A&E's PSYCHO-inspired series Bates Motel is currently in the middle of its fifth and final season, and I have really been enjoying this season so far. The show's Norman Bates has officially gone full-on psycho and more elements from PSYCHO are getting mixed directly into the story (including Rihanna as shower victim Marion Crane, who made her debut in Monday's episode), all while we're also getting an expanded presence for one of my favorite characters, an eccentric fellow named Chick.
I've been glad to see the show venture further into PSYCHO territory because I haven't always been happy with the way it has built the concept out to sustain a series. I never would have chosen to have all that criminal organization / drug dealing stuff worked into the Bates story.
It appears that there are more connections to the drug world coming up before the show reaches its conclusion, if a new casting announcement is any indication. Natalia Cordova-Buckley, who may be best known for her role as Elena "Yo-Yo" Rodriguez on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., has joined the cast of Bates Motel for a multi-episode guest star role as
Julia Ramos, a world-weary and efficient high-powered attorney who typically represents guys from the drug business. Sharp as a tack, Julia is described as a seasoned professional who cuts right to the chase.
Of course, Ramos may not be representing someone from the drug business when she shows up, but it wouldn't be surprising if she is.
The synopsis for Bates Motel's final season goes like this:
This contemporary prequel to the genre-defining film Psycho has provided fans with an intimate look into the unraveling of Norman Bates’ psyche throughout his teenage years. Fans watched as Norman’s dangerous transformation came full circle when he methodically murdered his beloved mother, Norma, in the final gut-wrenching episodes of season four. Season five of “Bates Motel” picks up almost two years later and finds Norman (Freddie Highmore), a grown man now, living a double life. Publicly he’s a happy and well-adjusted member of the White Pine Bay community, but at home Norman struggles; his violent blackouts continue to increase as ‘Mother’ (Vera Farmiga) threatens to take over his mind completely. Meanwhile, Dylan Massett (Max Thierot) and Emma Decody (Olivia Cooke), since leaving White Pine Bay, have been living their lives blissfully unaware of Norma’s death and Norman’s full on descent into psychosis. Unfortunately, for them, they will soon find themselves drawn back into Norman’s insanity, while a vengeful Alex Romero (Nestor Carbonell), who is currently incarcerated for a perjury, hungers for a chance to destroy his stepson and avenge the murder of his one true love, Norma Bates.
New faces find their way to the Bates Motel this season to further complicate Norman’s life and threaten to unearth his dark secrets. Viewers will finally meet the iconic Marion Crane played by Rihanna. In addition, a new couple in town, Madeleine Loomis, played by Isabelle McNally (“House of Cards”) and her husband Sam Loomis, played by Austin Nichols (“The Walking Dead,” “Ray Donovan”), as well as Sheriff Dana Greene, played by Brooke Smith (“Grey’s Anatomy,” “Ray Donovan”) become entangled in Norman’s life causing a chain of events that could blow the lid off Norman’s secret life. Lastly, fans will be greeted by familiar faces when Caleb Calhoun (Kenny Johnson) and Chick Hogan (Ryan Hurst) return with agendas of their own.
Bates Motel airs on A&E on Monday nights.