HOLLYWOOD—”Bates Motel” continues its rampage of suspense in its fifth week with arrests, love triangles and shocking discoveries. At this point, it’s hard not to see how the series got renewed so early on for a second season with so much exciting things taking place.
This week, we start right where we left off: the arrest of Norma Bates (Vera Farmiga) for the murder of Keith Summers. With criminal evidence now being brought against her, it could be the end for Norma. And last week, Norman (Freddie Highmore) was too busy hooking up with popular girl Bradley (Nicola Peltz) and once again failed to be there for his mother in her time of need.
Before getting to the suspense, Norman can now be considered to be part of a “love square,” with three women poking at his heart. Of course, there is the beautiful Bradley, the very ill Emma (Olivia Cooke) and his controlling mother. Creepy, to say the least, but true. Norman’s hook up with Bradley upset both Emma, who is in denial that the two really care for each other, and his mother, who claims that Norman no longer loves her. Though this love arc is just a bonus to the suspenseful mood of the series, it brings forth really great entertainment and makes you decide who’s the best for sweet Norman.
Back to the “psycho” stuff of the show, Norma remains in custody and declares her innocence of the charges brought against her. So much that when her lawyer tries to reach out to her that claiming self-defense is okay, Norma denies it all. Thankfully, Norman still places his mother as the leading lady of his life and uses the deed to the motel to bail her out.
Norma, who feels the world is against her, resents her sons and her lover Deputy Shelby (Mike Vogel). Despite the charges brought against her, Shelby declares his love for Norma, no matter what and vows to protect her. How so? By removing the incriminating evidence that is planned to be used against Norma. When Norma’s lawyer calls with the good news that the evidence disappeared and the charges were dropped, Norma needs no one to confirm that Shelby removed the evidence.
So for the viewer, Shelby seems like a decent guy who will do anything to save the main protagonist and keep her out of trouble. You’re supposed to like this guy right? Well, like Norman and Dylan (Max Thieriot) suspect, there’s something shady about this Shelby guy. And tonight’s episode proved their suspicions.
Turns out Shelby has a lot of skeletons in his closet, and despite Norma’s belief that Shelby is not hiding a young girl hostage in his basement, she’s wrong and her sons are right.
With Shelby’s hidden secret of possible sex slavery and the debt Norma has to him for saving her from murder charges, what Norman believes is proven true. Shelby has complete power over her, and can even demand things from the Bates at any cost. In a blackmail state, if they get on his bad side, who knows what Shelby can do to both Norma and Norman, and even Dylan.
As the show progresses, the intensity increases, and pieces of the puzzle slowly begin to click. With characters evolving—like Shelby’s dark side and Dylan’s soft side to Norman—the story becomes more thrilling and the road to the “Psycho” stage gets closer with each week. The only question needed to answer is how characters like Shelby and Dylan will play in the long run in that eerie path.
If you’re not watching this series, it’s not too late to catch up on the suspense that has gained positive reviews and strong ratings. If so much is occurring early on in the series, imagine how great the later episodes will get? And keep in mind the “Psycho” events when watching.
By Carmen Herrera
