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: 2.08 Meltdown

[selenak]

Eric: yes, now we know, though maybe Nick Ford doesn't know all that went on between his employee and his daughter? Guess we'll find out.

As much as Norma likes to make a "fresh start" and leave the past behind or even remake it as she does at the therapist's, she's still the same inside.

Yes, and as Norman says in the pilot, even when people want to start over, they simply bring themselves to new places.

Now that Norma's impulsively slept with George, what will happen with that relationship, I wonder? Is this going to further entangle and complicate what's happening with Nick Ford (given that Ford was at that party hosted by George's sister)?

If George as we suspect is involved in Nick Ford's business, it may be that nothing will happen this season, but if Nick Ford does die in the finale (no matter whom by, and given that he's now directly threatened Norma and kidnapped Norman, I think he will), there may be a tag scene revealing that seemingly harmless George is taking over Ford's empire (because someone will, and I doubt it's going to be Zane the Idiot), which Norma will find out the next season. Alternatively, George, like Cody, is simply there to be a trigger of events between Norman and Norma and will disappear from the show after having performed his function, and Jodi Morgan will be the one to take over the city once both Zane and Nick Ford are dead.

I loved the scene where Norma visits Dylan at work (lol, nice office). It's another that's got that great, tinged-with-humor tone at times, with Remo holding the gun and then lowering it, remarking that he didn't recognize Norma; Norma's little lecture or mommying about cannabis; and then her kiss as she leaves, which the other guys witness (btw, my HD channel wasn't working, and the regular channel is darker; on my TV, it almost looks like Norma kisses Dylan on the lips).

I thought so, too, and just rechecked; indeed she did! (A first in the show; she did kiss him on the cheek I think after he came out of the house alive in 1.06, but this was new.) And yes, Norma being impressed that Dylan got an office (if not by the product said office distributes) was golden, too. And the show effortlessly glides from the serious to the funny and back. "I don't want you to get hurt. I don't want you ever to get hurt." Norma & her sons scenes are truly the messed up intense heart of the show.

Considering Dylan now has to somehow get rid of Zane the Idiot and he & Norma have to get Norman back from Nick Ford, asking Romero for help seems to be inevitable. Just how this will work, though, given that Nick Ford as opposed to Zane isn't likely to be anywhere alone without his bodyguards and presumably has lawyers (including George?) to keep away the cops, I have no idea.

Re: 2.08 Meltdown

[eevilalice]

Re: Norma kissing Dylan: Aha. So it wasn't just the warped view watching this show tends to give me.

Hmmm...since Jodi gave Dylan permission to do what he's gotta do to Zane, maybe Zane could (probably unwittingly) be used as some sort of bait to lure Nick Ford in? With Romero playing a role? I don't know...especially with Norman wrapped up in it.

Re: 2.08 Meltdown

[selenak]

Re: Norma kissing Dylan: Aha. So it wasn't just the warped view watching this show tends to give me.

Nope, there was distinct lip-to-lip contact. :) In all fairness, though, it's actually not that unusual for adult parents and children to kiss that way in my experience. I mean, when I visit my parents I kiss them hello and goodbye that way, both of them. And having just read various volumes of biography on LBJ, there's a photo of him kissing his father (whom he had a troubled, if intense relationship with) back when Johnson was a young congressman:



However, and throwing fairness aside, it's definitely unusual for this particular mother and son. The looks from the staff observing were definitely priceless. :)

re: how to deal with Nick Ford - it just occured to me that in order to free Norman - which would be Norma's priority before anyone takes out anyone else - they would need someone inside of Ford's organization, or at least someone who can pay a visit to Nick Ford without Ford having him strip searched or turned away. Which might be where George comes in IF he's sincere enough in his attachment to Norma to risk it. (Or even if he isn't but secretely hopes for someone else to take out Nick Ford so he can take over, as one of my speculation goes.)