Bates Motel: Primer and Homebase

[eevilalice]

Welcome to the homebase for the A&E series, Bates Motel. Each week you'll find a thread for the newest episode, so we can discuss its twists and horrors together.

First, a primer.


Bates Motel is a modern day prequel to Hitchcock's Psycho, centering on Norman and his mother, Norma, as they move to the titular motel in a coastal Oregon town. Norma is hoping for a new start for herself and Norman after her husband's death, and buying and running the run-down motel is her plan. Of course, there are plenty of unforeseen complications, especially since the town has a touch of Twin Peaks strangeness and corruption to it.

I know what you're thinking. A Psycho prequel? Really? Two things should convince you to give the show a shot: its pedigree and its cast. Among others, the series is (executive) produced by Carlton Cuse (Lost) and Kerry Ehrin (Friday Night Lights). It both builds intrigue and mysteries while creating complex characters. And then it scares the crap out of you.

Cast/Characters (As of Season 2)

Vera Farmiga plays Norma Bates.



She's high-strung, cloying, yet honestly put-upon and sincerely caring. She's smart but vulnerable at times. You may not be able to stand her at all, and you may deeply sympathize with her, all within one episode.

Freddie Highmore plays Norman Bates.



Like Norma, you might feel sorry for Norman or be terrified or horribly creeped out by him in the space of a breath. Often he's simply a normal teenage boy by all appearances, crushing on girls, wanting his own space, sneaking out late at night. Buuut then there's the blackouts and weird stuff he keeps under his bed...

Max Thieriot plays Dylan Massett.



Dylan is Norma's other, older son, and Norman's half-brother. He's more of an outsider, and drifts into town and into their lives against Norma's wishes. He clashes with the family, especially when he urges Norman to live his own life, but he proves indispensable, too.

Olivia Cooke plays Emma Decody.



Emma is a smart, inquisitive girl in Norman's class who quickly develops an interest in him. She has cystic fibrosis and sees Norman's own strange health issues and outsider-y status as something akin to hers.

Nestor Carbonell plays Sheriff Alex Romero.



As sheriff, Romero and Norma butt heads as she struggles to accomplish what she wants with the motel and deals with, er, other complications. Given the town's penchant for ongoing shady activities, Romero is someone who is tough to read.


You can stream Season 1 episodes on Netflix, Amazon, and at the A&E site.

The second season begins Monday, March 3rd! Episodes air at 9/8c 10/9c.

Comments

Re: 2.06 Plunge

[selenak]

I was just making the observation how from Cody's point of view there's trust, whereas from Emma's point of view she's been out of the loop.

*nods* I wonder what Emma would think if she knew that Norman has told Cody at least part of what was going on (i.e. the Caleb tale, minus the incest and the implication for Dylan) at the same day he refused to tell her? BTW, I should say despite my overcomplicated thoughts re: Cody and Norman, I didn't have the impression Cody meant any harm when daring Emma to plunge - she really thought Emma could and should do it and would enjoy the experience.

As for Norma's reaction, maybe she gets her new "friends" involved? Or Romero, especially if the fingerprints become an issue when he already sent someone away for Miss Watson's murder.

I could see Norma swallowing her pride for Norman's sake and asking Nick Ford for help... which would backfire badly, not so much because Nick Ford is a drug lord but because Nick Ford is Miss Watson's father, which Norma doesn't know. And if he as much as hears of a suspicion that Norman, not the guy Romero arrested for his daughter's murder, could be responsible, well, I can't see this meaning anything good for either Bates.

Even though Dylan didn't leave a message, shouldn't Norman have seen that he had a call from Dylan? I'm chalking this up to TV convenience.

Yes, I think it's simply a production oversight - the script editor not noticing that unless someone has an identity suppressor going on, which I doubt Dylan has, there would be a "you missed a call from..." in a smart phone.

Norma misspeaking reminds me that the show isn't afraid of letting her goof up like this - or stumble, as just before she enters the yacht for the first time - as a nervous person in her situation would. Little touches like this help selling me on the emotional reality of the series.