Bates Motel Season 4 Episode 3 Review: Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Romero (Or Not)

Alex and Norma go through with their "for insurance purposes only" wedding. The scene with them waiting with the other couples at city hall was too funny. Romero asks Norma for a little attention. He is a city official after all. Norma awkwardly puts her head on his shoulder. Great scene!

After they are wed, Alex declares he must move into the Bates home (to make it look legit). Norma puts up a fight but we know she cant stand to be alone. Norman is going to be VERY unhappy when he finds out. Having a cop in the house will definitely slow down his ability to dispose of bodies.

Alex is actually very good for Norma. He's patient and tolerates her craziness. And Norma deserves a little happiness before she's killed by Mother. The episode title ("Til Death Do Us Part") reminds us of what will eventually happen to the couple.

The Romeros go out for a nice dinner. Norma gets liquored up and talks a little about her two previous marriages. She neglects to mention that Dylan's father is her brother Caleb (and that Norman killed her second husband). Minor details. When they return to the house, Alex tucks Norma in. It's obvious that she wouldnt have minded him stayed in her bed. Romero instead heads back to his room. Someone's playing hard to get. They later sleep together though (after Norma has a bad visit with Norman).

Norman is none too happy to be in the loony bin (despite having checked himself in). He meets a fellow patient who's about the same age. Julian thinks he's a bad ass. We know he's likely Mother's next victim. At the end of the episode, Norman tells his therapist Dr Edwards that his mother is a murderer and he'd like to report her to the authorities. Uh oh. Not good.

We later see FWB Rebecca vat Alex's house. She works at the bank and previously laundered money for the now missing Bob Paris. Rebecca is worried about being connected to the illegal activity. Romero tells her to cover her tracks and play it cool. She makes a pass at Alex. He rebukes her saying he's biw married. Did she steal the drug money Alex took from Bob? That would be bad since part of it is for Norman's hospital stay. Nope, it's all still safely concealed. Romero takes the money over to Norma's and hides it in the basement. Norman wont like anyone else in his space. Heads will roll.

Dylan returns to White Pine Bay. Emma is still in the hospital but is recovering. Dylan decides he wants to get out of the pot business (and is planning a future with Emma). He plans to fire Gunnar (but he quits instead). Chick shows up unannounced. I was worried he'd try to kill Dylan. Instead he leaves without a confrontation. That was strange.

Dylan is the calming force in the crazy Bates family. He seems genuinely happy that Norma is marrying. He also says "you're doing the right thing for him (meaning Norman)". Will Dylan and Emma be the two characters left standing at the end of this show?

Favorite Quotes"

"Can you lean into me a little?"- Romero asking Norma to help make their marriage look legit.
"Sooner or later I'll break my neck on those stupid stairs."-Norma. We know that Norman actually kills Norma and her "lover" via some poisoned tea.
"You have painted me into a corner that I cannot get out of and I've never been so disappointed in anyone."- Norman to Norma when she visits him in the hospital.
"I was just hiding a bunch of money down here."- Romero to Norma. She doesnt know he was telling the truth.
"I have reason to believe that my mother is insane and might be killing people."- Norman to Dr Edwards.

Grade: 4 1/2 Monsters (out of 5). A bittersweet episode for Norma and Alex (ship name Normero). I've grown quite fond of them both. It's sad to think of what will eventually become of the couple.