|
HEARD GOOD THINGS? Wanna know what the big deal is? A&E has been kind enough to put all the episodes online as they air! Here's the deal: It's a prequel to Psycho, except it isn't. It takes place in the modern era and the producers claim only moderate fidelity to the source material. In the paraphrased words of producers Carlton Cuse (Lost) and Kerry Ehrin (Friday Night Lights), they're not necessarily tied to an ending where (Psycho spoiler) Norman dons a wig and murders Marion Crane. So basically, it may be best to treat this as a completely original show.  On the left: Freddie Highmore as 17-year-old Norman Bates. Next to him is his mother, Norma, played by Vera Farminga. The patriarch of their family has tragically died, but Norma doesn't seem too broken up about it. She's taken Norman to make a fresh start in the seaside town of White Pine Bay, purchasing a broken-down motel to renovate and run. Unfortunately, the old owner shows up and, uh, isn't too thrilled about the new management. Things deteriorate dramatically. It's on right now, and while it's not currently proving to have much of a purpose to it, both Highmore and Farminga are TREMENDOUS. They nail the smothering, emotionally abusive, just-short-of-incestuous relationship the two have; Farminga in particular is a tremendous emotional terrorist while still, SOME-loving-HOW, maintaining a modicum of likability. The show earns a lot of goodwill up front because I can watch these two do this all day. The first showing is finishing up now but it's about to repeat. No guarantees you'll feel the same way I do, but definitely give this a shot. DivisionPost fucked around with this message at Apr 16, 2013 around 15:25 |
| # ? Mar 19, 2013 02:56 |
|
|
|
| # ? May 23, 2013 09:30 |
|
|
The show had me at "Norman Bates goes to a rave". Seriously, just a fantastic pilot. I can't wait for the creepy to ramp up even more.
|
| # ? Mar 19, 2013 03:02 |
|
|
As expected this was drat good. Two outstanding leads with a really solid supporting cast around them. drat good stuff. Seriously, I can't heap enough praise on Farminga and Highmore here. They are both fantastic.
|
| # ? Mar 19, 2013 03:40 |
|
|
Good stuff. You know what you are going to get with Vera Farmiga, she's one of those actors whose talent is far ahead of her fame. They are layering a lot of creepy poo poo to get Norman to where (we think) he ends up.
|
| # ? Mar 19, 2013 03:51 |
|
|
Cool. I've been waiting for this. It's probably going to suck, but I don't care. I already watch one terrible serial killer show on Monday nights at 9. Might make it a double shot each Monday.
|
| # ? Mar 19, 2013 03:57 |
|
|
I'm mixed on the pilot. Some pretty good moments, some not so great. I like Norman's school stuff, and I like that they didn't go the obvious route and make him the unpopular outcast. The production design and look of the show is pretty nice, and Farmiga's fantastic in pretty much everything she's ever been in, so I'm sure she'll be the highlight of the show. The canoe scene was really good as well, and I like the relationship between Norma and Norman that they're building. Things I didn't care for as much: surprise sex. The whole way that character was introduced and the scene itself just felt like lazy writing. And kind of exploitative? I don't know if I fully buy Highmore's acting yet, either. He seems like he's trying to fight that accent with every line delivery. Also not sure about Norma's characterization yet. That dinner scene with her and Norman felt like a completely different character than the rest of the episode. Another weird scene was introducing the sheriff. For some reason Nestor Carbonell decided to play that whole thing as overly aggressive and stand-offish. From all appearances, it's a woman and her son working on her property. Why was the sheriff playing it like he expected to find a corpse? Anyways, I'll keep watching. Pilots are tricky to pull off, and a lot of times are one of the weaker episodes compared to what the show eventually grows into. There's enough here that it could turn out pretty decent.
|
| # ? Mar 19, 2013 04:43 |
|
|
That didn't suck. It's cast with a whole bunch "where do I know that person from?" actors. I had to look most of them up on IMDB, but the only one that's still eluding me is the sickly girl, I think she said her name was Emma Dakoty? Any leads on who that actress is? The internet hasn't caught up with the show info yet.
|
| # ? Mar 19, 2013 05:04 |
|
|
Manos del Sino posted:That didn't suck. Olivia Cooke http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bates_...%28TV_series%29
|
| # ? Mar 19, 2013 05:05 |
|
|
Of course, the one resource I didn't check. Thanks! I guess I don't recognize her though - I've never seen anything else she was in.
|
| # ? Mar 19, 2013 05:08 |
|
|
qbert posted:Another weird scene was introducing the sheriff. For some reason Nestor Carbonell decided to play that whole thing as overly aggressive and stand-offish. From all appearances, it's a woman and her son working on her property. Why was the sheriff playing it like he expected to find a corpse? I took it as him asserting himself a little bit. Remember, the previous owner said he was close friends with a lot of the cops, so the sheriff might have some resentment towards this outsider who put his friend out of a job/home. Plus, the way the other cop was being super-friendly, I got the sense that they were doing a little good cop/bad cop to feel out the newcomers.
|
| # ? Mar 19, 2013 08:58 |
|
|
Vera was so goddamned hot in The Departed. Gonna check this out due to its official Goondorsement
|
| # ? Mar 19, 2013 09:26 |
|
|
As soon as the pilot was over, I was itching for a second episode. Gonna be a long week.
|
| # ? Mar 19, 2013 11:51 |
|
|
Gosh, Norman Bates in a Waldorf School, and next week we'll prevent "that new bypass". Also, they stole my D'Onofrio/Farmiga Chained/Running Scared fanfic.
|
| # ? Mar 19, 2013 15:04 |
|
|
This show is creepy as gently caress. I'm enjoying it.
|
| # ? Mar 19, 2013 17:37 |
|
|
Looks promising ratings-wise. http://tv.yahoo.com/news/bates-mote...-184211459.html quote:With its initial 10 pm airing, the Bates family origin story drew 3 million total viewers, with 1.6 mil landing in the 18-49 sweet spot. That demo delivery marks an A&E high for an original drama series debut. It will be interesting to see what if any fall-off they have next week.
|
| # ? Mar 19, 2013 20:57 |
|
|
I wasn't expecting great things but the pilot actually turned out to be pretty drat solid. I'll be tuning in to this each week to see how it plays out.
|
| # ? Mar 20, 2013 00:17 |
|
|
Well this had the potential to be one of many stupid remakes of things, but so far it actually seems to be doing the Hitchcock material some justice. Suspense is good, characters are decent. Hopefully it keeps panning out.
|
| # ? Mar 20, 2013 01:27 |
|
|
My aunt and uncle live just down the road from where the exterior set is located so I've been looking forward to this show for a while. It did not disappoint.
|
| # ? Mar 20, 2013 05:14 |
|
|
I hadn't read up on the show, so I wasn't aware of the setting and I honestly thought it was set in the 60's or something until they showed Norman at the bus stop with his cell phone.
|
| # ? Mar 20, 2013 10:33 |
|
|
What the hell happened in the end?
|
| # ? Mar 21, 2013 01:01 |
|
|
User-Friendly posted:What the hell happened in the end? Seems as if the drawings in the notebook he found were based on something that was actually happening somewhere.
|
| # ? Mar 21, 2013 04:39 |
|
|
My theory on the stuff at the end is that it'll turn out to be a flashforward, and Norman is the one doing that stuff (inspired by the drawings in the book).
|
| # ? Mar 21, 2013 05:09 |
|
|
Eh I felt it was pretty contrived to be honest. Pretty girls immediately flock to Norman, offer him a ride and a party, do the whole "you're different aren't you?" spiel, the crazy ex-owner shows up just long enough so we know who he is when he comes around for a late night attack, and they manage to pull off the cliche "police come around, do good cop/bad cop, almost discover the crime" tense standoff. I know it's the pilot and they have to establish the relationship, but hopefully it'll get better now that we're all caught up on who the characters are. Felt it was well acted though (even if their reactions to the dead body could have been more emotional, but I guess that's part of the crazy.) And some of the visuals certainly have a '60s vibe to them, like when Norman was standing in the kitchen at the party. If they meant to do that, then kudos. Also hope it gets a proper title sequence. The neon sign by itself, looking like a 3D render, is pretty lame.
|
| # ? Mar 21, 2013 08:02 |
|
|
I liked it and I have high hopes for it going forward. I actually wouldn't have minded if they'd taken things a little slower and not had them make their first on screen kill in the first episode. This seems like it could be a nice slow burn show. But I was looking for another quality serial drama/thriller to get into and this looks like it has all the right elements such as quality actors, good writing and production. Plus I'm a huge fan of Psycho. Can't wait till next week.
-Blackadder- fucked around with this message at Mar 23, 2013 around 21:17 |
| # ? Mar 23, 2013 21:14 |
|
|
They are really nailing this awkward relationship between Norma and Norman. Sweet Jesus. It's almost uncomfortable to watch. Hope this keeps up.
|
| # ? Mar 26, 2013 02:44 |
|
|
GODDAMN IT, I almost forgot this was coming on. DP, you should know better! Get this thing sticky'd next week! Nobody watches A&E for anything else! 
|
| # ? Mar 26, 2013 02:54 |
|
|
Goon recommendation got me to watch the pilot online today, and I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed this new episode, but the jury's still out for me on the dynamic added to the Bates mix with the half-brother Dylan - as has been said, the Norma/Norman relationship is awesomely creepy and as far as I'm concerned it's the central point of the show. Highmore is killing it as a young Norman Bates. He seems to be working a bit of Anthony Perkins' mannerisms in developing the character's duality. The scene tonight where Norman loses it on Dylan is a pretty prime example, I think.
|
| # ? Mar 26, 2013 03:32 |
|
|
Awesome second episode. The town isn't just a setting now, it's a character, a force. And Norman's CF girlfriend is adorable and cool and her dying is going to be the thing that really pushes Norman over the edge. 
|
| # ? Mar 26, 2013 03:34 |
|
|
Mr. Funny Pants posted:Norman's CF girlfriend is adorable and cool The Something Awful Forums > The Finer Arts > The TV IV > Bates Motel - I read a LOT of manga Second episode definitely better than the first. They really aren't being subtle with the reverse-Oedipus complex though huh?
|
| # ? Mar 26, 2013 04:00 |
|
|
drat that was a good second episode. The whole part they are running from the weed farm guards was intense. Hitting all the right notes so far let's hope they keep it up.
|
| # ? Mar 26, 2013 05:47 |
|
|
Mr. Funny Pants posted:Awesome second episode. The town isn't just a setting now, it's a character, a force. I can totally see how some critics (namely Sepinwall and Fienberg, but there are others) have trouble with the show's lack of identity. Is it about the development of a serial killer? Is it about a family that accidentally moved into a hotbed of criminal activity and got involved in a massive drug war? Is it about the attempted coverup of a murder? I feel like a show that stuck with just one of these stories would be stronger overall*, but the show were're getting, this eclectic mix of all three, has more character to it. Maybe I'll get sick of it; in fact, maybe the critics know that a burnout is inevitable and that's why the lack of focus was worth noting. But for now, I can't help but admire the gumption, even if the execution is less-than-stellar. *And the strongest of these stories? I don't know if it could sustain a series but I'd watch a solid two hours of Freddie Highmore, Olivia Cooke, and Vera Farmiga going up against violent pot farmers. Watching Norman and Emma outrun those guys was intense. It was also way more fun than it had any right to be when you consider that the methodical, relatively low-key Psycho is the jumping off point for the show. quote:And Norman's CF girlfriend is adorable and cool and her dying is going to be the thing that really pushes Norman over the edge. You know a show has got you when you're just a little open to the producers loving with the mythology of one of the most sacred characters in cinema, just to see him get a happy ending. But seriously, whatever pushes him over the edge is going to be related DIRECTLY to his mother, whether or not it involves Emma. In fact, I think they're setting up Dylan to be Norman's first kill; he's somehow going to find out about the threat Dylan made, and Norman is going to stab the poo poo out of him to protect Norma. The writers and Max Thierot have made Dylan enough of an utter prick to almost kind of justify it, while also giving you just enough of a sense of why he is to make him tragic and support a "slippery slope" development for Norman.
|
| # ? Mar 26, 2013 06:04 |
|
|
Just finished watching the new episode (had it DVR'ed from earlier). The incest vibes are getting really creepy  Also, Dylan is totally going to die. He's getting too close to the truth.
|
| # ? Mar 26, 2013 07:06 |
|
|
The extended preview implies that Emma will be Norman's first kill. That makes way too much sense to be a red herring, but it still better be, I'd hate to have been spoiled on that because I didn't dive for the remote immediately. edit: The whole first and second episode I was thinking that Dylan was a figment of their imagination. Is that just me?
|
| # ? Mar 26, 2013 10:17 |
|
|
precision posted:edit: The whole first and second episode I was thinking that Dylan was a figment of their imagination. Is that just me? Norman's face was pretty well-clobbered, and I don't seem him being strong/skilled enough to beat himself up Tyler Durden-style. Plus Emma was greeted by him at the door and addressed him as a new person she hadn't met.
|
| # ? Mar 26, 2013 10:51 |
|
|
Checking in, this show still creepy and weird and everyone is a horrible person who should be in prison? Yep, that's cool. The sheriff is the only one who seems nice or kind in any way so I'm sure he's the one holding girls in a sex dungeon. Not that I don't like the show or get what they're doing but holy shitsnacks. The fact that formerly abused / molested (?) Dylan was last seen by me playing wholesome Ned Nickerson did not help either.
|
| # ? Mar 26, 2013 11:14 |
|
|
ShakeZula posted:Norman's face was pretty well-clobbered, and I don't seem him being strong/skilled enough to beat himself up Tyler Durden-style. Plus Emma was greeted by him at the door and addressed him as a new person she hadn't met. And imagined characters don't usually get their own scenes away from the presence of the person doing the imagining. DivisionPost posted:In fact, I think they're setting up Dylan to be Norman's first kill; he's somehow going to find out about the threat Dylan made, and Norman is going to stab the poo poo out of him to protect Norma. I was genuinely surprised that Norman tried to go meat-tenderizer on Dylan. I was sure he was just going to look longingly at the various implements and that would be the end of the scene. He's further down the Oedipus rabbit hole (mixed literary metaphor, wheeee!) than I thought. Mr. Funny Pants fucked around with this message at Mar 26, 2013 around 12:50 |
| # ? Mar 26, 2013 12:37 |
|
|
Really liking this show so far and really looking forward to the journey. CF girl is adorable, but her accent/affectation is really bothering me (though I am fully aware she can't help some of it due to the tubes in her nose). Am I the only one?
|
| # ? Mar 26, 2013 18:45 |
|
|
Good show, the 2nd episode was better than the 1st for sure. I am curious which angle they will go with in terms of furthering the evil town plot but my god the creepiness between the 2 leads is amazing.
|
| # ? Mar 26, 2013 19:15 |
|
|
I forgot to mention, the two "posters" for this show are better than 99.9% of the actual movie posters being produced today. So simple, yet evocative of the show's themes, and of course, creepy as hell.
|
| # ? Mar 26, 2013 20:02 |
|
|
|
| # ? May 23, 2013 09:30 |
|
|
I liked the first episode much more than the second. The small scale plot of Norman becoming evil is much more interesting than generic TV criminal faction. The stupid drug cartel/deeper criminal roots poo poo ruined Sons of Anarchy and I think it's going to ruin this show.
|
| # ? Mar 26, 2013 21:46 |
|
