Binging "Bates Motel" **SPOILERS**

This week I started my binge on Bates Motel and I have my pros and cons about the show so far. I didn’t know what to expect going into this series but I thought it would just be a prequel to Alfred Hitchcock’s film, Psycho. Oooohh that movie is a classic but this series is set in present day. It’s great bringing the modern day touch to stories that are 50+ years old. However, it’s hard to watch this show while trying to connect it with the original story. I don’t think it can be done and maybe the writers just didn’t want us to do that.

Episodes 1-3

In the first three episodes, we see a lot of the story begin to unfold, just as it should, but the Bates have bought this hotel and haven’t done anything to it except buy new sheets and carpet… and it’s still not open for business. Even though I don’t like the disconnection between the series and the original story, I’m enjoying the intensity of this story so far. We’ve already witnessed a murder, and is Norman the psychopath or is it Norma? If we base our decision on the original story, it’s Norman but Norma is not normal by any means. Will they continue to work together? Will Norma continue to fight for her “business” or will she continue to stir up trouble in town? 

FUN FACT:

Recognize the Asian character, Ethan Chang?

So did I! He also plays Xander Feng in House of Cards!

Episodes 4-6

It’s any day now that Norma and her family will have to pay for the murder of Keith Summers. Even though deputy Shelby has saved her for now, I have to believe that Sheriff Romero won’t go down without a fight…

Is it just me or is Norman a player? I feel so bad for Emma. She’s sweet but very naïve to think that he will come around to her. There’s no doubt that their relationship will unfold in the end. Right?

Shelby is finally out of the picture but where is the Asian girl?

Norman has no idea what he does!!! Does this make Norma normal? She puts up with everything just like she said and she is literally protecting him. Is it inevitable to say that Norma is going to die in the end? She has to some time if the writers plan on following the original story.

Episode 7

This episode is pivotal in the series. The Bates are free from their lies of Summers’ murder! Or are they? They got off so easy by Romero that it just seems too good to be true. The hotel is finally up but it only has one customer, Mr. Abernathy. He’s such a mystery though. It’s also a mystery to me where I’ve seen this guy (Jere Burns). IMDB didn’t ring any bells for me so I guess that will forever remain a mystery. Anyway, Mr. Abernathy is so sketchy that I can’t wait to see where he takes us. I’m also admiring how much Norma approves of Emma over Bradley (who names a female Bradley anyway?). At this point I’m feeling kind of sorry for Norma. Is she a little over protective? Maybe. She has every right to be. In this episode we begin to see more of Norman’s mental disorder and I can just feel it in my bones that he’s going to take it out on someone soon.

Episode 8-10

Episode eight was a little slow. Norma let Norman go to therapy but that was a bust. Norma followed Mr. Abernathy around and that was a complete bust, but I don’t think he’s going anywhere anytime soon just because she kicked him out of the hotel. Norman and Bradley are over but Emma stays persistent. I wish Norman could see how amazing she is but maybe it’s for the best. If she were a real person, I would keep her away from him. She deserves the best.

I write while watching so right now I’m freaking out!!! Who put Shelby’s dead body in Norma’s bed??? We never really find out. For all I know it was Abernathy or I think it could even be Norman. He’s messed up like that. We discover more about Norma’s past and it’s pretty horrific. I’m sure the new season will have more in store about her past but for now I’m led to believe that she is in fact as normal as she can be. She’s been through some pretty horrific experiences and Norman seems to be the only one mentally distraught. Also, Romero has taken me by complete surprise. I had a feeling that he would be behind all of the illegal businesses but I just couldn’t pin him down on it. All I could see was him trying to bring down Norma on anything he could but he helped her out with that Abernathy freak and he was revealed. I don’t want to ruin the last episode but it’s a huge stepping-stone to the story and it is definitely worth waiting till the last second of the season to see, so take a load off and binge on this beautifully written tale of the Bates family.

Bates Motel Visual Guide