It has been so long since the last time I cried in a show. Honestly, I think it was the finale of season 4 of The 100. Oh wait, it might have been sparked because two more members of The 100 was in this season (!!!). Now the only problem is that neither Spectrum Demand or Netflix has the fifth season of this show. AND I NEED IT! But this had to be the most emotion and my second favorite season, behind the third one. Like the other three reviews, welcome to a spoiler free review of Season 4. And this was really hard for me to keep this spoiler free because of all the tears that were produced from this season.
Title: Bates Motel
Created By: Carlton Cuse, Kerry Ehrin, & Anthony Cipriano
Network: A&E
Released: March 7, 2016 – May 16, 2016
Run Time: 40 – 47 Minutes
After the death of her husband, Norma Bates buys a motel in the picturesque coastal town of White Pine Bay, giving herself and teenage son Norman a chance to begin anew. Shy Norman is reluctant at first, but with the help of his mother — with whom he shares an intensely close relationship — the boy begins to open up to others and make new friends. Some locals, however, aren’t as friendly and welcoming to the Bates, who discover that because White Pine Bay isn’t as peaceful as it appears, they are forced to do whatever it takes to survive. The drama series, from executive producers Carlton Cuse and Kerry Ehrin and inspired by the seminal 1960 horror film “Psycho,” explores the formative years of Norman Bates and how his complicated bond with his mother forged a serial killer.
THE CAST:
- Vera Farmiga as Norma Louise Bates
- Freddie Highmore as Norman Bates
- Luke Roessler as Young Norman
- Max Thieriot as Dylan Massett
- Olivia Cooke as Emma Decody
- Nestor Carbonell as Sheriff Alex Romero
- Damon Gupton as Dr. Gregg Edwards
- Jaime Ray Newman as Rebecca Hamilton
- Andrew Howard as Will Decody
- Ryan Hurst as Chick Hogan
- Marshall Allman as Julian Howe
- Kelly-Ruth Mercier as Nurse Penny
- Aliyah O’Brien as Regina
- Karina Logue as Audrey Ellis
- Fiona Vroom as Vicki Monroe
- Craig Erickson as Howard Collins
- Louis Ferreira as Doctor Guynan
- David Cubitt as Sam Bates
- Keenan Tracey as Gunner
MY REVIEW:
Norman Bates has just taken off with his now dead friend, Bradley Martin. He now wakes up in the middle of a hospital, in the psychiatric ward. Some how, Norma wants to help him but the only way she knows is to put him in Pineview, a mental home. But there are a few issues. She doesn’t have enough money and insurance to help him so she asks Alex Romero to marry her. And without Dylan being there 24-7 since Emma is having a lung transplant, Norma is more scared for her life more than ever.
This show already played with my emotions but this show did it even more. Without spoiling what goes on, EPISODE 9. Just episode 9. But we had so much cuteness that played with the heart including Norma and Alex and then Emma and Dylan. If you had to ask me which one I liked more, I would have no idea because I love them both so much. Well, I have an answer now but SPOILER ALERT! But literally. I cried like a baby. I thought I was bad when someone died in season 3 of The 100. This compares nothing to that.
I’m pretty sure that this season takes place in like two weeks. And I loved the pacing of it. I love the thrill of this whole season. I didn’t feel like it was going by too fast or too slow. I wish that Norman would have been at Pineview a little longer but I guess it makes sense for all that happens after it. I just really liked how it was ordered and everything that happened from place A to place B.
The writers of this show. What to do with you all. I want to hunt you down and give you the biggest hug but at the same time, go all Norman Bates on you. With episode 9, I would slit you necks but with everything else, I loved every moment of the show. I loved how this show was headed and what I have read, this show is now starting to form into the movie Psycho a little more. But these writers really know how the play with your emotions and they know how to keep adding a million layers to these characters that make you watch the show in one sitting. I might have spent a whole weekend in bed… But I love how they are starting to wrap the series up with there only being one season left. They are beginning to give me answers but there are so much more things I want to know. These writers are ripping off so many layers onto these characters and I love them. even Norman Bates. No matter how crazy these characters might get to be, I still love them.
I wasn’t Emma’s biggest fan at the beginning of the series. I really don’t know why but I didn’t care for her as much as the others. Now, I can’t help but love her. Not just because of her relationship with Dylan but we really get to see how strong she really is. Emma is one of the kindest people on the show and I don’t blame Dylan for wanting to be with her. Emma just is, amazing. And the fact that Olivia Cooke isn’t even American and has that perfect accent, I love it.
I loved how this season was shot and directed. I felt like Romero is finally getting his time to shine. I loved that Dylan was able to be there for Emma and we wouldn’t have to worry if Emma was dead or not for a few episodes. I always felt like Romero was one of the underappreciated characters from the show so since he got his own little section, I really grew to love him. I was almost able to like to channel him. But with the directing of this show, I keep growing my love of this show over and over again. I do wish that the house was kept up with a little more and wasn’t in bad shape but it really does play into the plot of the whole show.
Overall, I would have to give this show a 4.5 out of 5. It doesn’t beat the third season but it is pretty dang close. I love this whole show and I need to get the fifth season right now. But thank you to the whole cast and crew of Bates Motel for ripping me apart and trying to kill me. I just love this show and I need to watch the original movie. Even possibly the book that started the whole thing.
Have you watched this show? What did you think about it? What is your favorite season? Do you agree with anything I said? What is your favorite ship? What scene did you find the most emotional and why? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
Happy Reading,
Ann's Reading Corner 