If someone were to watch the series pilot and “The Escape Artist” back-to-back, that person would have a hard time making sense of what this show is going for. That isn’t to say that the content–what happens in this episode–is “bad” or “weak”
The family bonds in “Check-Out” are very much at the forefront, and while it still feels like the stories that Norman is being given are not all that interesting compared to some of the other things going on in Bates Motel, this episode at least challenges his mental state more than any other before.
…is a frustrating reminder of some of the poor decisions Bates Motel makes in its storytelling. Fortunately, though, Caleb’s presence in the episode is unexpectedly intriguing and creates interesting dynamics for the other Bates characters.
“Shadow of a Doubt” is Bates Motel at its most ludicrous – which is both a good and bad thing for the show.
Bates Motel is back – and disappointingly, insists on being the same mediocre show it was in its freshman season.
Campy, frustrating, intriguing, laughably ridiculous… all of these words describe the first season of Bates Motel in some form or another, whether you’re talking about plot, setting, performances, or characters. Unfortunately, the only word that comes to mind when it comes to the finale is “contrived.” At least the show finally put its cards down on the table – except it didn’t, and what cards it put down make little to no sense whatsoever. Top it off with a “shocking” “twist” that nobody could give a fuck less about, and ‘Midnight’ stands as a testament to all that Bates Motel is and isn’t… too bad the latter of those lists is a lot longer than the former.
“Underwater,” the penultimate episode in Bates Motel’s first season, may well be the most entertaining episode yet, by introducing some much needed dark humour to the series. Between Norma and Dylan’s reactions to Norman’s new pet Juno and Emma getting high; “Underwater” is terrifically funny in and throughout. Unlike last weeks episode, the wacky comic relief here is purely intentional.
Bates Motel Season 1, Episode 8 “A Boy and His Dog” Directed by Ed Bianchi Written by Bill Balas Airs Monday nights at 10pm ET on A&E As we close in on the end of the first season of Bates Motel, its apparent that the series is trying its best to develop a few new plot …
How about we start with the stray dog. Lately, we’ve been getting more glimpses of Norman’s darker side and while watching Norman crouched down, hammer-in-hand and calling for the pup, I’m pretty sure most viewers were fearing for the dog’s life. It isn’t a big secret that the victims of serial killers are usually animals at first, but would the show be pushing Norman on the “textbook” serial killer course so early on? Story lines seem so quickly resolved in Bates Motel, and in what is already a short season, that possibility was left open.
Bates Motel Season 1, Episode 6 ‘The Truth’ Directed by Tucker Gates Written by Carlton Cuse & Kerry Ehrin Airs Monday nights at 10pm ET on A&E (Note: I’m filling in for Ricky this week – he’ll be back next Monday night with his review of ‘The Man in Number 9’. You can usually find my musings …
Bates Motel, Season 1, Episode 5: “Ocean View” Written by Jeff Wadlow Directed by David Straiton Airs Mondays at 10pm ET on A&E Bates Motel, which has now aired five episodes, tells the story of Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore), a smart but troubled17-year-old, and his over-controlling mother, Norma (Vera Farmiga). In this week’s episode, “Ocean …
Anyone who’s seen Psycho and watches Bates Motel brings his or her own insights, prejudices, fears, and collective memories into the interpretation, and that’s the biggest challenge the showrunners face. The greatest coup the writers of Bates Motel pull each and every week is that they constantly surprise us by having the characters do the unexpected.
In Bates Motel, the audience is led on a journey into the psychological abyss. Littered with Freudian symbolism, the series is both suffocating and schizophrenic – and it’s central character is tragically imprisoned by both his past and his mind. Bates Motel is a prolonged intrusion on the personal space of the Norman and the viewer.
Bates Motel, Season 1, Episode 2: “Nice Town You Picked Norma” Written by Kerry Ehrin Directed by Tucker Gates Airs Mondays at 10pm ET on A&E In 1960, Alfred Hitchcock was already famous as the screen’s master of suspense, but when he released Psycho he forever changed the shape and tone of the screen thriller. Infamous for …
Bates Motel, Season 1, Episode 1: “First You Dream, Then You Die” Written by Anthony Cipriano Directed by Tucker Gates Airs Mondays at 10pm ET on A&E In 1987, a year after the second Psycho sequel hit the big screen, Universal looked to take the franchise to television by turning it into a weekly anthology …