Bates Motel – The Season Finale – S01E10
I just finished watching the last episode of the season and this is one mixed up family. They are so out of control there is no way they put the “fun” in dysfunctional. If you haven’t watched the season or the episode then you better look away now.
This episode was strange, awkward and a wee bit shocking. Not to mention the sexual elements that may or may not be hanging there. It’s the night of the Winter Formal and Emma has all but asked Norman to take her to the dance. We all know he really wants to take Bradley, but more than likely she’ll do something quite naughty with Norman’s brother Dillon before too much longer.
The night is off to a truly bad start as Norma decides to unload her life’s story and discuss her early days of being molested. On the night of the Winter Formal? Gadzooks mom!!!
But as soon as Emma appears, looking quite lovely by the way, Mom is all smiles and rainbows and says they need to go have a good time. Not only does mom interject herself into the night she all but destroys any chance of high school romance between these two. But of course, that was the plan all along.
The night goes poorly as Norman gets dumped by Emma because he can’t stop looking at Bradley and Norman takes a shot to the head by Bradley’s boyfriend because he can’t stop looking at Bradley. Norman isn’t subtle that’s for damn sure.
Walking home from the dance in the rain, Norman is picked up by his English teacher in her sassy Fiat 500. Oddly, she is wearing quite the revealing red dress and he makes no qualms about staring at her cleavage. Things are heading toward a newspaper headline of sexual scandal when Norman’s mother appears and shames him for staring at his teacher in the mirror of her bedroom as she undresses.
Next thing we know, Norman is running home and everything seems to be fine. Or is it?
This show is so uncomfortable it’s damn near funny. Norman has a thing for his mom as well as for Bradley. I think he’s actually torn over which one of them he wants to sleep with more. Emma is looking to have some experiences in her life and have some good times despite her condition. Too bad Norman won’t play along. Bradley felt sorry for Norman, or at least that’s the story she tells for why she slept with him, but oh there is so much more to that story. She plays coy, but she’s pulling strings to no end. And Norma can’t seem to have a decent relationship. The men she has sex with all end up dead. And it’s pretty obvious her relationship with Norman is a Psychological field day!
Honestly, I’m not sure what more they could throw into this show. We have Asian sex slaves, Oedipus complex, corrupt cops, a mysterious broker of human cargo, a massive drug cartel right in the middle of the city, a teacher who is perhaps one step away from becoming indecent with her student, several counts of murder and a hotel that people simply refuse to check into.
This show has it all! It’s creepy and it’s kooky. I think for something on A&E, this is pretty damn good back story. I hope there is another season coming. They really have the makings of something deliciously creepy here. Between this and Hannibal, I’m having fun.
Anyone else? Been watching Bates Motel? How do you think it went? Where do you think we’ll go from here?
Other Articles of Interest:
- Bates Motel – The Series
- Hannibal – S01E08
- Ghost Adventures Season 2 Available Today
- Paranormal State – The Death Room – S05E01
- Stranded – Seaview Terrance – S01E02
- True Blood – Season 1
- A season of being Stranded
- Ghost Adventures returns tonight with a marathon!
- Disturbia – Rating 3 out of 5
- Wicked Little Things – After Dark Horror Fest – 8 Films To Die For
Hannibal – S01E08
NBC is staying the course and each episode of Hannibal is darker than the last. The visuals are especially taking on a darker and more grisly tone. This last episode of the exposed vocal chords of a human instrument drives that point home. And the intestines drying in the sinks. The jars of who knows what down in the cellar.
It’s interesting to see NBC keeping with the dark atmosphere of the show and not shying away from some of the shocking imagery (especially after episode 4 seemed to rub people the wrong way). This is after all the story of a serial killer. I don’t know how long they will keep this up or if it will alienate the viewing public. People are easily offended these days and since this is broadcast TV they are taking a pretty big risk. I checked and Hannibal hasn’t been renewed for a second season yet.
I’m not sure where we’re headed with this story, but I’m quite willing to play along. I feel we’re still at the stage of defining characters and their relationship with each other. Even within the story, Hannibal is "considering" having Will as a friend. It’s an unusual thing to hear someone say they have to consider making someone their friend. Unfortunately, this slow pace is why shows get cancelled. They don’t get a chance to build and create depth any more.
We’ve now seen Hannibal commit two murders and we know he’s done several others. What is the motive? What drives him? Is it quite literally a hunger? That seems too simple and shallow for this type of character. Is he experimenting? Like Tobias, is he just trying to see how far he can go before he gets caught? Is it the game of staying ahead of the police that he wants to play? Is he trying to see how far he can push Will before he breaks? We know he has tragic events in his past, how do those fit in. Was he responsible?
With Dexter, we know he’s a serial killer, but that’s not what he wants to be. He channels the Dark Passenger into something "good" and tries to be normal in other aspects. This makes him likable and we accept people being brought to justice. We’re willing to overlook this slight character flaw…
Hannibal is a serial killer and blends in to society with his psychiatric practice (which is just a way to find victims by the look of it), his dinners (a vicarious thrill to know what everyone is eating and thus make them a part of the crime) and high society cultural events. So is he with the high elite because they are so boring and daft they’ll never catch on to who he is? Does he regret the way he is? Does he embrace it? Is there something greater that Hannibal wants from life? The sympathetic part hasn’t come out yet. Will it? Can Hannibal be likable or will this turn to cat and mouse and we watch Hannibal do his best to keep the police at bay until the ultimately fails?
I had hoped for more an interaction between Hannibal and Tobias. There is so much we could have learned about Hannibal. He was certainly forthcoming who he was, but did he want to be friends with Tobias up to the point where Tobias revealed he’d seen Hannibal out on the lonely road doing what he does so well? Since Hannibal didn’t have the upper hand did he have to get rid of Tobias? Is Hannibal a teacher perhaps? Can he give shelter and guidance to others like him?
I guess that is where we go from here, to learn about Hannibal and how he views people. He seems quite taken with Will and how Will can assume his point of view, which is then followed up with Will can see the point of view of a psychopath.
I’m intrigued by this show and when the tipping point will come. There is so much to explain and reveal. When does the house of cards come tumbling down? When does the mask of Hannibal come off?
Were to go from here, that is indeed the question.
Other Articles of Interest:
- Exorcist III – Ranking 3 out of 5
- Hannibal – The Series
- Hannibal Revealed
- Kevin Bacon comes to the small screen in The Following
- Penny Dreaful – After Dark Horror Fest – 8 Films To Die For
- Dark Ride – After Dark Horror Fest – 8 Films To Die For
- American Horror Story – Asylum – S02E01
- 666 Park Avenue
- American Horror Story
- Bates Motel – The Series
666 Park Avenue
Even though it hasn’t been renewed for second season, 666 Park Avenue is going to play out the rest of the episodes they have. And it’s a real shame this show isn’t coming back because it’s really starting to hit a stride. It’s been a slow build, but things are starting to come together. Gavin’s powers are being revealed and the interconnectedness of lives of the residents of the Drake are coming to the surface.
It’s odd since so much of the writing and presentation reminds me of the first season of Lost. We have all these characters and all these stories that seem a jumbled mess, but as we move forward we see how they’ve all had an influence on each other. 666 Park Avenue comes across the same way to me. We have Gavin who clearly has mystical powers, but it takes quite awhile to see what they are and what he does with them. With these last two episodes we see that Alexis and Louise have crossed paths before and for reasons unknown Gavin has plans for them. Sasha, the long lost daughter of the Drake’s, believed to have died in a car accident, is quite alive and well working as a political advisor for Henry Martin, the very man Gavin is working his magic for to get him into office. The past doesn’t stay dead for long and one of the original members of the Order of the Dragon has been able to cheat death and is back in the Drake.
There is a lot going on, but it’s all beginning to gel. The pieces are falling into place and what I think would be a great lead in to a second season just won’t be happening. I’d be happy to see 666 Park Avenue get picked up by one of the cable channels where they can find more of an audience. American Horror Story was an unusual and confusing story at first, but once the characters were introduced and put into play it became a very compelling series. It had twists, turns and unexpected results. I see 666 Park Avenue as the same thing. They just got the characters set and got everyone into position. Now the real story is about to begin.
Well, I’ll still be tuning in for the last couple of episodes to see where this goes. I like these kinds of dramas where it takes time to build things up. Single story episodes are fine, but like phone book sized Stephen King novels or the intricate plots of Dan Brown, it takes time to draw you in, but once you’re there, you’re happy to get pulled along for more.
Other Articles of Interest:
- 666 Park Avenue – S01E07
- 666 Park Avenue
- 666 Park Avenue – Episode 3
- True Blood – Season 1
- Ghost Hunters Season 3 Part 1
- American Horror Story Asylum – Season Finale
- Simpsons Halloween Special XVIII
- American Horror Story
- Ghost Adventures Season 2 Available Today
- My Favorite Destination Truth Episodes
Kevin Bacon comes to the small screen in The Following
Kevin Bacon is jumping into a new role which from the description sounds pretty gripping:
A brilliant and charismatic, yet psychotic serial killer communicates with other active serial killers and activates a cult of believers following his every command.
So we have a serial killer inciting other serial killers to act out and kill. Ok, no good will come from that. I have no idea how this story is going to come together, but I will be tuning in to see what happens. It seems like this could be some mix between Criminal Minds, Helter Skelter and perhaps a tinge of the serial killer Red John from the Mentalist?
The premiere episode is this Monday, the 21st. It’s definitely worth a look.
Other Articles of Interest:
- Exorcist III – Ranking 3 out of 5
- American Horror Story – Asylum – S02E01
- Hannibal – The Series
- Hannibal – S01E08
- American Horror Story Asylum – Season Finale
- Criminal Minds – Season 2
- Penny Dreaful – After Dark Horror Fest – 8 Films To Die For
- Haunted Collector – Burning Spirits – Ghosts of the West – S01E03
- Haunted Collector – The Sanitarium & Firehouse Phantom – S01E04
- Ghost Adventures – Execution Rocks Lighthouse
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