Bates Motel
Season 3 Episode 4: “Unbreak-able”
Directed by Christopher Nelson
Written by Erica Lipez
Starring Vera Farmiga, Freddie Highmore, Max Thieriot, Nestor Carbonell, Olivia Cooke, and Kenny Johnson
A&E
Air Date: Monday, March 30, 2015, 9pm

Be careful – there are spoilers if you are not up to date on Bates Motel.

Last week on Bates Motel 3.3 “Persuasion”, Norman (Freddie Highmore) is freaking out because he really can’t remember much about what happened the night Annika disappeared. Norma (Vera Farmiga) had confided her fears to Sheriff Romero (Nestor Carbonell), who questioned Norman. Norma — ever the flip-flopper — couldn’t decide if Romero was her confidant or betrayer, and her mood swings attested to that.

Bates Motel 3.4 “Unbreak-able: review: Annika did turn up alive… for about 30 seconds and pressed a USB drive into Norma’s hand. Norman was innocent of this crime, yet he still thought he could have done it. Whatever is on that drive, there are dangerous people looking for it, and as dangerous as Norman is, he is still a fledgling psycho. I don’t think that a nervous lady, a girl with an oxygen tank, and a boy like Norman are going to be able to protect their home, motel, and themselves. Now Romero is looking for it, too. What is going on there? There is a surprise connection between the two murders.

Dylan (Max Thieriot) is also hot and cold with his father. He hates him for what he did to Norma, but circumstances allow him to sit and listen to the long apology from Caleb (Kenny Johnson). The ending is sad and inevitable. Poor Dylan!

Creepiest moments: Norman kisses Emma and keeps looking to see if Norma is watching. And Norma is annoyed because she assumed he wanted to go on a picnic with her, when he was really going with Emma.

Another creepy set of moments: Norman keeps appearing suddenly – behind a door, right behind someone. It’s disconcerting.

Nothing really new happens in this episode, with the exception of the end, but I like that this is a slow-paced show. When one already knows the ending, you don’t have to hurry up and get there. You can savor the journey, which is exactly what Bates Motel is allowing us to do.

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Bates Motel – 304 – Unbreakable – Promo