Bates Motel

2012 • A&E
4.6
8.02K reviews
TV-MA
Rating
Eligible
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Season 1 episodes (11)

1 First You Dream, Then You Die
3/18/13
After the tragic death of her husband, Norma Bates (Vera Farmiga) buys a motel on the outskirts of an idyllic coastal town seeking a fresh start. Her handsome and shy teenage son Norman (Freddie Highmore) quickly catches the eyes of the local girls, much to his mother's horror. Norma and Norman soon discover the idyllic town isn't what it seems, and the locals will do anything to protect their secret. But the Bates are done being pushed around and they will do whatever it takes to survive - and to protect secrets of their own. When everything is most tense, an unexpected guest arrives and turns their lives upside down.
2 Nice Town You Picked, Norma...
3/25/13
Dylan wastes no time causing trouble at home and all the while, the Bates family is inexorably drawn into the dark underbelly of White Pine Bay.
3 What's Wrong With Norman
4/1/13
Dylan starts his new job and learns that there is more to it than he thought. Meanwhile, Norman and Emma make a shocking discovery.
4 Trust Me...
4/8/13
Norma's suspicions about people in town are raised, but other distractions continue to surface.
5 Ocean View
4/15/13
Norman desperately seeks his mother's return home as Norma gets some much needed help. Norman and Emma find more clues that lead to a big discovery, while Norman continues to pursue Bradley.
6 The Truth
4/22/13
Dylan asks Norman to move in with him. Chaos ensues at the Bates home as Norma tells Emma that some things are better kept to themselves.
7 The Man in Number 9
4/29/13
Norma's first guest at the Bates Motel is not what she expected. Norman discovers that even popular girls are complicated.
8 A Boy And His Dog
5/6/13
Norma finds herself in conflict with a mysterious stranger. Rumors spread at school and Bradley is not enthused. Dylan and Remo go on a road trip that has a violent outcome. Norman takes up a grisly hobby.
9 Underwater
5/13/13
Abernathy amps up the pressure, but Norma doesn't know what he wants. Dylan and Bradley connect. Norman has an active imagination, which Miss Watson encourages. Emma goes on a trip.
10 Midnight
5/20/13
Romero decides that it is time to act and Norman takes Emma to the dance. Miss Watson gives Norman a ride home.
101 First Look
3/4/13
Check in to Bates Motel with this special excerpt from the series' pilot episode.

About this show

From Executive Producers Carlton Cuse (Lost) and Kerry Ehrin (Friday Night Lights and Parenthood), Bates Motel delves into the sadistic and twisted relationship between serial killer-to-be, Norman Bates, and his mother Norma, played by Vera Famiga. A prelude to the classic horror film Psycho, the series takes a contemporary glimpse into Norman's formative years and reveals how he became one of the most infamous murderers of all time.

Ratings and reviews

4.6
8.02K reviews
A1ex Rasmussen
October 29, 2017
This show has the perfect pacing, and build-up to where the old classic Hitchcock films, "Psycho" & "Psycho II" were when it came to the series of events. If I had one complaint, it would be that the ending episodes felt slightly rushed, and the final episode feeling quite abrupt, and unrealistic. It would've been nice to see Norman Bates becoming even more picture perfect to the old classic film's Norman Bates. Showing the long term madness, and methods to which Norman uses to keep a normal profile for Motel residents to be fooled by. Then later down the line of events get caught, and get properly treated for his mental disorder, and maybe even get mentally stable. I guess Freddie Highmore, "Norman Bates" had to move onto that new medical show called "The Good Doctor". Unlike most shows, every second of every episode of every season has a point and a meaningful purpose to the build up for a handful of characters, rather than wasting our time with (filler/redundant/repetitive) content. This is SIMPLY THE BEST SHOW EVER MADE!!! More horror villains need well thought-out prologues, especially Dr. Heiter from "The Human Centipede". Seriously!!!
50 people found this review helpful
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Sean Richmond (Sean)
June 22, 2014
While being a good deal better than American Horror Story, it isn't anything to go out of your way to watch. Skip this one, Top of the Lake delivers everything this story fails to. If you need to see the Bates origin story, and you don't, wait for it on Netflix.
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Jenny
February 13, 2016
The progression of each character is beyond fact. The direction is amazing. I rarely see such shows with the most violent content keep it light airy not any pivotal moment more like a calm before a storm. It's gotten less credit than deserved. A woman wrote an exemplary and true piece on this show. I agree however, it was like dexter please don't think I would take your words, your eloquence supersedes mine so I appreciate intellectual opinions.
13 people found this review helpful
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