REVIEW: Bates Motel, Season 5 Episode Nine 'Visiting Hours'

 REVIEW: Bates Motel, Season 5 Episode Nine 'Visiting Hours'

Over the course of the series, Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore) has committed many crimes under the persona of 'Mother' (Vera Farmiga). Finally, he's paying for them. In the previous episode he willingly handed himself into the police, and now he faces a preliminary hearing to determine his fate. There's something undeniably fascinating about seeing these iconic characters thrown under the spotlight in this manner; it's a concept that has been done multiple times, most notably with the Sixth Doctor in Doctor Who, who was placed on trial for an entire season under the umbrella 'Trial of a Time Lord' arc. It makes for a great hook, as you feel genuinely invested in seeing the court's verdict.

Before that though Emma (Olivia Cooke) and Dylan (Max Thieriot) are reunited, albeit under tragic circumstances. Emma's mother Audrey has been found dead, and God does this episode really make you feel for poor Emma Decody. She's certainly got it tough right now, having lost both her biological Mum in Audrey and the person who most acted like her Mum in Norma. The show has continued across the past episodes to really make me feel invested in these characters, and that makes these scenes extra hard to watch. She's clearly struggling is Emma, a lost soul without a motherly figure to stand by her side.

The situation creates something of a conundrum for Dylan, given that the situation has got a little more personal for Emma and Emma's side of the family. Dylan previously paid lawyer Julia (Natalia Cordova-Buckley) to represent Norman; as you could imagine, recent developments leave him somewhat divided on his intent to help his brother. On the one hand, his brother needs clear psychiatric help. On the other, he killed his wife's Mum. It's a really compelling dramatic hook, as we see the struggles that Dylan is having to face. Does he help his brother by continuing to pay for his lawyer and offering moral support at his hearing, at the risk of offending Emma, or does he stand by his wife and let Norman potentially face the death therapy? It's not an easy question, as there's no right answer here.

In the end, both Emma and Dylan make similar decisions to show support for Norman Bates. Firstly, Dylan attends the hearing. I like that they don't go the easy route here and show Dylan to be magically fine with showing up for Norman, with the horrendous murders he has committed. Instead of doing what other shows would and showing Dylan be willingly called to give evidence in favour of Norman, here we see it all get too much for the poor guy, as he realises the true extent of Norman's crimes, and runs out of the hearing. It's a very human and very realistic portrayal of what may happen in this scenario; this kind of thing would be a lot for anyone to deal with, especially when it concerns family. Dylan is a person who has been consistently shown to be compassionate and caring towards those who he encounters, so it makes sense that seeing Norman's murders projected in the hearing would be too much for him. 

Emma, meanwhile, visits Norman at the prison. As viewers we all expect her to be raging at Norman, to just completely lose control. Instead she sympathises with the 'monster' somewhat, witnessing first hand his multiple personality disorder. She's the one outside of Norman's psychiatrist and his own brother who realises that she's not speaking to Norman, she's speaking to 'Norma'.  It's a great way of communicating just how close of a bond these two characters have had. Norman has always had a sweet spot for Emma, valuing her as one of his closest friends, and it's this scene that is one of the most perfect demonstrations of this unique bond that they share. Even Norman murdering Emma's mother can't destroy that bond.

If only Julia could see this split personality occurring within Norman's mind. She witnesses the odd slip up from 'Mother' here, as Norman as 'Mother' asks her if she knows what it is like to be a Mum. This speech is so well written, with 'Mother's' attempts to slyly tug at Julia's feelings, in order to achieve the best outcome. 'Mother' has a clear way with words, even if she is capable of accidentally dropping her mask as Norman on occasion. The scene really plays the weirdness of this situation, but with a combination of great writing and direction really sells how much conviction Norman has in his belief that 'Mother' is a real part of his identity.

From one madman to another, Alex Romero (Nestor Carbonell) finally makes his own transition to the side of desperate insanity here. Driven by his obsession with killing Norman for what he did to Norma, he completely loses it, holding the entire police station hostage and forcing Norman to be taken out of his cell. This scene is absolutely fantastic and without a doubt among my favourite parts of Bates Motel. We're essentially witnessing a man completely losing his sense of self over the loss of his closest confidant here, and how his unhealthy obsession strips him of everything that made him the decent man he was when he was Sheriff.  The Alex we knew, very much like Norman himself, has completely gone now, and in his place is this uncontainable monster, driven by a desire for brutal revenge.

Overall, 'Visiting Hours' is yet another spectacular episode of Bates Motel. It's an episode that forwards the character journeys of Emma, Dylan and Alex to a greatly significant degree, exploring new territories with these people who we have grown to love whilst staying true to who these characters are at their core. 'Visiting Hours' is televisual perfection, and an episode that proves just how special of a show Bates Motel is. I doubt there will ever be a more successful TV Series based on Psycho than this one.

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