Bates Motel: Season Four

Things really go to Hell in a hand basket in Season 4! I can't think of another series based on a hit movie or book that EVER stood so well on its own merits as Bates Motel. Up until the ~late '90s or so, such series were often very pale, low budget imitations of the originals at best (the '80s Bates Motel series for example fell far short....). It would have been very easy for them to fail with such a huge shadow to overcome. But nothing is lacking here. The cast is tremendous, the atmosphere convincing, and the writing consistently brilliant. Vera and Freddie anchor the series, but the supporting characters are fully developed and intertwined as well. The series succeeds in making you actually care about what happens to them.There is a powerful sense of tragedy in this season when we finally see that Norma and Norman's last chance for happiness is gone forever. Likewise, in spite of their best efforts, Dylan and Sheriff Romero are destined for bleak futures as well. I was truly drained after watching the last two cathartic episodes "Forever" and "Norman", wow! Let's just say that a certain scene reminded me of why I've always thought the old classic song Mr. Sandman was creepy and disturbing. I must not be the only one, because it's been used in numerous horror movies over the years. The overwhelming, inescapable loneliness and sadness Norman feels throughout this season especially is penetrating. You may not want to watch too many of these in a row if you don't like residing in his world. On the lighter side, it was fun to see the delightfully deadbeat Caleb again, if only briefly. He has an uncanny resemblance in manner and appearance to a former neighbor of mine (also a bit sketchy), and his thought process and behavior are so ridiculous, I'm often on the edge of laughter when he talks. The expression on his face alone makes me laugh! And especially in the past when he has dealt with his nemesis, an even bigger deadbeat in the woods who looks like walking roadkill (Chick).My only disappointment on the later seasons is the lack of many special features on the discs such as commentary and interviews, which were fantastic early on. I'm have no doubt they will add these to a future box set------so you can buy it again of course!! Sucker that I am, I will probably do it. I believe it was Season 1 where the extras included a casual and funny live interview with Vera and Max Thieriot (Dylan), with Freddie connecting via satellite. I had no idea he was not only British, but VERY British! It takes considerable skill to pull off such an effective American accent. Ditto for Olivia Cooke (Emma). I've almost never heard an American pull off a highly convincing British accent.I think the show is strong enough to continue well into Norman's adulthood beyond the planned final Season 5, with further appearances by Norma in dreams and hallucinations. After all, she won't really be gone, anyway. She'll be residing in her rocking chair in that "cold fruit cellar"....forever....

Amazingly heartbreaking. Farmiga and Highmore deserve awards.I've seen a lot of really upset/angry commentary on this season's finale.A number of people have complained that Season 5 will not be good without the living, breathing Norma in action. I think we'll finally get to see the real Norman/Mother dynamic as it originally was portrayed in the Hitchcock film "Psycho." The only reason anyone is feeling upset by this is because Vera Farmiga brought such a presence and depth to the character that was written for her.Originally, in the canon of "Psycho" after the death of her husband, Norma raises Norman terribly. Norma forbids him to have a life of his own. Refuses to let him be apart from her, and teaches him that sex is evil and that all women (except herself of course) are whores. The original novel also suggests that their relationship may have been incestuous. If THAT Norma had died in this last season NO ONE would have missed her.That's the beauty of this show. It took us through 4 seasons watching the slow downward spiral Norman went through at the hands of his mother. A mother who DID love Norman, who cared for him. Yet, because of how damaged she was, she damaged him further without even realizing it. She enabled him to do what he did, she excused and pretended she didn't notice. She truly believed her son was good inside. That belief got her killed.That is the beauty of Bates Motel, we sat there watching Norma mistreat Norman in so many ways. The tragedy is that she did so without even realizing it half the time! If there was a moment when she went too far we saw her reel it in and apologize or try and make it up to him. We went back and forth rooting for her, to hating her, to feeling bad for her, to empathizing for her, to then hating her guts all over again.They managed to bring it all back around to a point when the last words spoken between mother and son were sweet words, loving and comforting. Then we sat in terror watching what Norman was doing and had hope beyond hope that Norma would survive. Only to sit there in shock as we realized she in fact was dead.Season 5 is going to be fantastic as we will finally get to see just how unhinged Norman will become. How jealous Mother will get. How Norman will try to keep up appearances and concoct wild excuses and go through crazy lengths to cover-up anything he/she does. Will Romero get out? Will Dylan come home? Will a beautiful woman traveling under an assumed name check into room #1?Will those violin's shriek through our screens one last time? We'll have to wait and see and I for one am waiting with Bated breath.

❤️👍

Great binge watching show, and is easily rewatchable.

perfect

I like this DVD very much. Thanks to a good seller and shipper and of course Amazon.

me encanto la serie desde que la vi en television, por lo que me hice fan y ahora es indispensable en mi coleccion personal

to entertain

Great acting very enjoyable. Hope there's another season or more so many storylines I can't think of. Must watch