZombie said:

I agree.  It was about him, he even walked away from her right after when she tried to show some tenderness.   Why does TV always show women getting off with less than fifteen seconds of foreplay?   And they're often in uncomfortable environments - getting a hand job while standing up on the beach, pushed up against a tree, and both Helen and Luisa were just tossed up on the table.  Cole would have gotten the closed legs from me after releasing Luisa's updo, and going at it when she was dressed up and about to go to the fancy dinner.   All these characters take out their negative emotions through sex, and the sex has turned as unerotic as The Girlfriend Experience.  When the couples do nothing but argue and bitch at each other, there's nothing to root for especially if they aren't tender in their love scenes.  I remember tearing up a little when Alison and Cole made Joanie.  

 

I was under the impression that the point of that scene was that Helen didn't get off only Vic did.

I saw it as a need to feel alive after receiving devestating news. 

I still think that Vic is a flaming asshole for asking for a kid. But imagine that you received the news that you had late stage pancreatic cancer. Doesn't that disease have the lowest survival rate of all cancer?  And to someone as arrogant as Vic, that must be quite a blow. All of the money, the status, cannot help him now. 

So let the man have his quickie on the counter. But I say hell no to the kid. 

[cardigirl]

Here’s my take on this season so far. Helen is the character I’ve been most interested in, mainly because my marriage fell apart in a similar manner to what was portrayed in this show. Helen’s reactions and sorrow and the struggle to understand and survive and feel safe again have been very well done. She thought she had made a good choice in Noah, then that turned to ashes, now, just when she might feel as if she’s back on solid ground (get the earthquake metaphor?) here comes freaking late stage pancreatic cancer to knock her world down again. She loves Vic, she doesn’t want to lose him, she has no control over it though.

I’ll still watch this show. Season 3 was not great, but there is some promise in these first few episodes to keep me watching.

[scrb]

10 hours ago, RedheadZombie said:

I agree.  It was about him, he even walked away from her right after when she tried to show some tenderness.   Why does TV always show women getting off with less than fifteen seconds of foreplay?   And they're often in uncomfortable environments - getting a hand job while standing up on the beach, pushed up against a tree, and both Helen and Luisa were just tossed up on the table.  Cole would have gotten the closed legs from me after releasing Luisa's updo, and going at it when she was dressed up and about to go to the fancy dinner.   All these characters take out their negative emotions through sex, and the sex has turned as unerotic as The Girlfriend Experience.  When the couples do nothing but argue and bitch at each other, there's nothing to root for especially if they aren't tender in their love scenes.  I remember tearing up a little when Alison and Cole made Joanie.  

 

That was suppose to be her getting off?

 

I can't decide if the writers are clueless or brilliant.  Sierra, Dr. Keaton and the teacher at the Compton school name dropping Stanford are walking cliches of what the rest of the country thinks of California kookieness.

Now is it that they only know to trade on cliches or are they saying Helen and Noah have these stereotypes of California people because they're from the East Coast?

Yeah if Vik wanted children, he shouldn't have shacked up with Mrs. Robinson.  No matter what her age is suppose to be, she has two kids who are college-age or even older.  Looked like Helen went to some fertility specialist at the end, though why would a millennial be in the same doctors waiting room?

[LuvMyShows]

One thing I had found odd at the time, was when they showed that Vic had lost weight, and he was proud that he had lost 8 pounds.  There is no way that the character was actually on diet, given his physique, and we had no indication that he had suddenly started an exercise program.  So I didn't understand why they weren't both concerned, since an unexplained weight loss of 8 pounds for a man Vic's size is decidedly not normal (as we found out why this episode).  

[CleoCaesar]

14 hours ago, sadie said:

Of course in Sourpuss Helen’s world the woman might as well asked her if she wanted to drive spikes up her vagina. Helen may just be winning most joyless character in tv history. 

I think that honor goes to Abby Lockhart on ER...also played by Maura Tierney. She's certainly been typecast as a dour wet blanket.

[Penman61]

6 hours ago, scrb said:

Sierra, Dr. Keaton and the teacher at the Compton school name dropping Stanford are walking cliches of what the rest of the country thinks of California kookieness.

Now is it that they only know to trade on cliches or are they saying Helen and Noah have these stereotypes of California people because they're from the East Coast?

When Helen in the restroom stall overhears the frivolous chat about freeways and then plastic surgery (the East coast, of course, has neither), I mean...I realize that this is Helen's POV and she's having trouble "adapting" to LA or whatever, but...really shit writing.

ETA: Of course frivolous hot spacey neighbor girl in multi-million-dollar home is into CRYSTALS and other woo because LA, and Helen's therapist is touchy-feely (a therapist!) but also blind to her very real suffering because they don't have bad therapists in Montauk.

Edited July 3, 2018 by Penman61

[bilgistic]

7 hours ago, scrb said:

Yeah if Vik wanted children, he shouldn't have shacked up with Mrs. Robinson.  No matter what her age is suppose to be, she has two kids who are college-age or even older.  Looked like Helen went to some fertility specialist at the end, though why would a millennial be in the same doctors waiting room?

The actors' real ages are 44 (Vik) and 53 (Helen). That's not in any way the same as a male college student and middle-aged woman.

[Maximona]

22 hours ago, cardigirl said:

I don't think Vik and Helen are married. 

Helen's married to somebody.  She's got a rock the size of the Rock of Gibraltar on the appropriate finger.

I dunno.  I guess my reactions are quite different from almost everyone else's in this forum.  I gave up on this show early on last season because Adventures with Brendan Frasier in the Big House - just ugh.

But I thought I'd give The Affair another peek this season because I did like the first two seasons.  And I think it's been pretty good!  The characters continue to keep my attention, and I love the Roshomon effect of the parallel sequences.  Sometimes the differences in the details between the two episodes can be very telling - as in how in Alison's memory, it is Cole who is resistant to selling the Lobster Roll, while in Cole's memory, it is Alison - and sometimes, they are not.  I enjoy that randomness.

I like the Compton Academy:  If Noah is gonna find redemption anywhere, it's obvious that it has to be as a teacher:  After all, that's the profession he turned his back on when his bestseller changed his personality for the worst.  But I always got the impression that Noah was a good teacher, and I loved his "preview" lesson plan for The Wasteland.

I love Maura Tierney.  Her Helen as always been an insufferable, self-involved character; it's just when she was an obvious victim, it wasn't as noticeable.  The writers did use the phrase "Stage IV" when describing Vik's condition, and pancreatic cancer is a death sentence for all intents and purposes.  I get why he wants to have a kid:  It's his bequest to his parents so that they continue to have someone to focus their dreams on.  What I don't get, though, is why Vik would ever have been attracted to Helen in the first place.  The two characters have no chemistry, and the actors are kinda following suit there.

Yes, Goat Yoga Girl is obviously the Chosen Surrogate.  What a relief!  I was not looking forward to watching Helen experiment with girl-on-girl!

[DiabLOL]

Ok HOW did Noah go from last season's addicted, howling batshit-crazy, Brendan Fraser stalking/ hallucinating, car wrecking crazy to Great White Savior? 

[Elizzikra]

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why would a millennial be in the same doctors waiting room?

Plenty of millennials have fertility issues. They aren't all age-related.

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Helen's married to somebody.  She's got a rock the size of the Rock of Gibraltar on the appropriate finger.

I'd have to watch again but I thought I saw first a ring with a red stone, then a ring with a green stone on Helen's left ring finger in episode 1. It was one of the differences in costume between the two POVs that I was curious about. Neither was an obvious engagement ring. 

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There is no way that the character was actually on diet, given his physique, and we had no indication that he had suddenly started an exercise program.  So I didn't understand why they weren't both concerned, since an unexplained weight loss of 8 pounds for a man Vic's size is decidedly not normal (as we found out why this episode).  

Helen did say something about Vik laying off the green juice so I think he attributed the weight loss to eating healthier and a healthier "California" lifestyle. Even though he's not heavy,  I can see where it would be easy for him to not worry about losing 8 pounds if he had no other symptoms. 

[LibertarianSlut]

18 hours ago, WaltersHair said:

If I keep watching, I think I'm going to skip Noah's segments. I survived high school in the last millennium and I don't want to go back again. Ever again, which includes television. And yes to everyone up thread about Anton, his mother, etc. I don't want to be lectured about any of the political nuclear bombs that are being tossed all over the place.

Re the neighbor. I watched it twice to be sure, but she was next to Helen the SECOND she fell. WTF? Was she watching the house?

Vik is being incredibly selfish about the baby business. Even if the show pretends Helen is of child bearing age, she's still at a very high risk for having a Down's baby or any number of congenital problems. Nothing wrong with that, but he clearly won't be there to help what should be a two person job for a child that may never grow up. Vik's mom is a flaming bitch and do we really have to watch that for 10 more episodes?

Not trying to be contrary, but how is there "nothing wrong" with a baby who, through no fault of its own, is born with congenital birth defects? From a cosmic perspective, that is actually one of the "wrongest" things I can imagine. I don't know where we have arrived as a society if we dub a sick child as having "nothing wrong." I understand the desire to refrain from judgment as it pertains to the choices of consenting adults, but I can't abide by a society that has slipped so far down the PC rabbit hole that we are now taking pains to say there is nothing wrong with something that is, indeed, by definition, wrong. 

[Razzberry]

Patrick Swayze survived for 20 months after diagnosis, and that's considered a long shot.  He was getting all kinds of treatment and experimental drugs.  I read that the median survival rate for stage 4 pancreatic cancer is between two and six months, according to the literature.  The median for UNtreated cases is about 3-4 months.  To me the chemo and time spent at the hospital wouldn't be worth a possible extra month or two.  Just give me drugs for the pain, and lots of 'em.

[Mindthinkr]

On 7/2/2018 at 3:21 PM, subina167 said:

He's now bent on leaving a part of him to Dragon Lady without any regard for Helen. I've seen this happen in real life.

 

If indeed they can pull off the miracle pregnancy by Helen, then he will want her to sign over the rights to said child to his mother. Then she can have her mini-Vik to raise and remember him by. The greatest gift a son could give his poor long sacrificing mother. Helen of course will go along with this (quasi) until she gives birth and then suddenly changes her mind and wants to keep the child herself. All this is assuming that the girl next door doesn’t become a surrogate (although she too could be willing to sign any parental rights over to Dragon Mother). There are many ways this could go but any path that leads to poor poor Helen doesn’t interest me. She’s sullen and dour enough as it is. 

[HollyG]

On 7/1/2018 at 11:46 PM, CarpeFelis said:

WTF is Vik thinking? I totally understand the part about refusing treatment — as a doctor he knows way too much about how painful that’s likely to be vs. how much it’s likely to help. But asking Helen to have a baby?!?  Besides her being obviously too old and having already been through it with 4 kids already (not to mention she’s kind of a lousy mother)...he’s asking her to raise another child who won’t ever really know him or remember him. AND this would also saddle Helen and his parents with each other when they obviously don’t get along at all. Very selfish thing he’s asking for.

This.

[LilaFowler]

I was terrified for Vik's patient that was due to have surgery that morning. Imagine your surgeon operating on you hours after he received a death sentence. No, thank you. He was obviously not thinking clearly after his diagnosis with regard to the whole baby thing. I wonder how far they'll take this because... it's a little bit lame. Maybe if we had been shown that Vik wanted a child of his own before this, or wanted to give his parents a grandchild, but this is really coming out of nowhere IMO.

Helen was totally thinking about Noah when she brought up the subject of the person she couldn't live without. Vik had just been diagnosed with terminal cancer and she's in the therapist's office thinking about her ex. I guess Noah is the love of her life or something? I still think that the show will ultimately end with the two of them back together. She didn't want to divorce him after Allison--Noah left her.

As for Noah, I can do without the Dangerous Minds story line but I suppose they have to give him something to do while he's out in CA. His life is just one adventure after another, isn't it? He can't just take a regular teaching job and have all of his days be boring like the rest of us.

I'm not actually looking forward to finding out what becomes of Allison. I'm tired of her always running off. Such a stupid character. I actually find the whole Noah/Helen dynamic interesting, and Cole/Luisa as well, which is why I keep watching. I dread the show careening off into the abyss with more Allison drama. Spare me.

[KBrownie]

10 minutes ago, LilaFowler said:

I'm not actually looking forward to finding out what becomes of Allison. I'm tired of her always running off. Such a stupid character. I actually find the whole Noah/Helen dynamic interesting, and Cole/Luisa as well, which is why I keep watching. I dread the show careening off into the abyss with more Allison drama. Spare me.

This is me.  Except for the Noah/Helen bit.  I'm not too interested in either of them, but I wish the show was more interested in Cole/Luisa and their dynamics.  I think she is a great counterpart to his personality.  It also irks me that Luisa hasn't had a POV yet and she's been a part of the show since Season 2.  It irks me even more since that absolutely pointless French professor last season got TWO POVs and another board is speculating that Vik will get one this season.  I mean, come on.  Luisa is beyond due as neither lying cheater in the form of Cole nor Alison are reliable when it comes to who she is as a person.

And if the show were planning on doing a baby story this season, it should have been Cole and Luisa.  They've already set up the background and history for it.  Why not them instead of bringing up this Vik/Helen thing all of a sudden.  It also would have given Cole something else to do besides regress to who he was Season 1 and the first half of Season 2 before he met Louisa.  It sucks so much to see Cole right back at square one when it comes to Alison.  He had moved on and was in a better place.  It's like the show doesn't want to try and do anything different with his character other than being depressed about Alison.  She isn't worth it.  And is Cole ever going to find out her part in his brother's death?  She's STILL lying to him, but the show wants to act as if that's true love or some shit.

[LilaFowler]

3 minutes ago, KBrownie said:

This is me.  Except for the Noah/Helen bit.  I'm not too interested in either of them, but I wish the show was more interested in Cole/Luisa and their dynamics.  I think she is a great counterpart to his personality.  It also irks me that Luisa hasn't had a POV yet and she's been a part of the show since Season 2.  It irks me even more since that absolutely pointless French professor last season got TWO POVs and another board is speculating that Vik will get one this season.  I mean, come on.  Luisa is beyond due as neither lying cheater in the form of Cole nor Alison are reliable when it comes to who she is as a person.

And if the show were planning on doing a baby story this season, it should have been Cole and Luisa.  They've already set up the background and history for it.  Why not them instead of bringing up this Vik/Helen thing all of a sudden.  It also would have given Cole something else to do besides regress to who he was Season 1 and the first half of Season 2 before he met Louisa.  It sucks so much to see Cole right back at square one when it comes to Alison.  He had moved on and was in a better place.  It's like the show doesn't want to try and do anything different with his character other than being depressed about Alison.  She isn't worth it.  And is Cole ever going to find out her part in his brother's death?  She's STILL lying to him, but the show wants to act as if that's true love or some shit.

Well, we were told last season (?) that Luisa can't have children. I suppose adoption is out because Luisa is undocumented.

Did Cole really ever move on from Allison? I think he is another Helen and he simply can't quit his former spouse. 

[WaltersHair]

Quote

Not trying to be contrary, but how is there "nothing wrong" with a baby who, through no fault of its own, is born with congenital birth defects? From a cosmic perspective, that is actually one of the "wrongest" things I can imagine. I don't know where we have arrived as a society if we dub a sick child as having "nothing wrong." I understand the desire to refrain from judgment as it pertains to the choices of consenting adults, but I can't abide by a society that has slipped so far down the PC rabbit hole that we are now taking pains to say there is nothing wrong with something that is, indeed, by definition, wrong. 

Yes, I was trying to stay PC. Inevitably someone would beat me up about it and I've been on the internet going on 20 years. Get tired of trolling even if it's legitimate and truly felt. I will say I have a high functioning Down's niece that I wouldn't trade for the world. But my brother is in his 50's so he'll be in his sixties when she graduates from high school. There is talk in the family about who is going to be around to raise her because we're all getting older.

Since Vik is a doctor and probably has run the chances in his head, he may bypass Helen's permission and just go for the neighbor.

[KBrownie]

24 minutes ago, LilaFowler said:

Well, we were told last season (?) that Luisa can't have children. I suppose adoption is out because Luisa is undocumented.

Did Cole really ever move on from Allison? I think he is another Helen and he simply can't quit his former spouse. 

No, Luisa can't have kids naturally, but likely neither can Helen at her age.  If they're going to have her seeking out help from a fertility specialist to get pregnant (surrogacy would be the best option for Luisa), they could have done the same story for Cole/Luisa.  It would have been something new for Cole than moping after Alison forever.  

I thought he'd done a pretty good job of moving on.  He and Luisa had carved out their own little life and seemed to be co-parenting for at least a couple of years with no issues (at least they didn't mention any) until Alison had her breakdown or whatever.  The need to save her is what seems to be his fatal flaw.  That's why I am SO not into this latest quest to find and save her that Cole and Noah are on.  It's so old at this point.  I was holding out hope that his participation was maybe because Alison had Joanie with her wherever she was, but that's not the case, so it's the same old, same old.  At this point I just want a Luisa POV to tell them all to kick rocks and that they deserve each other.  I hate to see Cole treat her the way he does.  If you don't want her, then let her go.  She has a lot of life left to live and doesn't need to keep wasting time with Cole.  If he wants to be forever miserable chasing Alison, who again is still not being honest with him, then he deserves whatever he gets.  It's like it's a knock against Luisa that she has her shit together somewhat.  

Edited July 3, 2018 by KBrownie

[preeya]

I can say one thing about the Alison hunt. If it were me driving all around the country looking for my ex-wife. My current, 2nd wife, would also be an ex-wife, not by my doing but hers.  How does he (Cole) get away with all the Alison shit???  Moreso, WHY?

[missy jo]

Lord knows I hate Noah, but his "Two fucking kids, coming right up!" made me laugh. More of that, please. 

Glad we're back to Montauk next week. 

[Duke2801]

On 7/1/2018 at 5:20 PM, chocolatine said:

My take is that Vik's mother hates Helen and, in addition to being shocked, was livid that Vik had told Helen but not her. She didn't want to cause a scene at the gala, and the only way she could keep from losing it was to leave immediately.

Yes, Helen would have to be under 45 for the baby storyline to be at all believable.

Why? There are plenty of women who have children over 45 either through IVF or egg donors. Look at Janet Jackson, Brigitte Nielsen, and Laura Linney—just to name a few. 

On 7/1/2018 at 4:57 PM, DiabLOL said:

Ok Helen is played by a 53yo actress. Maybe they should have cast someone who looks at least 10 years younger. She doesn't. 

Also I gasped during Noah's storyline. How dare the writers do this.

I do not understand Vik's parents' reaction at all. 

I don’t know how many 53 year olds you know in real life but Maura Tiermey certainly looks younger than most of them that I know. 

On 7/2/2018 at 12:15 PM, yellowjacket said:

If Vik wanted a baby, he shouldn't have married Helen.  I thought what he said to her was terrible - he showed no concern that she is LOSING HER HUSBAND.  They didn't act like a couple.

 

He didn’t marry Helen. They are still

just boyfriend/girlfriend.

On 7/3/2018 at 9:24 AM, LuvMyShows said:

One thing I had found odd at the time, was when they showed that Vic had lost weight, and he was proud that he had lost 8 pounds.  There is no way that the character was actually on diet, given his physique, and we had no indication that he had suddenly started an exercise program.  So I didn't understand why they weren't both concerned, since an unexplained weight loss of 8 pounds for a man Vic's size is decidedly not normal (as we found out why this episode).  

I thought they explained his weight loss as work stress—or did I just make that up in my head (it’s entirely possible I did). That said, as a doctor, yeah, you’d think it would have set off a red flag in his mind. 

[Former Nun]

20 hours ago, preeya said:

How does he (Cole) get away with all the Alison shit??? 

Because, for some reason, Allison is IRRESISTIBLE to any/all men and all women (again, for some reason) simply understand.  

[CarolMK]

Are we supposed to think that Helen is in her late 40s? I can't quite remember the timeline of this show, but I thought in season 1, she and Noah married right after college, say age 22. It's now supposed to be 6 years later since the original affair with Allison started or is it longer than that? I still wonder how old Vic is supposed to be. Younger than Helen, but I'm not sure by how much. 

Getting new love interests for Allison and for Noah is just going to make the whole series even more confusing. By the way, is this supposed to be the final season? Are Noah's two oldest kids going to make an appearance at some point?

[Former Nun]

On 7/3/2018 at 3:09 AM, scrb said:

No matter what her age is suppose to be, she has two kids who are college-age or even older.

And she's a bitch 24/7.  

[DiabLOL]

6 hours ago, Duke2801 said:

Why? There are plenty of women who have children over 45 either through IVF or egg donors. Look at Janet Jackson, Brigitte Nielsen, and Laura Linney—just to name a few. 

I don’t know how many 53 year olds you know in real life but Maura Tiermey certainly looks younger than most of them that I know. 

I know many and am one. Most of the people I know in this age group aren't professional models or actresses and yet I still think Maura Tierney looks very much her age except with Simpson's trout mouth desperately trying to pull up her dehydrated jowls. 

Which brings me to the examples of moms in their 50s you named. They are all movie stars and celebrities! While Helen may have a comfortable life do you really see her in the same group? I don't. Sure she has a comfortable life but she's still a deeply average woman.

[chocolatine]

7 hours ago, Duke2801 said:

Why? There are plenty of women who have children over 45 either through IVF or egg donors. Look at Janet Jackson, Brigitte Nielsen, and Laura Linney—just to name a few.

Those women are the exception rather than the rule. A woman over the age of 45 has a 2% chance of conceiving naturally.