I wasn't sure they'd be able to keep up the momentum after the first episode but episode 2 was great as well. We're beginning to find out more about the mysterious townsfolk of White Pine Bay. Norman joins Deputy Shelby at the Woodchuck Festival. When she notes the strange goings on, he says “There’s different ways to produce an economy and it’s not always what it seems." There's lots of money around town and its not from artesian cheeses and organic pig farming. At least some of it is coming from that big pot field that Emma and Norman ran across at the end of the episode.
We are introduced to Norma's eldest son Dylan. Both the Bates boys have serious mommy issues. Dylan refers to his mother as "Norma" and has her in his phone contact list as "the whore". When Norma asks him why he is there Dylan says he has nowhere to go “although most normal mothers don’t move their home out of state and try and hide it from their own son." After Dylan and Norman get into a fight (over her) Norma orders Dylan to leave. He blackmails his mother with info about her relationship with Sam and his mysterious death. Sam is Norman's father so he and Dylan are half brothers.
Norma and Emma work on a school project together. She must carry an oxygen tank with her since she has cystic fibrosis. Norma's quizzing of her was uncomfortable. "What is your life expectancy?" When Emma answers 27 Norma finds that an adequate answer and sends them upstairs to study. Previously several other girls including Bradley stopped by to ask Norman to go to the library and study. Norma would not allow this. Do people really still go to the library to study? And I don't trust those girls. In real life they wouldn't give Norman a sideways glance. I think they're Satan worshippers who need a virgin to sacrifice.
I'm still not sure about the show being set in current times but it does invoke some fun lines. Norma and Norman are furiously cleaning the kitchen (since they have to get rid of all that blood from Keith's murder) when there is a knock at the door. Dylan says “I got it gang. It's cool. Don’t stop your Swiffering.” When Emma sees the journal that Norman found in the motel, she says "Oh, please. I’ve read a lot manga a lot steamier than this." (Manga are Japanese comics.)
Emma researches the journal and if it's true, there is more bad stuff going on (like there wasn't enough already). At least one girl is buried in the woods and a number of others were sold into the sex trade. Perhaps one of the girls did the journal as a testament to what happened to them?
There are lots of inside jokes if you saw the original "Psycho" such as when Norma tells Dylan that she and Norman have a close mother /son relationship which is perfectly normal. She changes in front of Norman and when he flinches says "Lord, Norman, I’m your mother. It’s not like it’s weird or anything.”
Body Count:
- Episode 1: 2 bodies-- Sam Bates (Norma's husband and Norman's father) and Keith Summers (creep who tried to rape Norma).
- Episode 2: 2 bodies (or maybe 3)-- Dead Flaming Upside Down Guy in the public square and at least one Chinese girl (if the journal is correct) and it sounds like Bradley's father (who was set on fire in his warehouse) will die.
Episode 2 "Nice Town You Picked, Norma..."
Tension arises at the Bates' residence when Dylan, Norma's son from a previous relationship, arrives in need of a place to stay. Outside the house at the bus stop, Norman, Bradley, and his friends witness Bradley's father get into a car accident. When they open the car door they discover he is badly burned. Someone intentionally set Bradley's father's workshop on fire. Keith Summers' truck is found abandoned, arousing suspicion from Sheriff Romero. Norman is partnered up with Emma for an English project. While working on the project in Norman's room, Emma finds, and later analyzes, the contents of the sketchbook Norman has found. As they agree to look into the mystery, Emma kisses Norman. Dylan meets a man who is an employee of Bradley's father, Dylan notices that the man has many 100 dollar bills, he asks how he can obtain that much money in such a small town. Dylan and the man travel to the man's friend and the man's friend asks Dylan if he knows how to use a gun, Dylan replies 'Yes'. In an attempt to distract the police, Norma goes with Deputy Shelby to a town social event. Deputy Shelby suggests to her that the wealth the residents of the town have was earned through illegal means. He implies that the town has an 'eye for an eye' policy. They don't abide to the federal law but to their own created law. At home, Norman fights with Dylan after Dylan makes disparaging comments about their mother. Norman attempts to kill his half brother but Dylan punches Norman in the face. Dylan later persuades Norma into letting him stay by threatening to talk about her late husband, Sam. The next day, Emma and Norman go to the location depicted in the sketchbook. They stumble upon a massive Marijuana field and are chased away by two men armed with guns. As the episode ends, Norma drives and sees a body hanging upside down, burning on fire, in the middle of town, witnessed by many of the townspeople.
Grade: 4 1/2 Monsters (out of 5). Im still very much enjoying Bates Motel. Can't wait to see what happens next in the strange town of White Pine Bay.
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