My first reaction to the new A&E show about Norman and Norma Bates was that it was too much a simpleton’s view of their well known, complex story. By now, both Norman and his mother have woven themselves into the fabric of evolving American culture and in many ways, there’s no turning back. The Bates Motel I had in my head was a Mad Men type of show full of retro nostalgia and the mother I had in my head was a cold fish, clingy perhaps but not a fully fleshed out woman as realized by Vera Farmiga. Freddie Highmore is a formidable Norman, not yet the fully fleshed out grown man leading a double life yet but you could see him heading in that direction.
I also thought the show was going to lay blame completely on Mother – that Norman would have been a perfectly well-adjusted boy were it not for his mother. But the show fooled me in old Hitchcockian fashion. Turns out, there is probably more to Norman than meets the eye.
The other twist in the story is that it’s held in modern times, making it a kind of Psycho meets Dawson’s Creek. At least, that’s what you’re led to believe. But the show sort of drifts backwards in time each time we head back to Bates Motel, where all of the really good action is. That house. That motel. I know every turn and every wall. And I have to say, they got that part of it really right on.
There are subtle references to Psycho the movie that you might only get if you knew the movie well (as I do; it’s practically my second child I’ve watched it so many times). After a while I found myself liking this take on it, despite my own inner protestations that some things don’t need to explained or colored in.
What I like about the show is that it doesn’t try to do what last year’s Hitchcock did – it doesn’t try to “explain” Psycho, mercifully. Instead, it offers up Norma and Norman as a kind of remake of Psycho itself. The town is changing. Soon there will be no more cars heading through there and Norma and Norman will be closed off to themselves like never before.
I never envisioned Norma as a murderer – to my mind it was always just Norman. But I saw enough in episode one to keep watching. I plan to write something longer later but wanted to punch this out quickly.
“Looked like Norman was coming out of a trance when the opening shot occurred. ”
I don’t think it was a trance. The way he stumbled into the hallway, I bet he was drugged by her to fall asleep while she killed the dad.
Farmiga is awesome! She adds those little nuanced expressions and words that make the character real. She is one of the actors I always check on IMDB to see what’s coming up next.
Agree that there is a story with Norman, almost another person in residence. Plus what is the story with the elder son? Vera Farmiga is doing an amazing job of the protective but warped mother. In addition to the overlay on my images of the original is this growing creepy sense of evil in a Jacki Weaver in Animal Kingdom. I will keep watching but a whole lot of cringing will be happening as I do.
lol AnthonyP. I thought the same. I also agree Sasha, there is more to Norman than the simple influences of mother. (***SPOILER***) Like what happened to daddy? Looked like Norman was coming out of a trance when the opening shot occurred. I loved the first episode. Cannot wait until Monday. I wish I could crash view this like the brilliant “House of Cards”. However, this seems to be a show that will be gently weaved to us. Which is probably better given the subject matter. Lots to think about!
The sheriff looks like Anthony Perkins.
Never buy a foreclosed house.
I look forward to it, having revisited the 1960 feature after this year’s ‘Hitchcock’, and been fascinated by the brilliance of the original movie. I do like Vera Farmiga – heartbreakingly good in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Freddie Highmore is/was an amazing young actor. He made several movies in a two year period. and then not much. I look forward to seeing it in May here in Oz.
The show was HORRIBLE. Dull, phony, muddled. Highmore was wooden.
Farmiga was embarrassing, I don’t know what she was doing and neither did she,
so pathetically underplaying. Setting a prequel to a 1960 classic in 2013
only adds to the mess and confusion. What a dud.
I absolutely love this original take on “Psycho,” and I can’t wait to go on this journey with the Bates Motel. After watching last night’s episode, I made sure to program my DISH Hopper to record the entire season. With my late work shift at DISH, I am always using the 2,000 hours of storage space to stay caught up with shows. It’s great that I never have to risk missing an episode, especially with all the secrets this show has to offer.
Couldn’t agree more with you, Sasha. I also assumed they’d put the entire blame on the mother, even if they did try, there’s just something about Farmiga’s performance that’s just so complex, she’d simply never allow it to be that easy. I loved how subtle she played it, how detail-oriented the performance is without falling into any actor-y tricks, she’s so brilliant. Highmore was a bit of a question mark for me, but at the same time it’s hard to picture what actor his age I’d like in the role; I can say though that without even saying a word he blows the awful awful awful Vince Vaughn in the re-make. I’ll definitely keep watching, I love the style of it, I love that it’s set in the present with nods to the 40s and 50s (I’m a huge TWINK PEAKS fan), and I particularly cannot get enough of Vera Farmiga in it.
Hated every cheap, tired minute. A sacrilege to Hitch and Perkins.
Argh! I’m gonna have to watch this too now, too much good stuff not enough time…
As much as I adore WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN and RATCATCHER
This seems like a total dick move by Lynne Ramsay. A little unprofessional? I’d Say.
http://www.deadline.com/2013/03/shocker-jane-got-a-gun-loses-director-lynne-ramsay-on-first-day-of-production/
Blimey, I didn’t know this series was about “the” Norma and Norman Bates, what do you know. I will have to check it out. I will forever love Vera Farmiga for her excellent performance in Up In The Air. Highmore has been somewhat stiff in some stuff I’ve seen him in but he does have a very nuanced face. I might give this is a shot.
I have been very skeptical about this but now Sasha, after reading your piece, I think I will give it a try!
I’d been unsure about this, but now i’ll give it a shot!
Speaking of Bates’ influence on modern film, having just seen the brilliantly hitchcokian STOKER, Mathew Goode’s character is a spot on Norman Bates impression, and it’s incredible!
I will repeat: Farmiga is the most underrated actres working in USA cinema nowadays. Highmore sounds promising as a young adult (“The Art of Getting By”), he who as child star, kick ass. And thanks to IMDB I just discovered that the creator of “Bates Motel” wrote the awesome “Twelve and Holding”.
“Bates Motel” first season will have only ten episodes, right? Hopes the rating are good.