REVIEW: Bates Motel, Season 3 Episode One 'A Death In The Family'

REVIEW: Bates Motel, Season 3 Episode One 'A Death In The Family' 

So far in Bates Motel, Norman (Freddie Highmore) hasn't had to face much in the way of consequences. He has been responsible for multiple murders and each time he has got away with it without so much as a prison sentence. But what does it do to his psyche?

That's a question that this episode of Bates Motel seeks to answer, as we see Norman return to school. The poor kid is clearly suffering from some deep trauma as he's forced to return to the place where the teacher who had sex with him worked, and we see this play out in full force here as he gets visions of his teacher Blaire Watson (Keegan Connor Tracy) talking to him about his English projects. It's an episode that really helps us to understand Norman at a greater level, and why he does the things that he does.This is a man who clearly isn't in the right state of mind, and not just because of his blackouts.

What's interesting is that Norma (Vera Farmiga) doesn't seem to realise how her own actions are affecting Norman's mental well-being. In this case Dylan (Max Thieriot) effectively becomes the audience surrogate when he spots Norma and Norman in bed together, and points out just how creepy it is. It feels like Norma too has also been affected to an extent by her own past, having been raped by her own brother Caleb (Kenny Johnson), and that has contributed to her own warped sense of appropriate family behaviour here. It's a fascinating take on the eerily closer-than-normal relationship between mother and son for sure, and one of the most compelling aspects of Bates Motel.

In the midst of all this is the death of Norma's mother. Initially I wondered if Norma had something to do with her death, because she seemed weirdly nonplussed by it, but later we discover that she was holding her emotions in, and this sees her go back on her promise to Dylan that she would make Norman sleep in his own room. Suddenly it seems like Norman sleeping in her bed is more of a comfort blanket for Norma more than the other way round, and this kind of twisted psychology isn't something I have seen on television before. It's really unique, and probably one of the strangest character arcs in any piece of fiction ever.

This episode also sees the introduction of a new woman who takes Norman's fancy - sex worker Annika Johnson (Tracy Spiridakos). She shows up looking for a room at the motel, and she's an intriguing new addition to the show for sure. There's something quite mysterious about her, like a walking enigma waiting to be resolved. Which makes her feel right at home in Bates Motel, a show which frequently takes a deep dive into the minds of the characters who inhabit its world.

Annika has competition for Norman's interests, however, from none other than his friend Emma (Olivia Cooke). For Norman finally asks her out on a date. And it's about flipping time. These two actors have so much on-screen chemistry that I have hoping for this to happen for so long. They are brilliant together, and feel like the most natural pairing the show has. Annika Johnson may have caught Norman's eye, but it's Emma that has captured his heart.

Dylan once again encounters his Dad Caleb in this episode, and it's an engaging little human interest story. Caleb seems to be really trying with offering to give the money that Caleb and Norma's mother had left him to Dylan, but the episode doesn't take the easy way and have Dylan accept it there and then. I think it's good that it doesn't, as a relationship like this one would take some time to heal given what Caleb did to Dylan's mother. Time may heal wounds sometimes, but it doesn't feel like enough of it has passed yet for Dylan to be accepting of it. I like that the show acknowledges this and shows that there's still a lot unresolved between this father and son pairing.

Overall, Season 3's opener of Bates Motel is another thrilling addition to this compelling horror prequel. It's an episode that delves deep into the psychology of Norman Bates and his disturbing relationship with his mother, whilst also offering some compelling father-son character drama between Dylan and his Dad Caleb. 'A Death In The Family' is a strong start to what will hopefully be another strong season of Bates Motel, and I for one can't wait to see where this impressive piece of televisual drama goes next.

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What are your thoughts on the first episode of Bates Motel's third season? Let me know in the comments section.