Bates Motel - Hidden - Review: Handling Reality

This season's 4th outing of Bates Motel was all about Norman handling reality or at least the version his mind has created. The episode was still ver well paced, like the whole season so far and awoke a bittersweet feeling within me. I desperately want to see how the show will end but am sad that it will eventually end. "Hidden" was written Torrey Speer and directed by one of our own, Bates Motel star Max Theriot.

Before digging into the real of the episode, lets give a round of applause Caleb's funeral. What a phenomenal scene. So impressive, such an impressive scenery, so well shot. Right off the bet major kudos to Max Theriot for doing an excellent job in this scene. It was really sad to let Caleb go, especially after last week's amazing performance from Kenny Johnson. Chick in the native american outfit sending Caleb on his final voyage was just a pleasure to watch.


Meanwhile, we've got the pleasure to meet White Pine Bay's new Sheriff. Sheriff Jane Greene, played by Brooke Smith, was nice fresh air. Jane is pushy and she wants answers and seeing Norman crumble under her questions was truly entertaining. Once again kudos to Freddie for such delicate acting and saying so much with his mimic, many actors don't do so much acting for a lifetime while using words. We found out that the hired killer (Joe Blackwell) from episode 1 was an inmate at Romero's prison and that his parole officer started searching for him with only a Bates Motel address being their hint. That lead Jane to Norman and Norman into a mental breakdown. The panic Norman expressed felt so real and captivating. Once again the show exploited the Norman/"Norma" interaction to the fullest. This time around "Norma" wasn't Norman's conscience, she was the cold-hearted killer knowing she didn't make any mistakes while getting rid of Joe Blackwell, it wasn't her first time after all.

The scenes in the woods while they were searching for the car, felt really intense and I didn't think that Norman would really tackle his mother to keep her quiet. It was an interesting fight of Norman's subconscious, "Norma" as the part that wants the whole charade to fall apart and Norman who can't let go of the prison he created in his mind. As always major kudos to the actors and to Max but as the director now as he really exploited the most of the circumstances Norman and "Norma" were set in. Also, I once again loved "Norma"'s outfits this week. Vera looks so stunning!!

Norman's paranoia was truly breaking out and he even shunts Chick from the villa. Still, "Norma" acting out forced him to embrace Chick, cause he is the only person he could trust at the moment.

I love all the Madeleine and Norman scenes. She was so well cast cause Isabelle brings such a captivating fragility to Madeleine which really fits with Norman and the story overall. They would be the perfect couple if Norman wasn't having those little pesky blackouts. Their interaction in the store was truly awkward but I loved the dinner scene. It had so much romance and that background music, perfect choice. The scene in the kitchen while they were backing, was really filled with passion. I never interpreted Norman as a passionate person but he brought the heat with Madeleine. I knew "Norma" would eventually appear and that it would be the last we saw of Madeleine but somehow avoided the blackout and she survived this date at least.

No matter how much I love Romero or Nestor Carbonell, his story this week story was very very faulty. Yes, he is an alpha man on a mission but let's keep it real or at least real-ish. I mean where was the driver? The whole plot with him easily entering the ambulance, walk miles from the farm and then drop to a new barn to work on his wound very faulty. Eventually, Romero did reach Maggie. Who Maggie is unknown so far but she is willing to help Alex. So I'm going with ex or sister atm.

The worst part of tonight's episode was the lack of Dylan and Emma and I need them to enter White Pine Bay asap. Norman's mind continues to crumble and I'm very eager to see how things will go from here. I hope this review put you in the right mode before tonight's episode which was directed by Nestor Carbonell. ICYMI very very talented cast. As always feel free to share your opinions in the comment section down below and discuss the events of "Hidden".