Was that completely necessary?

The Affair Season 5 Episode 7 pulled the ultimate switcheroo. After weeks of complaining about Noah's perspectives and praising Joanie's, one episode managed to flip the script completely. 

We'll start with Joanie because what even was that?

The urgency to add twists and turns to keep viewers engaged is understandable, but throwing in a storyline that feels ripped from a Lifetime movie completely ruined my interest in the show. 

Yes, I'm talking about Ben managing to trick Joanie into signing herself into his facility.

Joanie was understandably blinded by her passion to find out what really happened to her mother, but it felt like a bit much to have her sign her life away without reading the document in front of her. 

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There's no question about whether Joanie is impulsive.

We've spent just a handful of episodes with her, and we're well aware that she's one of the most unhinged characters on all of TV. 

Whitney: Why did you go?
Noah: I don't know how to answer that.
Whitney: Was it Alison? Did you just love her more than you loved us?

• Permalink: Was it Alison? Did you just love her more than you loved us?

Ben knew it was only a matter of time before she would show up looking for answers, and boy, was he prepared. 

The biggest surprise was that he actually admitted to killing Alison.

However, he could have told Joanie he knew who she was the moment she took her shades off. Having her figure out the truth behind her mother's death was downright cruel. 

We know Ben hasn't changed. He was arrested for attacking another woman he got close to, and Cole was keeping tabs on everything that was going on. 

Related: The Affair Season 5 Episode 6 Review: What Did Joanie Learn?

The Lockhart family has been through so much tragedy that it's about time the wheel was broken. In this instance, the only person who can do that is Joanie, and that's if she manages to get Ben to A) Confess to the law. B) Kill him herself. 

Then again, this being The Affair, it would be no surprise if Joanie ultimately died at the hands of Ben just for the shits and giggles. 

It was completely ridiculous that the officers failed to recognize what was going on -- even if Joanie was threatening to murder Ben for tricking her. 

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EJ has got to save Joanie, right? It's possible he will turn to someone else in Joanie's life and lure them back to Montauk for the ultimate takedown, and from a storytelling standpoint, it has to be Luisa. 

Noah: I want to see Joanie.
Luisa: You can't just waltz in and out of her life when it's convenient.

• Permalink: You can't just waltz in and out of her life when it's convenient.

Luisa's appearance in both the future and present storylines over the last few episodes is no coincidence.

It would make sense to bring her back because she would need to put her feelings about Alison aside. 

If you watch The Affair online, you know that Luisa will always resent Alison, primarily because Cole pined for her the whole time they were together. 

Giving Luisa the truth that Alison didn't give up and leave her daughter behind would be a perfect way to close up that arc.

Related: The Affair Renewed for Fifth and Final Season

It would probably push Luisa to help Joanie get in the right direction. 

We have yet to see Noah or Helen in the future storyline, but if the former husband and wife find themselves back together, then we should be seeing them very soon -- assuming they are alive. 

Noah is really trying to be a better person, and that shone through during his perspective.

He's had a strained relationship with his kids ever since his affair went public, but Whitney has somehow always turned to him. 

The wedding preparation has put Whitney in a tailspin.

She's wanted a wedding fit for a Princess for as long as she can remember, and Noah is trying his best to make sure that happens. 

Who would have thought Noah and Whitney would bond over cheating?

Whitney was worried that she would make a mistake by marrying Colin, so seeking counsel from her father seemed like the best course of action. 

Noah had to think of it subjectively as opposed to flat out telling her to keep it a secret for the rest of her life.

He had to take Whitney's feelings into consideration to ensure she was making the right decision. 

All signs are pointing to the wedding not going ahead, but Helen seeing her daughter in her wedding dress, walking down the aisle, maybe the thing that makes her think about reuniting with Noah. 

Even though they were a toxic couple, they must have had good times if they brought four children into the world together.

Oh yes, it seems the wedding will be used as a plot device to bring the couple back together. 

Even Bruce's health will probably make Helen change course and leave the sunny beaches of L.A. behind to return home. 

The moment she notices her mother is at breaking point, she will want to return to help. 

Helen has not exactly had the best relationship with her parents, but her feelings should change when she witnesses how bad her father is becoming. 

As a whole, this episode was a mixed bag.

Joanie's storyline was absurd, while Noah's was all about setting up the endgame. 

What did you think of it all?

Are you convinced that Joanie will be able to take down Ben?

Hit the comments below. 

The Affair continues Sundays on Showtime. 

Paul Dailly was an Associate Editor for TV Fanatic.Follow him on X.