Bates Motel - 'Til Death Do You Part - Review: "The Institution"

   Last Monday, Bates Motel continued its amazing fourth season with "‘Til Death Do You Part", and just like the two episodes before it, was an excellent episode. Bates Motel is really focusing its season on the Norma / Norman relationship and nothing could make me happier. Their relationship is the core of the show.
   Norma and Norman relationship is particularly interesting in this season because they’re both in such different places, not just physically. Norman is still convinced his mother is a killer, and Norma is worried, as always, for her son because he’s fragile. But before worrying too much about her son, Norma had to finish her deal with Romero : the wedding !

   Norma wasn’t very enthusiastic about marrying Romero, asking to skip some parts to the ceremony, it was hilarious. Even more when Romero told her he was moving in her house, Norma looked surprised at first, like she hadn’t thought about the consequences of her marriage. It was a bit surprising,because Norma usually planed things. The atmosphere was a bit tense between them, both trying to find their places in their new relationship. Their scene at the restaurant was very good, Farmiga and Carbonell have so much chemistry, and wine helped too. They broke the ice, talked about their previous marriages and relationships. We got to know more about Romero (not that much) and Norma opened up herself to Romero. Damn, when she told him about her past, I was thinking that Romero would soon be her next dead husband… One more :(
   Norma and Romero even shared a sweet moment when they got home from the restaurant, Norma was a bit drunk and more fun than usual. I like this Norma, more careless, happy. I hope she won’t end up breaking her neck on those damn stairs. Romero carried her on her bed and I really thought they were gonna spend the night together, they’re married after all. But they're taking their time (wll waiting for the end of the ep at least) Everything was better between them, Romero even brought some men to fill up the pit. How nice of him… But that was when everything broke down for Norma, again.

   The reality hit Norma in the face when one of the worker came to her with a piece of earrings, belonging to Emma’s mother. Oops, luckily the body wasn’t buried in that dirt, and I still wonder where the hell is that body ? Anyways, that got Norma worried, and at the end of the day, she also caught Romero snooping around in the basement. So, maybe Romero has something else on his mind when he married Norma, he probably want to find out the truth by himself. I don’t think he’ll accept it when he finds it.
   So Norma had to keep on protecting her son from the world, but Norman was out of her reach for once. He was locked up and she had no way to communicate with him. Her message “I Love you” on the phone was sweet and heartbreaking. She wanted to reassure him and talk to him, but clearly Norman was in another state of mind in the Pineview institution.

   Norman was pretty angry and actually he was quite funny. I loved his comment about going to yoga class, I’d feel the same. Norman agreed to come to the institution for his mother, to please and protect her. He doesn’t belong there in his mind, so it must be a very tough position for him but it find it a little hard to root for him, since he’s not living in the same reality as us. He thinks Mother is real and she’s the murderer, not him.
   At first, even if he was very angry, Norman kept his mouth shut about the murders. He couldn’t blame and accuse her mother in front of Dr Edwards, he knew then the police would be involved. But Dr Edwards seemed to be an efficient therapist, he really wanted to understand and help Norman. At first, he refused Norma seeing and talking to him, he wanted to isolate Norman, break him from his habits but after she insisted, he agreed. Maybe he thought their meeting would help him reach to Norman. He was right in a way.

   When Norma came to see Norman, it was obvious they were in two different places. Norma was happy to see him but Norman was still angry at her. He blames her for being there, instead of her. He feels like he’s innocent and being punished, that’s a horrible feeling and of course he resents his mother for it. It was so sad to watch him being so angry at her, she’s actually the only one helping and protecting him. They use to be so closed but now there's a huge space between them.
   So after being furious at his mother, Norman broke down at the institution, he needed to talk to Dr Edwards and he told him his mother killed people ! Damn Norman, why did you do that ? Now the police will investigate and with a dead body mission at the Bates Motel, it can be dangerous.

   "‘Til Death Do You Part" was another exciting and excellent episode. Season 4 has been exceptionally good and captivating for now, each episode make me want for more. Last season, the pace was a bit off sometimes during the season, but maybe now that the writers know when the show will end, their plan is clearer. Anyways, I’m enjoying the ride, I got a feeling it’s gonna be an epic season !
   What did you think of "‘Til Death Do You Part" ? Do you like Season 4 so far ? Did you like Norma and Romero’s marriage ? What will happen for them ? Where’s Emma’s mother body ? Hit the comments !

Motel notes :
- Norma and Romero hug to look like a couple was the weird thing ever
- Dylan’s face when Norma told him about her marriage ! LOL
- Norman made a friend ! Julian. They bonded over their problems with their parents of course. Mother’s next victim ?
- So, Dylan follow Emma’s father advice and quited the weeds business. The writers needs to find an interesting for Dylan and Emma...

About the Author - Romain Ossust

I'm a 29 TV addict. Here is a non exhaustive list of my favorite shows : 12 Monkeys, Ab Fab, 24, Alias, American Horror Story, Banhsee, Bates Motel, Black Sails, Carnivale, Daredevil, Daria, Dead Like Me, Desperate Housewives, Dexter, ER, Fargo, Fringe, Game of Thrones, Girls, Grey’s, Hannibal, Homeland, HIMYM, HTGAWM, Looking, Lost, Agents of SHIELD, Agent Carter, Medium, OUAT, OUAT Wonderland, Orange is the New Black, Orphan Black, Pan Am, Penny Dreadful, Person of Interest, Power, Pushing Daisies, Raising Hope, Rectify, Reign, Scandal, Sex & The City, Six Feet Under, Sleepy Hollow, Spartacus, The 100, The Affair, The Americans, The Big C, The Fall, The Killing, The Leftovers, The Missing, The Strain, The Tudors, The Walking Dead, Transparent, True Blood, True Detective, Tyrant, Ugly Betty, United States of Tara, Utopia, V, Veronica Mars, Weeds.
For SpoilerTV, I'm reviewing The Walking Dead, Fear the Walking Dead, Banshee, American Horror Story, Bates Motel, Transparent, Girls, & Orphan Black

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