@Corgi said:

Don't get me wrong, the final season is just as enjoyable and entertaining as the previous seasons. But I do have some minor issues that are affecting the final season. Almost every character has been sidelined. Dylan and especially Emma have barely been seen this season. And then Dylan arrives back in White Pine Bay without Emma. So will she factor into any of the storyline at all? But the biggest issue is probably how the death of Norma has affected the season. Although it was a great episode, I think killing her off last season was a mistake only for the fact that now Norma can only interact with Norman in his mind. She has no other interaction with any other character and I miss the spark she had with those other characters.

This whole show is Norman Bates' story, we got plenty of the other characters in season 2 and 3. Norman was even sidelined in season 2, to allow more focus on Dylan. This is the final season, of course the main focus is going to be on Norman and his own mental struggle against mother, that's the whole point of the show, it's his story so the final season should focus on him. What else is there for the other characters to do? They're still part of the story, it's just their roles aren't as significant, because they've had their stories told. Dylan got married and had a baby with Emma, that's all we need. Sheriff Romera is slowly working his way back to have a confrontation with Norman. Allowing Norma to survive season 4, just so she can have more forced interactions with the side characters, would completely undercut the showrunners vision.

@Corgi said:

Although it was a great episode, I think killing her off last season was a mistake only for the fact that now Norma can only interact with Norman in his mind ....

That is the whole point .

I never liked the Dylan character, or his father, for that matter. I always wanted the show fixated on Norman and his mother. I was glad they sidelined characters this season.

@ScorpionQ2 said:

@Corgi said:

Although it was a great episode, I think killing her off last season was a mistake only for the fact that now Norma can only interact with Norman in his mind ....

That is the whole point .

Yes I know thats the point. I was only highlighting my personal opinions because I liked Norma interacting with the Sheriff and other characters and only wished they had delayed her death until this season. Not only is she only in Norman's mind, she is barely shown. She was even missing from one entire episode. Don't get me wrong, I still love the show. I just loved it more last season.

@Halberstram said:

I never liked the Dylan character, or his father, for that matter. I always wanted the show fixated on Norman and his mother. I was glad they sidelined characters this season.

I like the character of Dylan and Emma (not so much his father/uncle, or Chick) but I agree the storylines they were previously given were subpar. But these characters are great when they are involved with the main characters of Norma and Norman and they should be more involved with the final season. Dylan is Norman's brother and Norma's son, and Emma can be considered Norman's best friend from high school. And he did kill her mother. Sidelining them seems wrong. And I disagreed with a post above where they said that Norma's interactions with other characters were forced. I loved her spitfire attitude with other characters besides her son.

All of this might be moot, considering that TVLine mentioned that something happens in the next episode that allows for more Norma:

Question: Only three episodes of Bates Motel left! Scoop, please? —Steven Ausiello: Norman, with a strong assist from “Norma,” will throw someone close to him under the bus in an effort to clear his name. Also, something happens in the first 30 minutes of Monday’s episode that suggests Vera Farmiga will be getting a lot more screen time in these final episodes.

And I disagreed with a post above where they said that Norma's interactions with other characters were forced.

I meant keeping her alive into season 5 just so she could also interact with Dylan and emma would be forced.

I also think they should have placed a larger emphasis on the Motel.

What kind of linens were they using? Was there an ice machine? Were they properly licensed and bonded by the city? Etc.

@Halberstram said:

I also think they should have placed a larger emphasis on the Motel.

What kind of linens were they using? Was there an ice machine? Were they properly licensed and bonded by the city? Etc.

Thanks for adding so much depth to this conversation and articulating so well. There is always one.

Hey, one negative yelp review can wreak peril for a small business like Bates Motel. I'm just being practical.

@Corgi said:

Yes I know thats the point. I was only highlighting my personal opinions because I liked Norma interacting with the Sheriff and other characters and only wished they had delayed her death until this season. Not only is she only in Norman's mind, she is barely shown. She was even missing from one entire episode. Don't get me wrong, I still love the show. I just loved it more last season.

I understand , I like Norma too, but she is still getting more screen time than any other dead person. I bet Vera and Freddie had a ball shooting those 'I'm all in your mind' scenes.

@Halberstram said:

I also think they should have placed a larger emphasis on the Motel.

What kind of linens were they using? Was there an ice machine? Were they properly licensed and bonded by the city? Etc.

Details, details, details! 😉