‘Bates Motel’ Season 4 Review: Norma Bates could die anytime now

“Bates Motel” Season 4, Episode 5 (“Refraction”) unravels Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore) in a more complex level for Dr Edwards (Damon Gupton). Meanwhile, fans are guessing that Norma Bates (Vera Farmiga) could die anytime soon. Considering where the story is now, plus the fact that there are only 15 episodes left in the series, Norma’s death this season is going to be memorable, but not shocking.

Spoiler alert: This review contains “Bates Motel” Season 4 spoilers. Details include the latest developments in the characters’ lives.

Norma’s marriage with Sheriff Alex Romero (Nestor Carbonell) is becoming more solid with each episode. In Episode 5 (A&E air date: April 11) Romero practically admits to Norma that he killed Bob Paris (Kevin Rahm) to protect her. The two are embracing their marriage in a way that neither one of them may have expected.

“Bates Motel” is based on the 1960 film “Psycho” and its sequels. In the movies, it is revealed that Norman killed Norma and her lover out of jealousy. In the A&E series, Norman would not have been admitted to a mental institution if it weren’t for his stepdad’s money and insurance. In his sick mind, Norman has more than enough reason to hate Romero’s presence in Norma’s life, in his life.

Meanwhile, Dr Edwards now understands that Norman takes on Norma’s character when he goes into a blackout. In a chilling scene, Edwards manages to have a discussion with Norman while he’s acting as Norman. With the Norman puzzle pieces coming together for a professional, the audience gets a feeling that the end is really near.

Norma and Romero have a lot to deal with at this point. Chick (Ryan Hurst) and Rebecca (Jaime Ray Newman) are out to make their lives miserable. Meanwhile, Emma (Olivia Cooke) and Dylan (Max Thieriot) are still clueless that Norman killed Emma’s mother, and she is buried in the motel grounds.

“Bates Motel” Season 4 is unfolding brilliantly -- planting seeds for the series finale and making its mark on A&E history.

Soon after the show’s third season finale, The Hollywood Reporter asked “Bates Motel” show boss Carlton Cuse if he already knew how the series would end, or how the final scene would look like. This is what he said:

“Absolutely and I’m sure it will evolve over time, as all things do creatively while we figure out the details of the remaining 20 episodes.”

It is possible Cuse was looking at the death of Norma Bates as the ultimate tragic ending in his show. It is also possible for Norma’s death to happen in Season 4, with the final season exploring Norman’s life after the death of his mother in his hands.

There are five more episodes this season. The A&E synopsis for “Bates Motel” Season 4, Episode 6 (“The Vault”) says Norman is set to confront “some painful truths.” Norman Bates is about to get even worse. It would not make sense to hope for things to get better for his mother. Her blissful married life may have seen its best days.