TV Review: Bates Motel

Photo: A & E

I think it’s safe to say that “Psycho” is my favorite Alfred Hitchcock film, a close first to “The Man Who Knew Too Much.” So you can imagine my excitement when I discovered A & E was developing a television series based on the film that made the name Norman Bates and that high pitch violin sound infamous.

On Monday, March 18, Bates Motel premiered on A & E with very high ratings! 4.6 million viewers tuned in to watch the contemporary roots of Norman Bates demented ways and his overbearing mother Norma Bates.

In the first episode Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore) discovers his father dead in the garage of his home. His mother, Norma Bates (Vera Farmiga), is not phased by this; clearly she killed him for whatever reason. The two comfort the situation and Norma just holds a weeping Norman and tells him they just have each other.

Upon moving a few months later, Norma and Norman move into a Victorian home on the same property of the Seafairer Motel; which was foreclosed by the local bank. Throughout the entire episode we discover Norman has an older brother who has personal issues going on with Norma, Norman is quite the ladies man; the girls at school adore him, and the motel has some secrets of its own. By the end, the body count of the season is up to two, Norma gets raped by a disgruntled family member of the former motel owners, a girl is being held captive in a basement somewhere and the Bates Motel is born.

Now to my review; I’d like to start with the good. It’s great that the audience gets to see Norma Bates in this show because we never saw her in the film. I really like the idea of the back story of the Bates’. I think Freddie as Norman is superb! I think Vera as Norma is superb! Whoever decided to cast these two got it perfect! The chemistry between them is amazing and although Freddie has been in a number of films (“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “The Art of Getting By”) I feel this will be his break out role. The recreation of the Bates motel is very spot on and I think the season will be filled with great suspense. Now to the bad and it’s not that much. The only thing that was bothering me was the idea of the show being in the 21st century. I feel there wasn’t a clear distinction between the time periods; on one hand the characters have iPhones and on the other Norman, Norma and Norman’s teacher were dressed like the 1960’s.Other than that I liked the show and I’ll be watching.

The Bates Motel airs every Monday at 10 PM on A & E. Take a closer look at the new A & E series Bates Motel below! Will you be watching this new show?

P.S. As a bonus treat, check out the first full episode below!