Bate's Motel Season 1 Overview

After viewing the premier episode, I wasn’t quite sure how this TV show was going to play out, but I’m glad to say that I’ve enjoyed it immensely and that the season finale only left me wanting more.

Norman Bates, played by Freddie Highmore, is a very loveable character.  It was easy for me to like him and to feel empathy toward him for the situations that he was thrown into.  Yet, after a few episodes, his character displayed some Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde like qualities that were left very open ended this season.  He’s innocent and compassionate one second and a vicious, murderer the next.  To make matters worse, poor Norman has no recollection of his murderous rampages after he comes out of the trance-like state that he enters when they begin.  I’m very curious to see how his character will develop over the next season and hopefully a few more after that.  Also, I’m wondering how my perception of the character will change as he develops J

Norma is Norman’s neurotic mother.  Played by the talented Vera Farminga, Norma is a DIY kind of gal, taking a lot of seriously heavy matters into her own hands.  She encounters a lot of hard ships and heart-break during Season 1, but trudges on, not letting anything stop her.  She has a very aggressive positiveness about her which is displayed in a manic way.  From knife welding, to gun toting, she works hard to dispel anything that gets in her way of a “normal” life.  No matter how traumatic the event, once the obstacle is overcome, Norma returns to her happy, hotel keeping, 1960’s housewife self.

There are many other interesting characters on the show, who initiate interesting circumstances for the two main characters to deal with.

Emma, is Norman’s cute and level-headed school friend, who has cystic fibroses and a professional taxidermist for a father.

Bradley is the popular girl at Norman’s school who he falls for and who’s family/family history is just as interesting and mysterious as Norman’s.

Dylan, is Norman’s half-brother and Norma’s son, yet he never refers to Norma as “mom”.

Officer Shelby, is a local police officer who initially sets out to help the Bates family after an early season tragedy.

I’ve never seen Psycho, so I have no basis for comparison of how this aligns with that movie, but from what I’ve read in interviews with the director, Carlton Cuse, his intentions are not to re-tell the Alfred Hitchcock story, but to re-create it with their own ideas.

I plan to watch Psycho soon, because I’m interested to see how Hitchcock’s characters/story has been played out in the TV show.

In any case, if you haven’t seen it, go check it out.  I think that you’ll be pleased.