767 replies to this topic

[Strega]

A&E insists:

"Bates Motel" is a contemporary prequel to the genre-defining film "Psycho," and promises to give viewers an intimate portrayal of how Norman Bates' psyche unravels through his teenage years. Fans will have access to the dark, twisted backstory of Norman Bates and how deeply intricate his relationship with his mother, Norma, truly is. The series stars Academy Award nominee Vera Farmiga ("Up in the Air," "The Departed"), Freddie Highmore ("Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "Finding Neverland"), Max Thieriot ("Disconnect"), Olivia Cooke ("Blackout") and Nicola Peltz ("The Last Airbender"). Season one also co-stars Nestor Carbonell ("Lost," "The Dark Knight Rises") and Mike Vogel ("Pan Am").

Premieres Monday, March 18 at 10 PM ET/PT.

[Batman Beatles]

Nicola Peltz ("The Last Airbender")

Oh heck no!

[MethodActor05]

Max Theiriot reminds me of what a younger brother of Cam Gigandet with a fuller face and beefier body would look like, so I'm totally in.

[Batman Beatles]

I'll give it shot. Freddie Highmore grew up to be cute!

[BonnieD]

So we can't talk about this until after the official air date tonight right? I watched it on On Demand last week. Interesting premise. Good execution. More later.

[Cynthia187]

This looks creepy and good, plus I like Freddie.

[bulldawgtownie]

Oh, man I want to see this so badly especially now that I know Richard is going to be in it. But that's such a brutal timeslot for me thanks to Monday Mornings and then catching the repeat of Lost Girl,fortunately it sounds like I can catch this OnDemand.

[Stalkmylife82]

The pilot has been on demand weeks. A&E doesn't seem to have a problem putting their shows online so it should be easy to catch.

[LakeGal]

I plan to give this one a try.

[brothertonbanks]

I already watched it also. I liked it, but I don't know how much material they can get out of a Psycho prequel.

[Carmella]

Well, I loved it. I think it has great potential. I'm a long-time fan of the movie series, and even the failed TV-pilot from 1987 of the same name. The secret here is to take a story you're familiar with and just go with a new interpretation. If you're going to be upset that its set in modern times, and takes huge liberties with the story already presented, you won't like it.

This is something new and different, but all together familiar. I like it so far. I'm excited to see where its going.

[KBrownie]

I also really liked it. It had the right amount of creepiness and suspense. I'm really intrigued by the book Norman found and whoever is being held captive.

There's a nice chemistry just from that one scene between Norman and Emma. I hope they don't go the predictable route of having Bradley being to her because she's sick. Also, what exactly is her angle? She was so forward and aggressive from the get-go, but I didn't feel like she was trying to use or make-fun of Norman. Interesting . . . .

The rape scene was something I wasn't expecting. Norman's guilt of not being there and having to get rid of the body is going to eat him alive.

Freddie Highmore grew up to be pretty hot. August Rush is one of my favorite movies and that's all I can see when looking at him. I keep waiting for him to start talking about finding the music. Freddie might need to work a little on his American accent. You could hear his natural accent coming through a bit here and there. He was really powerful as Norman though. He really played scared little boy mixed in with typical teen very well.

[brothertonbanks]

So it's aired on the telly-vizion now? I have to admit that I was a little confused at first since the beginning of the show seemed to be a period piece, and then when the kids came on they all had their cellphones and ipods. I like Nestor Carbonell, but in the scene where his character goes to take a leak, he comes out and the shower curtain is flapping in the breeze with Deadwood Dan in the tub, but nobody saw him. I wasn't expecting the rape scene. That was pretty graphic. I like the show in general, but I don't think the actors are going to be able to motivate me to watch regularly. I wonder if there are going to be murders every week. If not, the show will probably be about the tension between the mother and the son. I almost thought Norma Bates was going to get killed in the first episode, and she would be propped up in a rocking chair forever.

[thuganomics85]

Has potential. Some typical pilot issues: I can't tell you any character's name besides Norman and Norma, kind of slow at the start, some of the actors still feeling things out, but I thought it came together real well. Already digging the creepy chemistry between Vera Farmiga and Freddie Highmore. Both of them did good jobs in their roles.

Also a solid supporting cast: Nestor Carbonell (and his eye-liner!), Mike Vogel, Keegan Connor Tracy (Blue/Boob Fairy from Once Upon A Time!), and Richard Harmon, who I just saw on Continuum as Julian. Not famailar with either of the actresses who seemed to be set-up as possible love interests for Norman, but they served their purpose.

That rape scene was surprising and hard to watch. W. Earl Brown did a great job at being so despicable with just a few brief scenes. Very underrated actor.

I'll stick with it. I heard Jere Burns will be showing up in future episodes. Only think that can make a show about Norman Bates even more creepy is adding Wynn Duffy!

[CJohnson]

I thought the pilot turned out pretty well. The leads are excellent, as expected, I think Farmiga is always good. The dynamic between her and Freddie Highmore is suitable with the story and I thought the atmosphere was dreary and creepy throughout. I'll stick with it for now.

[aceplace57]

That scene with the needle seemed to come out of nowhere. Was that Norma giving Norman a shot? What the heck was that all about? I get that Norma is nuts. She probably killed the husband six months earlier. But why shoot up Norman with drugs?

The scene with the cute girls coming on to Norman didn't come across as believable. Norman is kind of geeky looking and I'd expect him to be a loner. Those girls were acting like he was the star quarterback or something. Even the sick girl with the oxygen seemed to be flirting with him.

The dark comedy while Norma drags the dead guy around reminds me of Six Feet Under. I hope they keep that dark humor throughout the series.

Edited by aceplace57, Mar 19, 2013 @ 2:31 AM.

[MethodActor05]

Probably to keep him docile or whatever. Or it's her passive-aggressive way of keeping him off track, because he can't pass a drug test.

Here's what I really liked about the show- it's obvious that they've got a fucked up relationship, but they're not dropping anvils about it just yet. We didn't see Norma slapping him around or insisting he loofah her back during a bath, and we didn't see her expressly forbid Norman from joining track. Her level of abuse and manipulation is much more subtle- the romantic candlelight dinner said it all. It's in stark difference to the other prequel story with Olivia Hussey. If I remember it correctly, her Norma was basically a boozey, shreiking witch. They're taking a much more understated approach here.

Another cliche that they avoided was not having those girls turn out to be some mean bitches planning on playing a prank on him. That's not to say that they'd actually end up friends or won't eventually turn on him(because a popular Norman Bates just wouldn't make sense), but it did not turn into "let's haze the nerdy new kid!" like it almost always does. I totally thought something humiliating was going to happen to him at the party that the girls were setting him up for.

Miss Bradley just looked all sorts of creepy.

Freddie Highmore needs to work on his accent, but other than that, I thought it worked.

Edited by MethodActor05, Mar 19, 2013 @ 2:43 AM.

[rookie]

I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. I really like Vera Farmiga- she really adds a depth to this character that could've so easily become a characature. I also really liked the fine line they walked between Norma being controlling and her being a concerned mother. Her reaction to him wanting to join the track team and going out with those girls wasn't that off... And her reaction to her rapist wasn't that off either. Yeah, he wasn't actually a threat to her at the point she stabbed him, but he had just brutally raped her and was taunting her. Her wanting to cover it up because she knew it would effect her reputation and her business wasn't that off either. Overall, yea she's crazy. But she's not super crazy (as far as I can tell so far) and that makes this show really interesting

Only downside is the actor who plays Norman's accent. It was really distracting and kept pulling me out of the show.

[hunterhunted]

That scene with the needle seemed to come out of nowhere. Was that Norma giving Norman a shot? What the heck was that all about? I get that Norma is nuts. She probably killed the husband six months earlier. But why shoot up Norman with drugs?

I honestly don't think that was Norma. I think that was the recently expired Mr. Summers and an unnamed accomplice who appears to be a sexual sadist who was keeping track of his exploits in the journal Norman found.

I didn't notice Freddy Highmore's accent slipping. I'm usually very sensitive to that, but I didn't catch it with him. I also appreciate that they decided to skip the high school outcast story. Much appreciated because man has that been overused.

[Stalkmylife82]

I almost thought Norma Bates was going to get killed in the first episode, and she would be propped up in a rocking chair forever.

I know you said almost thought but that would zero room for a prequel. We are basically leading up the moment when he does that. It doesn't have to take the whole show run but it should take up the most of it. Norman journey to the moment when he snaps.

I don't think the final scene has anything to do with the Bates family. There is probably people more sick in the town then the Bates family at this point. And since this is building up Norman's craziness, they are going to need other people to keep up the crazy.

Edited by Stalkmylife82, Mar 19, 2013 @ 6:57 AM.

[BonnieD]

I totally thought something humiliating was going to happen to him at the party that the girls were setting him up for.

Me too. I couldn't imagine the local "pretty girls" suddenly adopting a nerdy stranger, but it certainly was a refreshing change that they weren't setting him up for a joke.

I think FH does a great job of making jerky little movements very similar to Anthony Perkins. Since I just recently rewatched Psycho (and the 90s remake because I wanted to see if they were really frame by frame similar) I was very aware of how Perkins inhabited his body, managing to look both awkward and birdlike with those quick movements. So kudos to Highmore for following suit. Unless that's his own natural gangliness.

I could see this show as a miniseries but definitely not an ongoing series.

ETA: I think the flashback(or concurrent scene?) of the woman being held hostage, and the rapey journal both pointed to Norman's mysterious older brother, mentioned several times throughout.

Edited by BonnieD, Mar 19, 2013 @ 9:01 AM.

[bparhad]

I didn't really know what to expect, but I ended up liking it enough to give it a chance. For whatever reason, I guess I didn't pay enough attention to the advertising, because I thought this was going to take place before the time period of Psycho, as opposed to present day. Freddie Highmore was really good, but I did notice his accent slipping anytime he got close to crying. I thought Vera Farmiga was great too - while the rape scene took me by surprise with how graphic it was (by tv standards), I thought it was really well acted.

One question I have now though - I was pretty sure that Norma killed her husband and that's why she was showering (and then later, knew exactly how to get rid of a body without leaving behind evidence), but the recaplet says that Norman did it. Did I totally miss something or look down at the wrong time?

Edited by bparhad, Mar 19, 2013 @ 9:19 AM.

[SrPab]

I liked it enough to tune in again.

It did seem to me that FH's accent mildly slipped a few times over the course of the episode.

That opening sequence culminating in Norman showing Norma her husband's body was odd. I at first thought Norman killed his father and then passed out from exhaustion... or passed out after having a psychotic break that led to him killing. But Norma's reaction (or rather, non-reaction) to seeing her dead husband was disconcerting. Norman's reaction to finding his father dead was what I expected. But most, if not all, of Norma's reaction and feeling were *for* Norman. She was upset and crying because of how distraught Norman was. She didn't seem too put out gazing at her dead husband lying in a pool of his own blood.

I, too, was surprised that the apparent popular girls didn't immediately go all Mean Girls on Norman. But, Norman didn't behave weirdly enough to make a bad first impression on any of them. His face was expressive, he looked them in the eye, he wasn't too shy or awkward around them. He didn't project the air of an alpha male/jock/BMOC but neither was he acting like an aloof loner/loser.

Edited by SrPab, Mar 19, 2013 @ 9:39 AM.

[KalEl]

I gave it a shot, but the very obvious "If She's Attractive & Interested In Norman She's Going To Die" just hangs too heavy over this show. If his student advisor had been an older less attractive woman, it might be a surprise when she eventually dies, but that she's young and hot? You can see the time ticking away. Same for the cute girl And honestly, the horribly graphic rape was my breaking point. It wasn't needed. We know full well from the opening scene that mom is capable of killing someone. It would have been much creepier if he'd come back saying he'd found some loophole to get the place back and then she killed him. Or if he scared Normal who knocked him out thinking he was dead then mom actually killed him to secure her hold on Norman. But the rape....just, no. I'll be sticking with the silly serial killers on The Following on Monday nights, thank you.

[Iguana]

Well, it wasn't what I expected, but it certainly held my attention. I was pleasantly surprised that the highschoolers were nice to Norman, as the trope would be for them to be all mean girls on the new kid. Vera Fargmilia(?) brought an ambiguity and intensity that really worked for me, and both Norma and Norman have way more going on inside than either of them choose to show. I think that if they had Norma killing someone in cold blood, as opposed to self defense/reaction to the rape, it would have been difficult to sympathize with her, especially given her decision to hide the killing and the very practical steps with the renovations to hide the potential evidence. And I think that the writers don't want us to hate Norma. Yet, anyway.

[bilgistic]

I have to admit that I was a little confused at first since the beginning of the show seemed to be a period piece, and then when the kids came on they all had their cellphones and ipods.

I was trying to figure out the timeframe too, at first. Norman's small bedroom TV had a black-and-white show playing, and his clothes looked more like what a kid in the 1950s or 1960s would wear. The teacher was wearing a Peter Pan collar, which looked 1950s. I found myself liking the undoubtedly intentional juxtaposition of the old and new as the episode progressed.

One question I have now though - I was pretty sure that Norma killed her husband and that's why she was showering (and then later, knew exactly how to get rid of a body without leaving behind evidence), but the recaplet says that Norman did it. Did I totally miss something or look down at the wrong time?

I also thought she did it.

On another note, while I'm not completely opposed to rape as a storytelling device (or whatever), there was no warning before the show and no "RP" qualification/warning in the rating system (only "S" for sex, and P.S. RP isn't S).

[Batman Beatles]

I guess the rape would go under "V".

[RadiantAerynSun]

I am not totally sold, but I will try to tune in next week. I too thought this was going to be set in the 1950s based on the clothing everyone was wearing, the black & white TVs, and was baffled when I saw Norman using an iphone! But OK I can believe that's just the "style" of the show, winking at the setting of the original film. I like a show with a good mystery, so it might keep me watching out of curiosity to see just who killed Norma's husband (I do think it was Norma), who is the woman that is being held captive, what is with the book Norman found, etc. A few complaints. One, I thought the former hotel owner was TOO transparently, one-dimensionally evil, but I guess he had to be in order to make us OK with him being killed in the first episode. Not much time for character development there... and maybe they are going somewhere with him being nuts anyway (he hinted at dark secrets of the place). But two, if Norma did kill her husband, it almost seems unnecessary to have her kill someone else (and perhaps justifiably) right away in the first episode - would be better to make us think she's not capable of it, only to change our minds later. But I am willing to see if these things play out satisfactorily later on. Disclaimer, I never saw the original movie, so I only know bits and pieces from pop culture, so that might color my opinions of the show, since I probably have less of an idea of where things are going.

[bilgistic]

I guess the rape would go under "V".

There is a separate rape warning--RP.

[bulldawgtownie]

But two, if Norma did kill her husband, it almost seems unnecessary to have her kill someone else (and perhaps justifiably) right away in the first episode - would be better to make us think she's not capable of it, only to change our minds later.

The way I see it the reason it's implied Norma killed her husband was for the viewers sake to show that she's crazy. Her subsequent rape scene where she kills her rapist and then Norma and Norman have to cover it up was to explain why Norman Bates ends up the way he ends up. So two murders by Norma but two different reasons for showing them.