Spoilers

“A Danger to Himself and Others”

Norman Bates has gone off the deep end.

In a show that takes the character of Norman Bates as a young adult, the main protagonist of this show is really Norma Bates. Her desperation in trying to protect her son is the driving force in her life, sending her off to do crazy things in the name of her son. Is she really helping him? No, not really.

Norma going to Romero and asking him to marry her so she could get insurance to admit Norman to a mental health facility is shocking. The disgust on Alex’s face when Norma said she’d sleep with him was actually more telling than you would think. It’s not as if Romero has clean hands. His hands were quite literally covered with blood at the episode’s beginning when he hid the body of Bob (who he had shot in the season four finale) by sinking his boat in the lake. Still, I know how Romero and Norma end up and they are destined for each other.

The show is also very much about parents and children as we meet Emma’s absentee mom. She tries to come see Emma as she is having her lung transplant, but Emma’s father Will sends her away. Emma’s mother then tries to go to the Bates Motel to have Norma help her, but Norma turned her away. Unfortunately for Emma’s mom, she came across Norman all blacked out and dressed up in mother’s robe. Norman strangled her to death, adding to his body count. As of this episode, we know Norman has killed his father, Miss Watson, Bradley Martin, and now Emma’s mother Audrey Ellis. Am I forgetting anyone?

This episode has a look at the state of mental health in the country as the institution that Norman is taken to after the farmer knocked him out (which was an epic moment) was shown as scary, overcrowded, and dark. The mentally ill have such a stigma connected to them that these types of places are operating to the best of their abilities, lacking the funds and the personnel to handle the cases that they have to handle. It’s the type of place where those without money or insurance, like Norma, have to send their loved ones who need help. meanwhile, there are lovely facilities that require waiting lists and lots of cash. It is just another example of the levels of class distinction and how it affects the people of the country.

This show has never shied away from the illustration of violence, in particular against women. In order to show the complexities of the character of Norman Bates, they must show a background that would lead him to the iconic character from Psycho. It can be difficult to watch at times, but it is always compelling.