Bates Motel - Dark Paradise - Advance Preview

   After a very long wait, and an epic and game changing season finale last year, the fifth and final season of Bates Motel is finally coming to A&E. The season premiere, titled "Dark Paradise", will air on Monday 20 Feb, and you can’t miss it as it’s an insanely (pun intended) good season opener !

   Last season, after Norma’s death, I was devastated and worried. Devastated because she was such a great character, so fierce and fragile and Vera Farmiga's performance was absolutely amazing, even though we all knew Norma was going to die before the series finale, it still hurt and surprise me when it happened. And afterwards, I was worried about the final season and what was coming. I feared it would mean less Farmiga, and I wondered how the show could continue without Norma's presence.
   "Dark Paradise" swept away my worries, Mother will be much present, and her new dynamic with Norman will be one of the highlights of the episode, and for the rest of the season I'm sure as well ! Vera Farmiga performance as Mother will be even more breathtaking than Norma's. Her presence will allow us to dive even more deeper inside Norman's psychotic and troubled mind. The conflict between the two personalities within him will become clearer and scarier. Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga's chemistry on screen, along with the editing, the lights and the direction will create a special atmosphere, distinguishing our reality from Norman's mind.

   Norman and Mother's relationship will be the center of "Dark Paradise". They can be so lovely together, acting like normal mother and son, and then a second later, over a little comment, things can escalate and become so intense. Highmore and Farmiga always share a perfect dynamic, they both can switch to the darker side of their characters so brilliantly.
   "Dark Paradise" will take place two years after the events of last season (in Oct. 2017 actually), so you can expect a lot of changes for all the main characters, especially for Dylan and Emma, and also for Alex Romero, who is now in jail for perjury. And here’s a list of what else you can expect from "Dark Paradise":

- A new client will check in the Bates Motel and let’s just say he won’t really get along with Norman.
- A new female character will be introduced, Madeleine Loomis (Isabelle McNally), who shares a striking resemblance to Norma. How do you think Mother’s going to react when she sees her ?
- There will be a party with a surprise guest.
- We will see Norma's corpse, aka The Ice Queen.
- Alex will have a visit in prison, but it might not be good news.
- A scene will make a direct reference to the movie. Norman is definitely getting creepier…
- Dylan will make a surprising revelation about Norman.
- Someone’s life will be in danger !
- Norman now keeps a journal of his blackouts and it’ll appear he’s having more of them. His medication, or lack thereof, will also be mentioned.
- A secret will be revealed to Emma.
- Someone will use a catchy fake name.
- The famous shower curtains of the Bates Motel will be mentioned, more than once...
- It will be explained how Norma has rationalized Norma’s death and Mother’s presence with him (and why no one can know about her)
- Someone will find a wallet.
- Rihanna won't make her first appearance in this episode, yet we might have a glimpse of Marion Crane.

   "Dark Paradise" is an insanely good season opener, Bates Motel has definitely embraced the crazy and it promises us an epic final season. Norman and Mother are alone together now, so we can expect the worst. Plus, with the addition of Madeleine Loomis (and soon her husband, and Marion Crane), I’m particularly looking forward to see how the show will introduce and develop those characters from the movie.
   Don’t miss Bates Motel final season premiere, "Dark Paradise", on Monday 20 FEB on A&E ! How excited are you about "Dark Paradise" ? What are you looking forward the most for this final season ? Hit the comments !