Bates Motel: Season 2 (DVD)

A&E keeps my wife and I coming back all the time for this show. It has such a great casting, writing and plot lines that I keep coming back for more. I can not wait for season 3. I was a little skeptical at first, as should anyone who is a fan of the original movie, but this show delivers.If you are a fan of the original movie, keep this in mind. You have to understand it doesn't take place in the same time period as the original. They have modernized it and set it up in a present day world. There are some changes (or additions) to the original plot line. They handle it well. While watching the show you will see them slowly start adding familiar traits to Norman that help him develop into the man we all know he becomes. This really helps flesh out the character. If you're going to go into this show looking for a linear telling of the events that lead up to Psycho or even Psycho IV: The Beginning you will be a little disappointed.I believe this show will and seems to slowly be creating the world that Psycho takes place in. The event's all are working into place. I fully trust in the writing staff and direction of the series that its future looks promising. Heck I would even be happy if eventually when they do a final season it was the original Psycho retold with these fresh actors.Also, I don't usually purchase TV shows...I purchased this without hesitation! great work!

Bates Motel is the next take on the Alfred Hitchcock famous classic film Psycho. What set this apart from the bad countless movies except the groundbreaking original is that it focuses on Norman and his Mother relationship as he is going down that path that makes him into the adult Norman Bates in 1st Psycho movie (played so well by Anthony Perkins).... Freddie Highmore (August Rush, Toast) is the teen Norman Bates who is showing sighs of mental breakdown because he having blackouts that he has no memories of his actions. His Mother is aware of his blackouts,and what he capable of when having one. She sets out to shield him and protect him. Unfortunately she is a women who is unstable with a long history of abuse and traumatic occurrences in her own life. She also a magnet for the wrong people and wrong things. Which just causes Norman abnormal behaviors to get worse. The series is solid in story telling it's cohesive with Alfred Hitchcock vision and is extremely well acted by Vera Famgia and Freddie Highmore The first season was one of the best debut of a Television series in tv history. With both star Freddie and Vera getting praise and Vera a Emmy Nomination for best actress in a Television series. The second season had a hard act to follow. It manages to be even better going deeper into the life of this tragic mother and son...introducing new plot twists . The second season we see Norman trying to make sense of his actions and trying to exert his will more often while pulling apart from his controlling mother with deadly results. If you like dysfunctional family shows (or movies like Donnie Darko, Carrie, Breaking Bad, Nurse Jackie) you will like this series

The ten episodes contained in Season Two of "Bates Motel" continue the gripping storylines, superb acting and excellent production values set by the opening season of this bizarre, yet captivating modern day take of the original Hitchcock masterpiece, "Psycho".Flawlessly cast as the beguiling mother-son combination of Norma and Norman Bates, Vera Farmiga and Freddie Highmore are exceptional, adding a fabulous edginess to their roles and come off as a totally believable and an unforgettable "couple".The supporting cast is first rate, especially husky Max Thieriot as the other son, Dylan, who provides a welcome contrast to his other family members. And the lovely Olivia Cooke adds a nice touch of sweetness and common sense to the otherwise crazy goings on in White Pine Bay - a beautiful location but seemingly riddled with crime. Special mention to Paloma Kwiatkowski who makes quite an impact with her portrayal as Norman's friend Cody.Hopefully the next season will be just as intriguing as the first two, although I fear as with shows like this, stories can become too far-fetched and lose all credibility. Fingers crossed that "Bates Motel" will not suffer that fate!In the extras, I enjoyed watching English actors Highmore and Cooke speak in their native accents. Quite strange to hear Freddie in his "cultured" tone and Olivia with her Manchester accent as compared to their flawless American accents in the series.

Consider the contents of the Blu-ray disk as one long movie and the makers were kind enough to add nine intermissions. This review is for "Bates Motel: Season 2 (Blu-ray), a TV show whose season consists of a mere 10 episodes.The disk may contain 10 episodes, but "Bates Motel" is not episodic film-making. It has all the hallmarks of a big-budget Hollywood movie extravaganza. Every aspect associated with "serious cinema" is in expert hands behind the scenes, creating a stage suited for actors to practice their craft with abandon, passion, and convincing realism.The story of "Bates Motel" is buoyed by the disturbing themes explored in Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece theatrical film "Psycho." Hitchcock created the foundation as well as the precedent in telling the story of Norman Bates, so the makers of "Bates Motel" knew making the series was a risky undertaking. It was easily a sink or swim endeavor.Evidently, the series makers did their best to overcome the likelihood of failure that so many film makers face when attempting to recreate, re-imagine, or borrow from highly revered original films. Just as evident is the fact that the series makers' "best" to beat the odds was enough to overcome the risks and they managed to create a genuinely fascinating and highly successful TV show based on the inimitable "Psycho."