Recap of Bates Motel Episode 3.10 – Unconscious; Final Thoughts on Season 3
Previously, on “Bates Motel”: White Pine Bay saw the return of Bradley Martin, who soon discovered that the world had long ago moved on following her staged death; after the gunrunning trip went sour, Caleb brutally beat Chick and took from him the money he felt Dylan was due – delivering the stolen cash to his son before skipping town; Romero turned over the incriminating flash drive to the DEA, infuriating Norma; and Figment Norma appeared yet again to Norman, interrupting a romantic tryst between him and a soon-to-depart Bradley.
Tonight’s season finale (Episode 3.10, “Unconscious”) opens with Norma informing Dylan that Caleb has left and she is driving to someplace she believes might be able to help Norman. In fact, this “someplace” she intends to put Norman in is a mental health facility – one she finds to be more than adequate upon her arrival, before discovering that the treatment they provide is exorbitantly expensive. Norma eventually sits her troubled son down and attempts a heart-to-heart, letting him know that he needs help and she is trying to find a place that might better care for him. Norman takes this badly, feeling as though his mother has simply given up on him.
Romero continues to work with the DEA, and he and the agency are planning a raid on Bob Paris’ home. Romero pays a visit to Norma, letting her know in advance of the upcoming takedown – and apologizes for not having been able to protect her. This leads Norma to speak about her fears that Norman will be found out and put away in prison. She tells Romero that this would kill her. As the raid is set to begin, Romero phones Paris and warns him, noting that his reasoning is simply that Paris’ arrest wouldn’t be in his best interest. Moments later, the DEA finds Paris’ house empty.
Meanwhile, Emma’s father informs her that a pair of healthy lungs now await her at the hospital (neglecting to tell her that it was Dylan’s money that ushered her name to the top of the donor list). Unfortunately, Emma goes missing shortly after, having fled in advance of the operation that could save her life. Dylan hears about this and finds her at his cabin. They talk – she about the fears concerning the transplant, he about his feelings for her. It’s this talk that leads to the kiss between the two that “DylEmma” shippers have been waiting for. Making this, y’know, the second time Dylan has shown a romantic interest in one of his burgeoning psychopath brother’s ex-girlfriends. Given his behavior, and the character’s entire lack of a presence in any sort of previous Psycho tale, one can practically see a ticking clock appear on screen next to Dylan – counting down to his inevitable death, likely at the hands of his baby bro.
Speaking of Norman – he spends the bulk of this episode with Bradley. The long-thought-dead teen returns to her old home after her mother leaves, breaking in and robbing the place – before completely wrecking it. She meets up with Norman back at the motel, showing him the thousands in stolen jewelry she now has in her possession – and offers one last time for him to come with her, leaving him to think on it.
Bob Paris, doing his best to dodge the DEA and leave town, winds up on his secret houseboat – where Romero surprises him, having stowed away in waiting. The old friends/foes chat for a bit before Romero executes Paris. It’s a shocking moment, if not unexpected. One wonders what the show has in store for Romero. He’s a fascinating character, often coming across as a solid and dependable character, even as he’s been racking up a higher body count than the Bates family. This writer is very curious to see what fate lies ahead for the good Sheriff (who, much like Dylan, is not based on any preexisting character from the Psycho books or film franchise).
Back at the Bates home, Norma discovers Norman attempting to leave. The two argue, before Norma clubs the boy unconscious. She drags him into the cellar, ties him up, and locks him in before calling Dylan to help. When her eldest arrives, the two trek back down into the cellar, only to discover that Norman has managed to escape.
Norman meets up with Bradley and heads out of town with her. But just as the two leave White Pine Bay in their rearview, Figment Norma appears – triggering Norman’s own full transformation into “Mother.” As Norma, Norman brings the car to a halt, pulls Bradley from the driver’s seat, and then chases her down and beats her to death with his bare hands. That the show would come to this was inevitable – but that doesn’t make the moment any less terrifying or powerful. Both Highmore and Farmiga are excellent in this sequence, fully and perfectly portraying the many facets of one of horror’s greatest monsters.
Norman comes to a moment later – ”Mother, what have you done?” He plays the dutiful son, loading Bradley’s body into her car and – in a moment straight out of Psycho – pushes the vehicle into a body of water and watches it sink. Figment Norma appears to console him, making him promise to never talk about what has just happened. We leave him there, the both of him, as he gazes into the lake – “mad as a hatter” at long last.
Now having taken in the entire set of episodes, this writer and long time Psycho fan is confident in saying that this season of “Bates Motel” has been the best yet. With its strong writing and stellar performances, Season 3 has been a significant improvement over the previous 20 episodes and has finally ushered in the beginning of what appears to be the inevitable endgame for the series. With Norman now the cross-dressing, mother-impersonating murderer of young women we know from the previous iterations of this story, one can only think that the next season will stand a chance at being better still. I, for one, cannot wait.
Hats off to A&E and the creative forces behind “Bates Motel” for making one of the best damned shows on television!
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