Bates Motel: 'Trust Me' (2013)
Rating: B+
A&E's "Bates Motel" mini-series is basically going to be re-working PSYCHO IV. If you've seen that film then you know it shows what was going on with Mrs. Bates and Norman before the events in the original Alfred Hitchcock film. While that prequel wasn't perfect, it at least put a nice wrap-around story to the original film.
This fourth episode in the series starts off where the previous one ended as Norman (Freddie Highmore) discovers a secret that his mom's new boyfriend has. As the episode moves along the heat on Norma (Vera Farmiga) grows hotter as a severed hand is pulled out from some water. While all of this is going on Norman and his step brother Dylan (Max Thieriot) continue to build their relationship.
"Trust Me" continues to build on some high marks that the previous episode really put into motion. I think this episode is certainly one of the better ones so far and the ending will certainly leave you burning to know what's going to happen next. I think once again the episode works because we're given some strong writing, which is certainly true during the best moments of this thing, which once again happen between Norman and Dylan. I really think that their relationship is giving the series something special and it actually works. A lot of this is due to the actors turning in excellent performances but the girl talk between the two just contains something that feels so real that you can't help but bring yourself into their relationship. The stuff with the boyfriend (Mike Vogel) continues to grow weirder by the moment but it's fascinating and especially his relationship with Norman. This episode even finds Norman and Bradley (Nicola Peltz) doing something fans of PSYCHO won't be expecting. Overall this is a strong episode with the terrific performances we've come to expect but there's also a lot of soul beginning to grow.