TV Review: The Arrow’s take on Bates Motel S2, Episode #9

Last Updated on July 22, 2021

EPISODE 9: The Box

CHECKING IN: Norma (Vera Farminga) and Sheriff "King Shit" Romero (Nestor Carbonell) are looking for Norman who has been stuffed in a box by Nick Ford's men. Dylan (Max Thieriot) tries to deal with Zane (Michael Eklund) and Nick Ford, Emma (Olivia Cooke) is entertaining booking out of Bates Motel while Norman (Freddie Highmore) has recollections of Miss Watson's murder.

THE ROOM: WARNING: Am sick as a dog, so this may not be my best review. I am struggling to get through it.

Last night's BATES MOTEL episode revved it up once more on its way to its Season finale. Although Sheriff "King Shit" Romero (Nestor Carbonell) and Norma's (Vera Farminga) quest for Norman was engaging, it was Norman's slow realization as to his dark side by way of memories of having killed Miss Watson (I loved the eerie and sexy way they shot the scene) that had me by the couillons the most. I mean this is a game changer for the next Season. It's one thing for Norman to be a fruit and not know it, it's another for him to be a fruit and be aware of it. How does one deal with that? It will be interesting to see how the writers handle that new spin moving forward. Norma will have her hands full with the lad that’s for sure!

On that, I am still not 100% sold on Norman having killed Miss Watson. I know, I know, what other proof do I need?! Hey, he may have fantasized about it while he was nailing her. I mean, when did the other dude, the one that is now in jail for the crime, the one whose sperm was also inside Miss Watson bang her then? Before Norman showed up? Was Miss Watson that much of an insatiable nympho? It is possible that Norman nailed her, imagined that he killed her and booked out. Then the killer came in, raped Miss Watson, fled the scene and called it an evening. Anything is possible with this show. All will be answered when Norman winds up taking that Polygraph test set up by Romero. Sly little set-up there. If he did kill her though… how many freaking murders is this kid gonna get away with? If I stop and think about it, it’s getting a tad ludicrous. But I won’t do that… “think about it” that is… 🙂

I also felt really bad for Norma in this episode (definitely helped by Vera Farminga’s visceral performance) . I mean no wonder she is losing her shit. How much hardship in a row can one woman endure!?! Poor Norma sees her son disappear, then gets the swell news from Romero that he may have killed Miss Watson and then LOSES what may be an ideal suitor in dapper George (Michael Vartan)…all at once! And I thought I was having a bad day! SHEESH! NOTE: I still think that George guy is a creep that has yet to be revealed as one.

The stakes were also deliciously jacked up in Dylan’s (Max Thieriot) case. The scene where he visited Zane oozed of tension. Really well done. Michael Eklund truly shined in that scene in terms of being calmly unber threatening. And Dylan’s final confrontation with Nick Ford totally took me aback as to how it turned out. I didn’t see that coming at all! It looks like good old Dylan is gonna have his own problems to deal with down the road beyond is neurotic Mom and his psychotic brother. I’m all for it! The more BS they toss at Dylan, the more appealing the character becomes. NOTE: Dylan's leather jacket owns.

Finally, Emma (Olivia Cooke) got her fill of being ignored in this episode which gave me the sense that the character may leave the show. I hope I am wrong as I love her but at the same time, there aren’t too many directions Emma can go. Either she leaves Bradley and Cody style, or she gets killed off. It almost felt to me like the show doesn’t really know what to do with the character anymore. So they’re stalling. Her courtship with that “pot selling dude” seems to have fizzled out and the character seems to be floating these days. I hope the writers find something juicy for her to do in the next Season. The same can be said for Kathleen Robinson’s character. They need to do something with her pronto, cause much like Emma now of late, she’s just “there”.

On the whole, this was yet another pleasant night at Bates Motel. One episode to go! And it looks like it’s going to be a KILLER (all about that scene with Norman pointing a gun at Norma)! See ya for the last time next Monday my fellow Bates fans! Off to take a nap I go, I am gonna collapse…

RANDOM THOUGHTS:  Seriously, where did Emma’s pot selling boyfriend go? Did I miss something?

How will they find Norman in that box in the next episode? Any theories? 

Zane is gonna love and trust Dylan now that he’s killed Nick Ford. Do you think Zane will last the Season? My money is on yes!

RATING ON 10

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