TV
[TV] First “Bates Motel” Clip Sets Up Huge Character Arc
We all go a little crazy sometimes, but Norman Bates is finally, after two entire seasons, flipping the switch.
In this first clip from the Season 3 premiere, set for March 9, 2015, Norman (Freddie Highmore) refuses to go into school and forces Norma (Vera Farmiga) to drag him out of the car in front of everyone. The moment shows Norma is at wit’s end, while Norman sort of smirks at the emotional trauma he’s inflicting.
But that’s just the beginning.
Norman is joined by someone special at lunch. Someone…dead.
As an added bonus, below is a recap of what happened at the end of Season 2.
“After a blissful summer of closeness with his mother, living within the safe confines of home and the Bates Motel, Norman’s fears about what really happened with Blaire Watson resurface and Norma questions what really happened. Forced to look at the truths about Norman for the first time, their deeply intricate relationship continues to evolve. Norma finds herself turning to the other man in her life, Norman’s half-brother, Dylan (Max Thieriot) and begins to rely on him in ways that she never expected. This relationship inevitably triggers jealousy in Norman and a new kind of love triangle between Norma and her two sons erupts. Estranged brother and uncle, Caleb (Kenny Johnson) returns to haunt the family throughout the season challenging the family bond even further. Pressures of the outside world take a hold of the family when newcomers Kevin Rahm (“Mad Men,” “Desperate Housewives”), Tracy Spiradakos (“Revolution”) and Ryan Hurst (“Sons Of Anarchy”) arrive at White Pine Bay. After a summer of living at the Bates Motel, Sheriff Romero (Nestor Carbonell) and Norma have grown closer but there will always have that troubling question mark surrounding Norman. Something doesn’t feel right, but spite of his instincts, Romero finds himself continually drawn back to the Bates family — and to Norma. Emma (Olivia Cooke) also determined to find out what is happening to Norman becomes more emboldened, fearless, goes after the things she wants. Familiar face, Bradley (Nicola Peltz) returns to surprise the family and digs up old memories.”
Move over, Martha’s Vineyard, Apple has officially renewed fan favorite horror comedy series “Widow’s Bay” for season two ahead of its season one finale!
The season one finale is set to arrive on Wednesday, June 17, on Apple TV, but don’t worry, Major Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys) has declared the island safe and open to visitors next season in an announcement video below.
“Season two is about how everything is great on the island, and there’s nothing to worry about,” said creator, showrunner, and executive producer Katie Dippold.
“From the moment audiences arrived in Widow’s Bay, they’ve been hooked on every eerie mystery, unexpected laughs, and cursed secret that Katie, Hiro, Matthew, and the entire team have created,” said Matt Cherniss, head of programming, Apple TV. “It’s become one of those shows everyone’s talking about, and we’re thrilled to see audiences continue to embrace it. We can’t wait to return for another season.”
The series takes place in a “quaint island town 40 miles off the coast of New England. But something lurks beneath the surface. Mayor Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys) is desperate to revive his struggling community. There’s no wifi, spotty cellular reception, and he must contend with superstitious locals who believe their island is cursed. He wants these people to respect him. They don’t. They think he is soft and cowardly. And he is.
“But Loftis is determined to build a better future for his teenage son and turn the island into a tourist destination. Miraculously, he succeeds: tourists are finally coming. Unfortunately, the locals were right. After decades of calm, the old stories that seemed too ludicrous to be true start happening again.”
Stephen Root, Kate O’Flynn, Kingston Rumi Southwick, Kevin Carroll, and Dale Dickey also star.
Daniel Kurland wrote in his “Widow’s Bay” review for Bloody Disgusting, “Season One makes a perfect first impression, and its debut is strong enough that viewers will want to set up permanent residency there. There’s an excellent sense of storytelling, character development, and an engaging mystery that’s strengthened through pitch-perfect horror and comedy.
This is the best news, especially as Apple TV announced a new, multi-year overall deal with Dippold. Here’s to hoping Widow’s Bay never closes to visitors.