SummaryThe relationship between 17-year-old Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore) and his mother Norma (Vera Farmiga) is explored in this contemporary prequel to the movie "Psycho."
SummaryThe relationship between 17-year-old Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore) and his mother Norma (Vera Farmiga) is explored in this contemporary prequel to the movie "Psycho."
There is, periodically, a kind of daringly reckless, Lucille Ball-like slapstick physicality that Farmiga brings to the role, and it contributes a welcome lightness to the show’s often grim proceedings. By contrast, Highmore’s exceedingly subtle, adroit work is slowly filling in the portrait of psycho-Norman at a perfect pace for a weekly television series.
As it starts Season 3 on Monday night, it has evolved into a deftly acted story of small-town dysfunction, creepy when it needs to be yet far more wide ranging than the movie that inspired it.
Season 3 is definitely the best season so far. It really starts to get creepy and fun. Season 1 was great, S2 **** , but again this season has totally redeemed itself. Great acting, great cast and really good writing.
It's a great drama with a lot of craziness and moments that are truly unnerving to watch. I can't believe there's only one episode left!! Wish the seasons were 12-15 episodes long.
The characters in this show are amazing. Vera as Norma is unbelievable. We see how Norman is being warped and changed in front of her (so does she) and yet both she and us are unable to stop the process. She is a totally sympathetic character as is Norman. This show has all the pluses - great acting, great story, great character development. I've been watching since Season 1 and can't wait for this season to continue.
If discovering the sinister particulars of how they'll get there [the film Psycho] is the driving force of Bates Motel, the surfeit of subplots might be seen as a series of speed bumps or potholes, slowing an otherwise ferociously entertaining two-hander at every turn.
Such an underrated show. It manages the difficult balance of humor and drama expertly. The characters are multidimensional and their dilemmas, are somehow, very easy to empathize with. Excellent acting and writing - truly original.
I have to say this is the biggest surprise of a tv show that I have had. Far better acted, written, and was far more interesting then I ever would have given it credit.
When I originally saw teasers and trailers for the show I assumed that it was going to be A&E's copy of a teenage CW show with teen angst and drama. I had absolutely no interest after catching the first episode because it dealt with Norman at a new high school. I was entirely wrong about the show.
I had assumed it was only a teenager show mostly because the actor looks like, and it is a young Norman Bates, and they focused on his mom a lot in the beginning, but for some reason I assumed she wouldn't be a lasting character. I mean how do you make Norma Bates, AKA "MOTHER!" a regular character. Not only is she a regular (and she is there on screen until the last episode), she is on the same level as Norman and they are both great characters, acted by very good actors.
There is of course a lot of drama, violence, death and insanity, but that is expected from a reboot prequel of the original movie "Psycho". It hit all the notes for me, including the surrounding characters, unexpected reveals and even though several key facts about Norman are changed it is definitely Norma Bates.
The only thing I hesitate on, and this isn't a poor reflection it is still great, I would have handled the last 3 or 4 episodes differently. SPOILER ALERT: I would have not had the final 3 or four episodes end the way they did, wrapping up the storyline 100%, instead I would have changed a couple of things that would allow it to end, right about where the movie started. That however isn't a bad thing, just a style thing.
Pros: Excellent acting, writing, and kept my interest over the five seasons, even if I cringed sometimes.
Cons: I stylistically would have wrapped it up at a different point, but that is purely a dramatic choice.
I am really glad I did start watching it, and I encourage others to give it a try.
[For entire series] Moving the location to Oregon and the time period to contemporary was initially infuriating for this origin prequel, but then after just accepting it for what it was it's one of those guilty pleasures that stuck. Good storytelling and acting make this deranged little cash in endeavor well worth it, though Vera Farmiga over-acts through much of it.
Norma Louise Bates: "Norman I will kick your ass to the moon and back".
Bates Motel as a TV series has been pretty good so far, I mean it's a lot different from most shows base on a classic horror films. I know we Hannibal which is another TV base on movie and that's great as well. Season 3 as a season was pretty solid and as I said before this is very rare that this happens.
Vera Farmiga as Norma Louise Bates was the stand out of this season and she gave in my opinion the best TV performance of the year and she always steals the show in every episodes she's in. Her performance was Emmy worthy and I heard some rumors about the Emmy nominations and I hope there put her on the list because she owned it.
For a while now I wasn't so sure of Freddie Highmore as Norman Bates because in the first season I thought he did okay. In the second season I thought he did better, I know it's suppose to be a slow build to his craziness but if I have to judge him playing the character I say he did okay, but in this season I sawed the real Norman Bates and a break through performance from Freddie Highmore. He played the harmless boy but really he's dangerous and he pulled that off really well.
The writing was fine, the rest of the cast did good and some of the character's this time actually matted and wasn't forgettable as the other ones.
Now for problems and these not a lot that I can name off: When I said about some of the character's matted, well these some didn't and those character's are not very interesting and don't do anything with the show. This was my other problem with the previous seasons and it's still happening in this season.
Overall season 3 was a solid season just like the second season of the show.
For me, Season 1 is still the best season and of course 2nd Season is the worst. But, in this season there is big step moment for Bates Motel, and that's very great. And FYI, I really don't care about sub plot. I hope in Season 4, Bates Motel more focus in Norma and Norman. cause I don't care about that town, really!