Bates Motel premiered last night (Mon. 18th) on A&E!

[Lunkenstein]

I never really noticed, but maybe it's looking more like the original office due to Norman not keeping things up as well since Norma's death. Only a guess.

[aura of foreboding]

I never really noticed, but maybe it's looking more like the original office due to Norman not keeping things up as well since Norma's death. Only a guess.

I recall it being smaller or something.  Now there are chairs and there seems to be more room.  I wonder if they re-did the set just for the "We all go a little mad sometimes" scene.   

[Anton Phibes]

This episode didn't disappoint.  I am glad the office finally looks like it should.  I recall them showing the office in a previous season and thinking it looked nothing like it ought to.  Can anyone verify this?

It disappointed me in that it borrowed from the Gus Van Sant Vince Vaughn version more than it did Hitchcock's. If you don't know what I am referencing....think about it.  Just plain stupid.

[aura of foreboding]

Personally, I take that as a set up for the joke that followed when he was on the phone with mother:

"Norman, what are you doing?" 
"Nothing.  I'm coming."

I saw it as making fun of the remake scene rather than recreating it.   

[Haunted hearse]

It disappointed me in that it borrowed from the Gus Van Sant Vince Vaughn version more than it did Hitchcock's. If you don't know what I am referencing....think about it.  Just plain stupid.

At least they didn't borrow the house design from that movie. 

[Anton Phibes]

At least they didn't borrow the house design from that movie.

I would never have been lured to watch the show (and its varying degrees of good episodes and utter drivel ones) if the house had been the poopsville remake version. I already hate the liberties they took with the actual motel and office,lol.

[geezer butler]

Just watched the premier. I thought it was very good. The previews for the upcoming season looked pretty awesome too.

[Lunkenstein]

Holy moley. We be gettin' dark, darker and batsh*t crazy. In other words, I love it! And some good, funny lines from Norma add to the enjoyment.

Oh Chick!!

[aura of foreboding]

Another solid episode this week.  I am glad we finally get to meet some of the other Psycho characters...  Sam Loomis anyone? 

[aura of foreboding]

So about that scene...  Highmore really has Norman down.  He is phenomenal at channeling both Vera and Perkins.  Really, really well done. 

[geezer butler]

Love this season so far. I can't stand it sometimes it's so good, lol! Even the "Chic" character is growing on me. At first I was thinking "what are they doing w/this character?" And now it seems to make sense in a bizarre way.  I also really like the tribute to original film during the scene with the sheriff looking over the guest book---Norman nervously eating the candies. Awesome.

[aura of foreboding]

  I also really like the tribute to original film during the scene with the sheriff looking over the guest book---Norman nervously eating the candies. Awesome.

What scene did you think I was talking about?  hahah   

[Anton Phibes]

For me the show is a train wreck now more than ever. They have take so many liberties with the characters they are completely unrecognizable. Especially after Norman/Norma's gay bar tryst this episode. Kind of absurd. If he's Norma...he wouldn't go there in the first place. So it shows presence of mind....which he isn't supposed to have as Norma. Its poor. . Poorly executed, and just plain bad.

It's become a parody of Psycho. I really thought after the season 4 ender we were going to get something close to Hitchcock with the final season. Instead...its dreck. It's just....dreck.

[aura of foreboding]

I didn't catch that it was a gay bar specifically.  Just thought it was a regular modern hipster bar. 

My thoughts:

This episode had a lot of nice shoutouts to Psycho.  First, Rihanna talks about taking Janet's job.  And her boss tells her no.  That was hilarious!  Plus the secretary sitting next to Rihanna reminded me a lot of Janet Leigh, not sure why.     

Then we have the famous crosswalk scene re-enacted with Norman and his doctor.  That was very well done.

This episode lacked Vera, and her absence was noticeable. 

[aura of foreboding]

Other thoughts:  Other than the character of Sam Loomis, his new predicament, and the hotel scene, I am finding most of the newly introduced Psycho remake scenes underwhelming.  The fact that Rihanna stole a bunch of money is really underplayed, almost to the point of being comical.  If someone just stole a bunch of money, there should be a lot more at risk.  There is no sense of suspense or danger.  It's all just playing out.  All of the car scenes have been directed in an underwhelming way.  Rihanna pulling up to the hotel was a big letdown.  While the musical arrangements have improved from earlier in the series, we could definitely benefit from some Herrmann now that we are into the Psycho story.  All that being said, I kind of think it works for this series for the same reason Rihanna actually kind of works.

I feel one reason Rihanna was picked for this role is because this is not a story about Marion Crane.  This is a story about Norman Bates.  The original Psycho was Marion's story.  This is Norman's.  Choosing someone like Rihanna (who is famous for something other than acting) to play this role helps build a separation between the original story and this version, and I actually think it's helpful.  Sure, they could have picked another singer to play the part like Beyonce, Gaga, or Taylor Swift, all of whom probably would have been a lot better in the role (from a simple acting perspective), but Rihanna's presence and style make any comparison to Janet Leigh moot.  So, it kind of works for the purposes of this show.  Not what I would have done, but hey...  to me... it's not a disaster on the level of season 2... yet.  Then again, I just really like Psycho.  I am not an ultimate fan like Anton, so I'm more forgiving...  up to a point.