REVIEW: Bates Motel, Season 3 Episode Four 'Unbreak-Able'

 REVIEW: Bates Motel, Season 3 Episode Four 'Unbreak-Able'

The previous episode ended with an absolute shocker. Annika had rocked up at the motel, having recently been shot through the chest, and died in Norma's (Vera Farmiga) hands. It confirmed what we all knew, that Norman (Freddie Highmore) hadn't killed Annika (I mean, it would have been a little too obvious), but it created a new mystery of who shot the poor woman, and what the significance was of the USB stick which she passed to Norma.

This episode starts off interesting, as Norman sees Annika's dead body and has a psychotic episode. This is probably the most vulnerable we have seen Norman yet, clearly affected by seeing the body of the woman he'd been friendly with, and it's an interesting place to take the famous movie serial killer. He essentially becomes a victim of circumstance here, in what is a fresh new direction for the character.

Another thing unique about the episode is that for once we know that Norma and Norman are innocent. When Sheriff Alex Romero (Nestor Carbonell) questions her and seems suspicious, we know his suspicions are unfounded. It's an unusual turn, as normally we are either aware that they were behind the murder or we are in as much the dark as them, but here we know for sure that they have done nothing wrong. Putting us on this kind of equal footing with Norma allows us to see the world through her eyes though, and feel how she feels when being viewed in this way. Suddenly everything seems like life is out to get her, and these people are mere obstacles in her way.

Then there's the curious mystery of the USB stick, and its contents. Contents which Norma can't access, as whatever it is is not only password protected but foolproof against attempts to hack inside. Whatever it is is clearly something of value, as there are even criminal stooges trying to grab their hands on it. This all creates a brilliant amount of intrigue surrounding the small device. It really makes us feel invested as audience members into trying to figure out just what is contained on this stick, and I for one can't wait to find out.

Norma's college teacher friend from the previous episode - James Finnigan (Joshua Leonard) - returns here, and I'm so glad to see him back. I found him a highly engaging character in episode three, and he works just as well with Norma here. He really allows us to see Norma open up more about her relationship with Norman, and her worries regarding his increasingly more antagonistic behaviour towards her, which is something we rarely get to see Norma discuss. Most of her scenes tend to be with Norman, so these sequences where we get to see her confide with friends help us to understand Norma a little more, and learn more about her internal struggles. It lets us further into her mind, and shows us just what is ticking up there.

Norma is an interesting character, because she has this major influence over Norman that just can't be broken. Nowhere is this more prominent than with Norman and Emma's (Olivia Cooke) date. Before Norman and Emma go on their picnic, Norma advises Norman not to have sex with her as her breathing problems may mean that she cannot cope, and these words have a profound impact on how the date plays out. Norma's influence is felt throughout the picnic, especially when Norman, recalling his mother's advice, refuses to engage in any form of sexual activity with Emma. The screenplay does an excellent job at further showing just how manipulative Norma is, and how she planted these words in Norman's head deliberately so that it would ruin his date, as she believes her son is using Emma to get back at her. As Emma so rightly points out, 'I didn't think your mother was joining us on this date'.

This is also the episode where Norman discovers Dylan (Max Thieriot) has been working with his Dad Caleb (Kenny Johnson) on his drug farm, and I honestly thought Norman was going to murder Dylan here. Their confrontation is so tense, and something about his threat to tell 'mother' feels a little eery given the creepily intimate relationship we know Norma and Norman have. It really shows how Norman's relationship with his mother transcends a normal mother and son dynamic, and has become something almost equal to a husband and wife situation, and it's a further reminder of just how wrong Norman and Norma's connection to each other truly is.

Overall, 'Unbreak-Able' is another stunning episode from Bates Motel's third season. It's an instalment that gives us a surprisingly vulnerable side to Norman Bates, whilst delivering an intriguing mystery in regards to Annika's surprisingly secure USB stick. Unbreak-Able also finally gives us the moment where Norman discovers his brother Dylan is working with his Dad, the man who raped his mother, in scenes which show Norman's strong devotion to 'Mother'.

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