REVIEW: Bates Motel, Season 5 Episode Eight The Body'

 REVIEW: Bates Motel, Season 5 Episode Eight The Body'

At the end of the previous episode, Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore) finally did the right thing. He rang the police,  confessed to the murder of Sam Loomis. Norman, it seems, wants out with his 'Mother' persona, and perhaps views a confession to his crimes as a potential way of ending it once and for all.

Dylan (Max Thieriot), is not happy about this decision in the slightest, and insists he will get his brother a lawyer. It speaks volumes to the loyalty of this character towards his loved ones, that he can look past the murder of his own mother on the basis that Norman is very ill. It's something that reflects the heart of this character, as this man who will stick by those he cares about no matter what. He's essentially the rock who stands firm by his loved ones, who cannot be moved. 

This is something that Sheriff Jane Greene (Brooke Smith) gets to know only too well. She visits him at his new location after the motel is closed off as a crime scene, and asks that he assists them with their investigation into Norman Bates. Dylan of course refuses, showing a stubbornness that we've rarely seen of the character over the past few seasons. It's always great to discover new aspects of a character like this, as it makes them feel more fleshed out and closer to real people. It makes perfect sense here too, because of course Dylan's loyalty towards Norman is going to see him steadfast in his stance.

Norman's lawyer turns out to be a very familiar face for those of us who watch Agents Of SHIELD, as the character is played by none other than Natalia Cordova-Buckley, who was cast in the part of Yo-Yo in the mentioned Marvel TV Series. She's great here as lawyer Julia Ramos too, conveying all of the authority and firmness that you would expect from someone working in the legal profession. Her demeanour suggests someone used to getting their own way, and her language speaks of someone well educated as lawyers typically tend to be. It's a character who feels very different from Yo-Yo, but then that's testament to the excellent acting skills on display here.

Freddie Highmore continues to impress, once again most notably during scenes where he suddenly has to start acting as 'Mother' (Vera Farmiga). The way he's simply Norman one minute, and then his whole body language changes and he instantly becomes 'Mother' is just incredible. He manages to make both parts of the performance feel so different and distinctive, like watching two completely separate characters rather than one person suffering an identity crisis. The casting team really hit the nail on the head when they cast Freddie Highmore in this role, as he's simply perfect.

This is also the episode where Alex Romero (Nestor Carbonell) returns to the motel, and this is such a beautifully shot scene. Alex sees ghostly glimpses of his late wife Norma, with a stunning use of both lighting and special effects that create a sort of haunted house vibe. The poor sheriff is clearly still grieving after all this time; he really misses her, and he will stop at nothing to get justice.

It's Alex who discovers Chick Hogan (Ryan Hurst) is still in the motel, writing his book in the basement where Norman normally does his taxidermy. Alex unsurprisingly instantly takes a dislike to what Chick is doing, seeing his book as somewhat distasteful, and it's hard to disagree. People have died, and he's essentially exploiting that to make money. I'm glad the show has decided to address that here, as there is something quite murky about a character turning what are real murder crimes in this universe into a true crime novel. I'm not sure he quite deserved to be shot by Alex over it though. A little on the extreme side, Alex. 

Overall, 'The Body' is another superb instalment of Bates Motel. Once again, the focus is primarily on character, as we get to learn more about them as people. Freddie Highmore continues to impress, and it's also nice to see a Marvel star here in the form of Natalia Cordova-Buckley. Thankfully the signs are pointing towards Dylan surviving this show so far, as he seems to be firmly on Norman's side, and I hope that remains for both him and Emma, as I'd like to imagine that after Bates Motel they went on to experience a calm and peaceful life.

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