Alfred Hitchcock was a fine filmmaker. He has done lots of films in his career, but none have been more iconic or as well known as
Psycho. Based on a book by Robert Bloch, there has always been the mystery that surrounds the film's main antagonist and while we have had a few sequels (all of which had mixed to negative responses) and a remake, we still didn't know much about one Norman Bates (played in the series by Freddie Highmore) and how he gained the personality known as "Mother". That is until this series came along which itself aims to be a prequel (and later on a remake) to the film albeit in a modern day setting with changes to the original book and film. Who was his mother, did he have other relatives and were there any more people aside from Marion that he killed. All these and other questions this series aims to answer. So let's check ourselves in and solve this mystery once and for all:
Season 1
In the first season, Norma Louise Bates (played by Vera Farmiga) and her son Norman move from Arizona to a little town called White Pine Bay in Oregon to start anew following the sudden death of Norman's father Sam (played by David Cubitt). There Norma purchases a rundown motel which is rebranded and reopened as the titular Bates Motel. A series of events that unfold which sees the pair make new friends, acquaintances and even enemies and uncover a sinister force that lurks within the town. A pretty strong first season that presents the show as a sort of psychological thriller that shows Norman slowly developing the "Mother" personality and Norma having some killer intentions but making every attempt to raise her son. A good start overall. 9/10
Season 2
Following the death of someone Norman knows at school, the Bates Motel becomes a hotspot for those on holiday. But the future of the business is threatened when a new highway bypass begins construction forcing Norma to speak and then later be part of the town's council. Meanwhile, Norma's brother Caleb (played by Kenny Johnson) pays a visit to the motel who is met with some hostility much like Norman's brother Dylan (played by Max Thieriot) who visited last season and is in a way still around. Season 2 I thought was another great season. Great writing and the dark side of Norman is definitely coming through but not quite there yet. And despite that, there is some light-hearted moments too, but those come in small fractions which is fine. So yes another good season. 9/10
Season 3
With Norman still descending into the man child he would become later on, his relationship with his actual real mother which in his mind has been perfect up to this point, starts to become strained when she starts to rely on Dylan more. Norma also grows closer to the local sheriff Alex Romero (played by Nestor Carbonell) but anything romantic between them is impossible due to the nature of Norman. Caleb also returns to haunt the family which forces them to bond even further than ever before. Plus some old wounds are bought back among other things. This season to me is the turning point for Norman as he completely gives in to the "mother" persona while still being there, but far away from reality. It's this series in which we see the Norman we saw in
Psycho. But still a fair bit away from getting there as Norma is still around which isn't really a spoiler as such as most people who watch this will have seen
Psycho or read the book beforehand. 9/10
Season 4
With Norman's mental health and spilt personality now common knowledge (at least to his immediate family anyway), Norma makes a desperate and fearful attempt to find her son the help he needs while their once sacred and unbreakable trust is shattered. Norman continues to lose grip on reality and Romero is drawn back to the family when Norma seeks his help. Having mental health problems can do a lot to people and for many of them, finding the help they need isn't easy. But in Norman's case, its more about his routine of living with his mother all the time that really affects him and I guess if it was broken, he goes insane and well that's what happens here. A very satisfactory season overall. 9/10
Season 5
So while the whole series has largely been a prequel to
Psycho but set in modern day times, this final season could actually be seen as a remake of that film, but with some obvious changes and a more welcoming conclusion when compared to the sequel films that it got. Anyway so two years have passed since the end of the last season. Norman now manages the Bates Motel alone following the demise of his mother, but still thinks she is alive in his own mind. Romero has been put in prison for perjury and tries to get out to enact revenge on the man who killed Norma. Dylan and his now wife Emma (played by
Ready Player One's Olivia Cooke) continue to have blissful lives remaining unaware of everything that has happened with Norman. This of course is cut short and Dylan has to make the ultimate choice of what to do with his clearly unstable brother. The final season while not what we were expecting from a season claiming to remake the film, is actually pretty good. Some steamy scenes here and there as well as a newer attempt of doing the iconic shower scene from the original (just with a different victim this time). Plus we get to see things in Norman's mind now as "mother" is seen more outside of Norman's body (though to other people, it looks strange). So yeah a great end to what has been a great series. 9/10
This has been a great show. It does exactly what it set out to do while making some changes here and there from the film and book that it's largely being a prequel and remake of. Who would've thought that Freddie Highmore who before this was playing heroic roles, would play such a great but mentally disturbed villain. He can be a bit scary with his performances anyway so it was nice that he could be as scary as he wanted with this series. Plus it's also nice that he and Vera Farmiga became good friends during this time. I guess a mother and son's love never dies even when off camera. But yes overall a great series worth watching. 9/10
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