We All Go A Little Mad Sometimes: “Bates Motel” Review

Emma Reiter, Reporter|April 30, 2015

“Bates Motel” aired in 2013 on A&E and is based on the characters from Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho.” It’s an interesting take on the horrifying classic. It takes place in present day as opposed to before in 1960 which is when the original “Psycho” was released.

Norman Bates, played by Freddie Highmore, is a high school student with an overbearing mother. He has undergone many traumatic events throughout the two seasons of the series including the death of his father and “beloved” school teacher.

Norman experiences blackouts where he practically leaves his body and doesn’t know what happens when he’s woken up. The audience is left connecting the blackouts and murders. This season we are seeing the drastic transition in Norman’s mental state. He is slowly losing his mind and can no longer control his actions or blackouts. He is becoming his mother.

Norma Bates, played by Vera Farmiga, is Norman’s mother. She bought the motel in hopes of starting over and creating a new life for herself and her son. Although when they arrived in the sleepy town of White Pine Bay things didn’t turn out as Norma had hoped. She was attacked and raped by the original owner of the motel. Enraged she killed him and instead of calling the police she and Norman hid the body in one of the motel rooms. She was determined to start a new life, but similar situations keep occurring. Throughout the series you see Norma manipulating Norman in there odd “husband and wife” relationship. Although this current season Norma is distancing herself from her son due to a lack of trust.

As the show progresses Norman slowly begins losing his mind. Norma becomes the more sane of the two. The growth of the characters throughout the three seasons is shocking and well portrayed. The subtle connections and references to the original “Psycho” maintain the balance between classic and modern. After each episode you are left clinging to the edge of your seat. So check in to the Bates Motel on A&E on Mondays at 8 p.m. for a little murder and mayhem.