TV Review: BATES MOTEL: Season 1, Episode 4: Trust Me

Bates Motel Trust Me Review. Bates Motel: Season 1, Episode 4: Trust Me was an episode where grief played a sizable role as a mostly off-screen character died and two characters had to deal with the results of that. It was through that grief that these two characters’ already tangible bond grew stronger. The results of this moment also showed the human side of Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore) who longs for something he can never have.

The introduction of Norman’s brother Dylan Massett (Max Thieriot) during the last two episodes seemed like a plot element that would go nowhere. In Trust Me, his purpose was made clear: Norman’s confidant, big brother (in action, not just in name), and advice-giver. Seeing them together, talking about girls, introduced an everyday, sibling topic into the series and was a welcome refugee from the non-horror side of this television program.

The bedroom scene between Bradley Martin (Nicola Peltz) and Norman Bates was the tonal opposite of the physical assault perpetrated against Ms. Bates (Vera Farmiga) in the first episode. It was organic in all the right ways and the viewer found themselves rooting for Norman Bates, the underdog. The viewer also found themselves rooting for Bradley as well. Underneath the psychosis and the influence of his mother, Norman Bates is a good person, someone that will do right by Bradley if given the opportunity.

During this episode, the viewer saw the beginning of that opportunity.

The police investigation subplot against Ms. Bates took a turning point in this episode but it was a flawed turning point. If Ms. Bates wanted to get into the dump yard so badly, why didn’t she a.) climb over the fence, throw a blanket over the barbed wire at the top, drag the carpet to the fence, and hall it over with a rope or b.) break the chain somehow and drive in? Instead she partially climbed the fence, shook it violently, and wailed. A desperate outburst, yes, but not a constructive solution.

There was also the obvious: instead of throwing the incriminating evidence (the carpeting) away in the trash, why not burn it? Ms. Bates obviously has not watched crime TV shows or she would have known fire destroys and thrown away evidence can be located by the determined and the intrepid.

As of this moment in the fledgling series, the viewer can not see where the Chinese-girl-in-the-basement storyline is going. Its only purpose seems to be an illumination of the true character of Deputy Zack Shelby (Mike Vogel).

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