TV Review: Bates Motel S3, Episode #3 (Persuasion)

Last Updated on July 22, 2021

EPISODE 3: Persuasion

CHECKING IN: Sheriff Romero’s (Nestor Carbone) job is threatened by the powers that be, Norman (Freddie Highmore) and Norma’s (Vera Farminga) relationship comes to a head while Norman simply comes undone.

THE ROOM: WOW. What a heavy hitting Bates Motel episode we got this week! “Persuasion” was easily the strongest entry in Season 3 so far. I was hooked the whole way through and was randomly pummeled like Mr. T at the end of Rocky III. The whole Norman doubting himself (did he kill Annika or did he not) angle was riveting and heartbreaking at the same time. Norman is not solely a person trying to deal with a mental illness, he’s a TEENAGER trying to do deal with hormones, self esteem and yes, said mental illness. I really felt that this week – this is teenage Norman we’re dealing with and as we all know – everything is more f*cked up when we hit that echelon of life. 

When Bates family members collide! BOOM!

Norman opening up to Emma, his riveting tete a tete with Romero (great Ping-Pong match between two strong actors) or when he put on his big boy pants and stepped up to his mom = all very strong scenes made all the more engaging by Freddie Highmore’s intense showcase. That line he had to his mom “I stayed in this world for you!” tugged at my heartstrings. Them poor basterds, they mean well and love each other – but it’s like the blind leading the blind. Norma didn’t have it easy this week either and actress Vera Farminga also had lots to tackle performance wise. Norma is trying to have a normal life, but alas has to deal with her son potentially being a murderer while wanting to protect him, even if he is guilty. At a certain point in the episode, Norma crumbles to the ground, looks up and talks to the big man. She tells him that she doesn’t know what to do anymore. And I truly felt for her at that moment, the utter confusion and despair.

Poor woman, doing the best she can with the twisted world she lives in and with the limited toolbox she has. Thankfully this well-rounded episode managed to break the tension and make me laugh amidst all of its potent drama. The sight of Emma (Olivia Cooke) driving a truck filled with marijuana plants was cute and Norma’s banter with a psychology professor played by Blair Witch Project’s Joshua Jackson (a newcomer to the show) had me in stiches. I smell a new love interest for Norma there – one that won’t live past Season 3. I said it! 

You don’t f*ck with Romero, Romero does the f*cking!

Tag to all that a compelling subplot having to do with Sheriff Romero (Nestor Carbone) losing his job (to Marcus Young, whom I think is the first black guy to ever come to White Pines Bay), the Dylan and Caleb relationship playing the same  “still compelling” dance (Caleb wanting to get closer to Dylan and Dylan pushing him away) and one hell of a sucker punch ending (Annika is alive for 5 seconds leaving us with a new plotline) and you get a full Bates chow down! Any complaints? Nope! Nothing worth mentioning! Consider this Bates Motel fan fulfilled! Bring on next week’s show NOW!

RANDOM THOUGHTS:  For half a second during the show  I thought “What if Caleb is doing the killing of women?” I didn’t think that once the episode was over but maybe the dude has more to do with the happenings in White Pines Bay then the show is letting on for now. Thoughts?

Man that Bob Paris character came off as a major dickwad. If this episode had a weakness, it was that dude’s dialogue. It grated me a tad, you?

Any thoughts on what is on that USB key? I think it’s somethiong that will help Romero keep his job… any opinion on your end?

RATING ON 10

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