By : Richard Jutras for Curtains Up
“Bates Motel“ is a new series which premiered on A&E March 18, 2013. The series begins after the death of Norma`s first husband, when she purchases a motel located in a coastal Oregon town so she and Norman can start a new life.
Now, imagine a town where Norman Bates is not the most dangerous resident. Imagine, perhaps, that his wacadoo mother, Norma Louise Bates, is what or who led Norman to become the motel-managing maniac made famous in Alfred Hitchcock`s infamous 1960 film “Psycho“.
Norman, 17 years old, is played with a soupcon for the macabre by the very talented Freddie Highmore (“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory“).
Mother Norma Bates, played by the brilliant and extremely believable Vera Farmiga (“The Departed“ and “Up in the Air“), is definitely the reason to check in to Bates Motel.
Beautifully shot on an estimated budget of $ 10,000,000.00 in British Columbia, Canada, the show premiered to favorable reviews and A&E ordered a 10-episode first season – all to the liking of this diehard fan of the knife-wielding `psycho`, who is ranked as the second greatest villain on the American Film Institutes list of the top 100 film heroes and vilains, behind Hannibal Lecter and before Darth Vader.
I urge you all to tune in and watch the fabulous Farmiga sell the hell out of Ma Bates and give a performance to die for as this will prove that reality will not continue to kill the video star.
“Bates Motel“ airs Monday evening`s on A&E at 10:00 pm.
