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Oh be still, my Norman-devoted heart!

 

A&E seems to be for reals taking full advantage of the current buzz surrounding the Fox Searchlight film Hitchcock by riding the Psycho wave and creating some buzz in their own direction for the upcoming thriller series “Bates Motel”! They teased us (okay, me) last week by releasing the first production photo from the Vancouver set, and now, they have released a virtual deluge of Bates-y goodness to The Hollywood Reporter, who in turn published the exclusive pics for our (okay, my) viewing ecstasy!!!

 

The photos include the two main stars, of course, Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga, but also supporting cast including Max Thieriot and “Lost” alum Nestor Carbonell, as well as the trusty ol’ Bates House and titular Motel. Check ‘em all out below with my (very well-informed) comments!

 

 

 

Welp, if we needed concrete evidence that this show takes place in modern times, you can't get more current than with an iPhone! Or perhaps it's an iPod Touch that Norman is rocking out to here... Either way, I can't honestly imagine that Mother would allow Norman to indulge in such devilish devices. But maybe this is something he has hidden away and only gets to experience when he's away from home... Whatever the case may be, pondering what exactly Norman Bates might have on his iPod is a delicious notion indeed! Ohhh the possibilities... Some Evanescence perhaps? Or maybe he's more of a classical aficionado? Or maybe he's blasting some hardcore X-rated gangsta rap!!

 

 

 

Another "action shot" of Norman; he appears to be pulling some Motel duty, retrieving luggage from atop a visitor's car. The intrigued expression on his face leads me to believe that there is a comely woman involved... (Norman, you are a NAUGHTY BOY!)

 

 

 

Here we get a first glimpse of Max Thieriot as the Bates family black sheep, Norman's brother Dylan. Well, I can't say he looks terribly thrilled to be there. I'm interested to see how the writers work a brother into the Psycho mythos...

 

 

 

Thar she is! The good ol' rundown Bates Motel, lovingly recreated for this series from the original Motel in Psycho. (FYI, the Bates Motel that you currently see at the Universal Studios Hollywood backlot is NOT the original one from Psycho but is actually the 70s-era revamp that they did for the deplorable 1998 "remake". Sigh.)

 

 

 

And here we have the lovely Vera Farmiga as the notorious Norma Bates in this rather enigmatic photo... I say that because she seems to be positively wistful even though she is nursing an obviously injured hand. Wow, she IS crazy!!! (P.S. - Whose sweet Porsche is that behind her?? Hmm...)

 

 

 

Why, Norman, you flirt! The junior Bates seems to be getting his study on with a lovely female school chum here, and having a rather nice time too, thank you very much. I would assume that this scene takes place at their school, but judging from the Victorian decor -- not to mention the presence of stuffed fauna around the room -- this could very well be the parlor of the Bates House itself.

 

 

 

Norman looking positively sinister here, in his old school Bert & Ernie shirt (I had the same one when I was a kid).

 

 

 

"Some day, I shall bury you here." - what I imagine is going through Norman's head at this moment.

 

 

 

Again with the tacky shirtwear! Well, Norman wasn't exactly known for his fashion sense, and Mother probably preferred it that way.

 

 

 

Big bro Dylan again, looking very secretive!

 

 

 

So, looks like Mrs. Bates is quite the MILF! Interesting considering what we already know about her; the original Norma Bates was a shrewish prude, but this one doesn't seem above some red lipstick and showing a little décolletage... Scandalous! (And what's that red stuff on the door frame? "Mother! Oh GOD, MOTHER! Blood! BLOOD!")

 

 

 

My my, who is THIS handsome fellow-in-a-uniform?? Why, it's Cloverfield star Mike Vogel as Deputy Zach Shelby. I guess the powers-that-be felt this series needed a little more man-candy...

 

 

 

And here's our friend Nestor, as the town Sheriff Alex Romero. The fact that two of the regular cast includes police officers certainly says a lot...

 

 

 

Nicola Peltz, seen here, plays the high school hottie Bradley Kenner, no doubt an object of Norman's desire. And she must in fact be quite a badass to be able to pull off the name "Bradley"...

 

 

 

And, finally, possibly the most confusing photo of all, is this one of Olivia Cooke as Norm's gal-pal Emma, who appears to be... not quite herself today. Apparently, according to reports, her character is "handicapped", though it doesn't seem to be affecting her ability to pull off some A-list level hair and make-up.

 

"Bates Motel" was also recently picked up for a full 10-episode season, so clearly the folks at the network are liking what they are seeing! These pics got me pretty jacked too! What do you all think??

 

 

- Katie Marzullo, YH Staff Editor

katie@younghollywood.com