Bates Motel Review: The Body (Season 5 Episode 8)

Freddie Highmore makes his directorial debut on this episode of Bates Motel Season 5 Episode 8, “The Body.” This episode has a lot of depth to it, and more tragedy from the episodes we’ve seen before. Norman’s psychosis is taking him on a whole new ride.

The moment we have been anxious to find out comes full circle on this episode of Bates Motel where Norman takes it upon himself to confess to all the murders he is responsible for, but from Mother’s point of view, she’s not done with Norman just yet.

Slowly but surely Norman’s sickness is unraveling more and more, and I’m surprised no one is taking it seriously. It’s only Dylan so far that knows all of this is coming from Norman’s psychosis and that he’s actually not a bad person.

Dylan being there for Norman, and actually hiring a lawyer for him, shows you how caring Dylan really is.

Moments like this is where I wish Dylan was treated better by Norma and Norman before. He deserves everything that’s good.

Norma never really showed her affection and gratitude towards Dylan from the start of it all. He was always left to the side that made him feel like he wasn’t good enough. But now, Dylan is literally all that Norman has for recovering.

The body count is piling up, one by one, and it’s not looking good for Norman. But Mother thinks she is going to make things better, but really, she makes matters much worse. Her whole idea of framing Madeline for the murder of Sam Loomis is not clever.

Because we all know the truth will come out eventually.

Poor Madeline has no idea what’s going on. A boy she thought was friendly and liked to buy stuff from her store was only infatuated with her because he reminded her of his mother. Now, she is in this dreadful situation of literally not knowing where her husband, Sam, is.

But soon after, she realizes he might actually be dead, thanks to the smirk Norman gives away. A smirk that gives me chills. In that moment, he becomes someone she could hardly recognize.

One thing I wish we were able to see in this episode is Norman trying to fight off Mother, like really fight her off and take complete control. Deep down, we all know he wants to do better and be better hence why he confesses to murdering Sam.

Mother is pushed into the scenario so much that it ruins it for him, and it makes Norman’s battle in coming forward with his reality a lot harder and a lot more frustrating to bear.

This constant personality switch Norman has is affecting him more than he knows. It’s a battle within himself, and on this episode, the way that they show how immense Mother’s influence is on Norman’s mind is very troubling.

See, if only Norman didn’t spit out his pill. If only just this once he gets to speak his mind thoroughly, that way someone would be able to help him and actually believe Dylan.

Norman is a killer, yes, but he’s mentally ill, and he is almost never in a normal state.

Meanwhile, Romero is still being Romero. Out for vengeance and out for blood. As he makes his way into Norman’s house, he’s hit with saddening flashbacks of Norma with her white gown and lets out a broken smile.

I’m not going to lie, those sights of Norma made me sad. Romero and Norma were great as a couple, their story was complicated but it was also sweet.

Norman brought a softer and more relaxed side to Romero whenever he was around her, now that she’s no longer alive everything about him is dark.

Just when I was surprised by Chick’s return on this episode, he meets his death to a bullet to his brain by none other than Romero.

Did I expect that to happen? Heck. No.

Senseless killing, Romero? Where did that come from? What did Chick do to you?

It’s unfortunate now because Chick won’t live to tell his tale, that book would have been a hit. Maybe.

As we are gearing up to just two more episodes of this series, I’ve got a feeling we will be in for a lot more heartbreak.

Other thoughts:

• Now that Dylan knows for sure that Emma’s mom has been dead all along, will this drive Emma to come back to White Pine Bay to seek justice?
• I’m really bummed that Romero had to go and kill Chick.
• Sheriff Greene isn’t playing games with Norman anymore, although her approach to all of this felt rather slow. Would have thought she would have found something earlier by now.
• Wait, Dylan doesn’t even know that Caleb is dead too! Sheesh. Chick sent his body off into the lake, but who knows if someone might retrieve it or not.

What did you think of this episode of Bates Motel? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Bates Motel airs Mondays at 10/9c on A&E.

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