'Bates Motel' season 4 finale recap and review: Norman reverts to delusions after Norma's death; tries to kill himself in cliffhanger ending

In Season 4 Episode 10 of “Bates Motel,” Norman (Freddie Highmore) had great difficulty dealing with Norma’s (Vera Farmiga) death. He clashed with Romero (Nestor Carbonell) several times and may have ended his life in the end.

The episode started with Norma still dead in a morgue after Norman attempted to commit suicide. The paramedics came to take Norman away. Romero was questioned by Detective Chambers (Alison Matthews) who also asked if he saw the note. Romero initially did not know what she was referring to until he read Norma’s letter and saw the ring she left. Romero, however, still knows that Norman is not normal and that Norma would not go just like that.

At at the hospital, Norman was still trying to accept his mother’s death. When Romero arrived, he blamed the latter and Romero got furious.

When Norman arrived home, he did things by himself and was longing for Norma. He got a call from Mr. Willcock (Jay Brazeau). Although the funeral home director preferred to speak to Romero, Norman planned to take care of everything.

Later, Norman told Chambers his side of the story, which mostly involved bad-mouthing his step-father. He also received a call from his brother Dylan (Max Thieriot), who offered his condolences.

The time came for Norman to give his speech and lost it at one point, screaming at her for leaving him. Romero told him to leave and the two had a heated exchange. Romero went to the office to take out a gun, most likely to kill Norman. Before he can leave, however, he was charged for perjury.

Norman continued to break down and miss his mother. He prepared to commit suicide by shooting himself in the mouth. However, he was distracted by the piano playing again. He spotted Norma and the two hugged. The episode ended with Norma telling him that she would never leave him. Fans speculated that Norman may have blacked out again or killed himself, to be reunited with his mother.

Variety writes that executive producer Carlton Cuse revealed that they wanted to show that Norman was very delusional and mentally ill. It is very likely that he was only imagining being reunited with his mother in the end. “Bates Motel” has been renewed for Season 5. It has a tentative air date for March 2017 on A&E.