Bates Motel (TV Series) Nice Town You Picked, Norma... (2013) User Reviews

Not quite as good as the first episode, but it's still tremendously effective

[callanvass · 8/10 · 26 November 2013]

Norma gets an unwarranted visit from her eldest son, Dylan. He's jobless and has no place to stay. Norma reluctantly brings him into the fold after she realizes he won't go away with just money. Norman is extremely jealous that somebody else is living with them, and gets even angrier with how much Dylan loathes Norma. Norman also has issues with the woman he started liking in the first episode, Bradley. Bradley's Dad's car veers off the road at a dangerous speed, and he is badly burned from a warehouse fire. Norman agrees to work with another woman named Emma Decody on a school project. She discovers the book of erotic drawings that Norman is fascinated over. Emma becomes fascinated herself, and insists the events depicted in the book happened for real. Sheriff uncovers Keith Summer's truck, and hassles Norma about it. Norma heads off to hang out with his deputy, Zach Shelby to protect her family, but Norman doesn't like that his Mother is seeing other guys.

While I wait for Season two, I decided to get reacquainted with season one, in preparation for season two. It's amazing that such a little town can provide so much excitement. It's only the second episode, and they've really made things chaotic. It works most of the time, but there are moments where I had to suspend my disbelief. I highly doubt all of these stressful events commencing could happen that fast, especially in a little town, but believe it or not they manage to pull it off with excellent suspense. Dylan's inclusion into the storyline was a very smart choice. Dylan adds a whole new dynamic to the show with his unpredictable, yet calm and collective character. For the viewers that happen to be new to this show, you'll probably have trouble relating to him, but that will change in the later episodes, trust me. Dylan is an amazing character. Max Thieriot does him justice with his brilliant portrayal. His confidence is uncanny, and I relished every second he was on screen. Norman and Bradley's relationship is somewhat furthered, but it's all about Norman & Emma in this one. Olivia Cooke is briefly introduced in the first episode, and she gets much more screen time. What's great about Emma's character is that she's a bit of an enigma herself. She has this unique condition, but she's beautiful as well. Wait until you see Norman introduce her to Norma. You'll be amazed at how subtly cold Norma is to Emma. She's not mean to her, but her intentions are incredibly selfish.

Norma feels pity for Emma, and even asks her what her life expectancy is, because she knows she's not a big threat to Norman, while Bradley could get in the way of Norma & Norman. Speaking of Norma… Vera Farmiga continues to blow me away with her portrayal.She's so conniving, yet so sweet at the same time. She's a really complex character. We get hints at attraction between Norma & Norman, especially on Norman's end. It disturbs me, but you can't look away. This would be explored even more in future episodes of season on. Freddie Highmore makes an amazing Norman Bates. His quirky mannerisms, his unusual style, and his overall weirdness made a huge impression on me. He's got the Betty and Veronica thing going on, only more twisted, Bradley being Veronica, and Emma being Betty. As I explained in the review for the first episode, it doesn't bother me that Norman is a chick magnet. I'm glad this show has its own vision. Deputy Shelby is a very interesting character, and the exact opposite of his superior, aka Sheriff Romano. The finale provides some truly memorable suspense. The chase scene while Norman and Emma are searching for the shack of where the drawings commenced had my heart pounding, especially with Emma's condition. I wasn't sure what was going to happen, and I loved it. For a transitional episode, I couldn't have asked for more. Everyone is developing perfectly.

Final Thoughts: I enjoyed this episode just as much the second time. Yes. It does get suspiciously chaotic at times, but it's done in amazing fashion. It's highly recommend for fans of this show. Chances are, you've seen it already. Everyone has their opinions. Die-Hard psycho fans may question some things, but i'm just enjoying the ride. As a die-hard Psycho fan myself, I don't see how you can't enjoy this show

8.7/10

Dylan Arrives!

[gab-14712 · 9/10 · 14 January 2019]

After watching this second episode of Bates Motel, consider me impressed. I am still skeptical how the entire series will shake out, but I enjoyed what I have seen so far. It is obvious the show is still trying to find its footing and it clearly toys around with ideas to keep the interest of its audience. Some things may come out of the blue such as an adventure in a pot field and the plot being connected to Chinese sex slaves, but the cast really is worth watching as every actor or actress elevates the sometime-jarring material to another level. Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga continue to show a striking, almost sexual energy with each other. You can really see Vera's dominance over her son come into play with this episode. We are also introduced to Dylan, played wonderfully by Max Theriot and he provides drama as an antagonist to the rest of the Bates family.

Much to the dismay of Norma Bates, her eldest son comes to town and decides to live with them. She hoped he would grab money from her and leave, but that is not the case. Bradley's father is involved in a car crash near the motel and during the investigation, Sheriff Romero discovers Keith Summer's car. Romero asks Norma questions about Summer's possible disappearance. Norman's relationships with his women continues. We were briefly introduced to Emma in the pilot, but we spend a lot of time with her here. Emma looks at a book of drawings Norman discovered involving a sex slave, and she thinks the events depicted in the drawings are real. Norman and Emma decide to lead their own personal investigation in the matter.

I really liked this episode, even though it is still searching for its grasp. The acting is what made this episode fun to watch. There were interesting moments and some funny moments. I loved when Norman introduces Emma to Norma. Norma reacts in a cold manner and trying to pronounce Emma's last name is a nice bit of comedy. I was wondering how the Bates would fare with the fallout of the event that occurred with Keith Summers last episode, and those events show us more characterization of Sheriff Romero and introduces us to Deputy Shelby. There may be pot fields, or a mystery concerning random sex slaves, or people suddenly burning up in town, but we get a good sense more about the town and its people. The townsfolk seem quite suspicious. I liked this episode, and I am curious to see what is next.

My Grade: A-

Uh . . .

[iagodeotto · 5/10 · 15 October 2017]

. . . up into the second episode of the first season. But could this thing be any more chock-a-bloc full of false notes? Vera and Freddy are excellent, as is much of the cast, if not all (haven't really paid that much attention to the other characters so far), but the sequence of events and the dialog supporting said events, seem rather, what's the word? Ridiculous? I'll give at least through the first season, anyway, 'cause of the two main leads and the overall apparent story line. Still, what the, you know, that word.

Nice Town You Picked Norma

[Michael_Elliott · 25 March 2013]

Bates Motel: 'Nice Town You Picked Norma' (2013)

Rating: B-

A&E's "Bates Motel" mini-series is basically going to be re-working PSYCHO IV. If you've seen that film then you know it shows what was going on with Mrs. Bates and Norman before the events in the original Alfred Hitchcock film. While that prequel wasn't perfect, it at least put a nice wrap-around story to the original film.

After the events in the first episode, Norma and Norman try to move on but this isn't very easy to do when the Sheriff starts asking questions about a man who has gone missing. Things get even worse when Norma's son Dylan (Max Thieriot) comes to visit without asking. While all of this is going on Norman continues to show interest in a girl who herself has some problems she must deal with.

I must admit that this second episode really took a step back and it would have been even more disappointing had it not been for the terrific cast who once again shine. There's really no question at this point that both Vera Farmiga and Freddie Highmore are terrific in their parts and they certainly help carry the rather questionable material. I thought both of them perfectly fit into their parts and you're really not seeing anyone else in the roles. Both share a terrific and at times creepy chemistry and it really helps the episode. Thieriot is also very good in his role as are the rest of the supporting players. As I said, this episode left me rather cold for a number of reasons but the biggest is the various subplots that are being thrown into the episode. Not only do we have more romance from Norman but we've even got Norma hitting the town and then we have the added drama of the brother. Not only this but there's something involving a fire victim that I won't spoil and we even have a freaking pot field coming out of nowhere. I'm really not sure where any of this is heading but it's not all that interesting. I don't know where it's heading because of events in the first episode that were brought up for no apparent reason and nothing is really answered here.

I'm sticking with the series but one hopes they center in on a story and quit jumping around to pointless things so much.

CSI: White Pine Bay

[stillworkingfortheknife · 6 September 2014]

Combustion appears to be a motif of Bates Motel's second instalment: not only is the warehouse of Bradley's father put a match to in the opening minutes, which sparks (har, har) him being burned alive in his hot sports car (har, har) wearing a suit, which is remarkably high up on the list of the most bad-arse ways to commit suicide, only below overeating at a feast given in your honour (look it up, that genuinely happened), although I'm uncertain of the extent to which this will lift his inanimate mood, and I've just noticed that I've been maundering so much that I copulated up my entire sentence structure. Anyway, there's also Norma witnessing a burned body dangling about in the town centre in the final scene of the episode and the burning desire to switch off my television I felt several times during "Nice Town You Picked, Norma…".

Nevertheless, this is a perceptible improvement over the programme's extraordinarily chaotic pilot, especially so the first intimations that White Pine Bay is somewhat uncannier than it initially purported to be, the augmentation of the Bates family tree (I like how Dylan raises questions as well as Max Thieriot's performance, but how could the writers not take the chance of making his character a Frenchman by the name of Normand?), and most of the acting. The supporting cast may collectively not be anything more than all right, but Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga are two very good leads, particularly when they're on screen together (his brilliantly acted discomfort as his mother is changing in front of him gives me confidence that he could actually fill Anthony Perkins's proverbial size 13 shoes). Oh, and about that »I'm your mother. It's not as if it's weird or anything.«, Norma, that is precisely what makes it weird. And since I'm at it, licking your finger and then rubbing it into someone else's face would fall into this categorisation as well.

In view of all these positive qualities, it is simply astonishing how Bates Motel has failed to be more than a mediocre television programme thus far, due to thoroughly ludicrous writing every so often. In "Nice Town You Picked, Norma…", Freddie and Emma's expedition to the woods was the nadir. Sure, the guards of the marijuana field chasing the two wayfarers gave director Tucker Gates space to include some action, but what is warranting it from a storytelling slant? Bearing in mind that the plantation's about as hard to find as a two-year-old playing hide and seek for the first time and that there are people who take pleasure in hiking and might stumble across it, it seems to be a bit of an overreaction to pursue every single trespasser.

And if you're willing to accept this premise insulting the intelligence of anyone with a primary school level of education, wouldn't two fit adult men knowing this location inside out be able to capture two adolescents, one of them even having a breathing disorder, who are there for the first time? Nah, says Kerry Ehrin, and Tucker Gates gives his thanks by using the much revered technique of shaky cam – which is, incidentally, exactly the type of obnoxiously sounding name something like shaky cam deserves. And how about that scene, in which Norman, on the spur of the moment, decides to batter his brother's head in? A 26-year-old Norman Bates doing that? Fine, if you must. But a 17-year-old Norman Bates doing that? That's just stupid.

I shall give the writer/director duo at least some praise, however, for making Bates Motel a very enjoyable programme. And if the next few episodes contain a little more conversations in the style of Norma's inquisition of Emma and a little less shocking violence every quarter-hour, it could just become guilty pleasure without the 'guilty'.

Twelve cabins, six notations: • I hadn't yet commented on the theme song (if one can even call it that) of this programme in my review for the pilot, believing it might change; however, it did not, and so we're left with these five seconds of bland unoriginality. • I'm as much of an expert on the workings of fire as on the budgetary stability of the Talas region in northern Kyrgyzstan, but Bradley's father surviving is impossible, right? • There are questions that would be considered conventional for mothers to ask the girl their son has invited home with him. »What is your life expectancy?« is not one of them. • I'd say that the best moment of this programme's first two episodes was Norma telling Norman about her 'good-will mission' to meet up with Bad Pun Cop in town and him just grinning, as if to say, »I'm sure that mission will be heard through the walls tonight.« • Oh, the irony of Norman snapping when seeing that his Brother has saved Norma under the name 'The Whore' on his mobile phone, but then calling him a son of a bitch in their argument. • I'm quite glad that Emma discerned Norman's blatantly obvious lie about his injury. Otherwise, I'd probably have attempted to boo her away by flinging raw eggs at my flat screen and that would have been a nuisance to clean up.

Psycho Meets Silent Hill but in a good way.

[Payback1016 · 25 March 2013]

This episode is exactly what I meant by slow start. Each passing moment becomes one more step closer to Norman's eventual growth in to the man we know he is gonna be. It gives more hints like the first such as where his interest in Taxidermy came from and Norma taking in a lover. It also has an interesting twist by implying to us that the Bates family isn't the only people in Fairville with dark secrets. The entire town has enough skeletons in their closets to fill a cemetery. Some minor like finding a pot field in the middle of the woods. Some major such as mysterious assaults where victims are set on fire. We also get a taste of the psychotic rage Norman will eventually accept in his life. All and all the show is slowly getting better and I hope to see the 3rd episode.

Bates Motel Nice Town You Picked, Norma ...

[dalydj-918-255175 · 26 March 2013]

Norman and Norma have some strange chemistry and also Norma has some strange chemistry with her other son Dylan she had from a previous man making him the step brother of Norman. Emma became a bigger part of the show this week which I do not like much because her character is just not as interesting as others. I thought the Dylan character was fine but the thing that made his character better was his conflict with Norma that really intrigues me. The town Norma and Norman have moved into seems quite strange to me with bodies being burned as well as Chinese girls being sold as sex slaves and buried near sheds. The moment Norma said it was not strange for her to undress in front of Norman was when I realized Norma is the messed up Bates family member and not Norman who most people know for being a murderer. The pilot was better then this episode but still Farmiga is keeping me watch this show because her performance is very strong and while I do not like Highmore in the role of Norman Bates I think he and Farmiga do have the right strange sexual chemistry the characters call for.

EPISODE GRADE: C+ (MVP: Vera Farmiga)