And that’s true.
Dylan is the only person left in this world who gives one single s about Norman Bates.
Well, Dylan…
And us.
Credit: Cate Cameron/A&E
But what we know is that Norman didn’t kill Norma Mother did.
What we know is that Norman was a broken boy without the means to fix himself.
It doesn’t make him any less a murderer.
I want you to behappy, and I want you to bewell."
He now knows what we’ve known all along: There could be no happy ending for Norman.
I guess I just assumed that meant there couldn’t be a truly satisfying end for Norman either.
It’s you and me; it’s always been you and me.
We belong to each other.
I don’t ever want to be without you."
But at the top of Monday’s episode, we’re not yet dealing with Norman.
But that doesn’t mean she’s leading him to the body without her usual brand of sass.
That earns a head-slam into the car door.
Did you think about that, Sheriff Lonely Heart?"
That earns a violent backhand and a gun to the temple.
And Mother just can’t help herself: “I’m so sorry.
For everything that happened.
I know how much you loved her.”
This is the point my notes turned to all caps and never really went back again.
Romero was supposed to kill Norman; he was living for it.
Some people aren’t destined for the lives they’re forced to lead.
you might’t hide from that."
In fact, everyone seems to be in agreement that Norman’s hiding days are up.
Looking down at Norma, finally back in his own body, Norman recognizes her as “mother.”
But then he hears it…Mother.
She’s back outside of him, just to the left.
It was supposed to be the both of us."
Mother tells Norman, “He’s just trying to hurt you.
But Romero is dead; he can’t hurt Norman anymore.
And so Mother tells him, “I have to leave now.”
But Mother says he knows everything now: “There’s nothing for me to protect you from.”
It’s a beautiful day out.
How’d you sleep?”
Norman, with a perfectly intact face and crisp pajamas, can hardly believe the turn of events himself.
He tells Norma he had the most horrible dream that she died.
“Well, I didn’t.
I’m right here… it’s just a silly dream, honey.
Life is in front of us.”
you oughta learn how to wake up from them.
it’s possible for you to if you just try hard enough."
He’s muttering, “It won’t stop.
Am I still dreaming?
And there’s that buttery light again.
Key word: dream.
And Norman’s response is one we’ve also heard before in the pilot.
I am so happy you’re making me move here.
You are so smart to force me to do things I have no say in.”
It is sick, heartrending, can’t-look-away stuff, and these scenes are absolutely genius.
We knew then the exact things we know now nothowthey would happen, butthatthey would happen.
And speaking of tragic: Dylan.
He’s waiting for Remo (Remo!
And that’s when we know.
How else could Norman’s story possibly end but to be killed by Romero?
And one of the little boys is named Dylan.
And I miss you; I know mother does too…
I know she can be so stubborn sometimes.
It’s just because she gets hurt so easily.
I know the two of you had a terrible fight before we moved from Scottsdale.
I think this could be a new beginning… for all of us.
We’re not a family without you, Dylan.
No one gives a s about Norman.
Emma begs him not to go up: “Dylan, you have a child.”
“Do I have a wife?”
But Dylan doesn’t seem like he needs arming up.
He seems like he’s ready to go deal with his brother, to finallydo something about Norman.
You screwed me there, Emma Decody."
And as Dylan heads toward the house, my notes read like this: “DYLAN.
DYLAN!!!!
NO, OMG DYLAN, DONOT.
Dylan knocks on the door, and Norman answers, simplythrilledto see him.
Dylan’s face crumples: “She’s not here, Norman.”
Talk about queasy: Norman give a little smile, and jerks his head toward the dining room.
He’s so excited for everyone to make amends.
There she is, looking somehow even deader than ever before.
Her skin is sallow, her eyes are clouded over, her veins have gone black.
Dylan keels over and vomits everywhere.
“Poor thing, let me help you,” Norman coos.
This has all been too much for you.”
“DYLAN, yo DON’T RUIN IT!”
You brought her body here."
And in perhaps the line of the night: “Well, I disagree.”
Norman asks if that’s what Dylan wants for him, to be drugged up and locked away.
And here it comes: “I DON’T KNOW WHAT I WANT FOR YOU!
I want Mom to be alive again.
I want you guys to meet my daughter.
I want to have Christmases together!
I want for all of these things to have never happened!”
These aren’t little boys anymore.
And he picks up a knife.
Poor us…
Dylan pulls out his gun and tells Norman to put the gun down.
“This is how it ends, isn’t it?”
Dylan tells him it doesn’t have to end this way.
“I just want to be with her, Dylan,” Norman seems to plead.
“Don’t ask me to do this,” Dylan most certainly pleads.
Norman lunges with the knife.
He pictures the woods, him running to Norma both in present day and as a child.
She waits for him there in a glowing white coat, arms open.
Norman hugs Dylan as he fades out: “Thank you.”
This is how it ends, isn’t it?
The scene fades into a close-up of a woman holding a little girl’s hand it’s Emma.
I don’t think I need to tell you how much I start crying.
The little girl spots Dylan and runs up to him.
And Chick’s manuscript?
Does Dylan know his dadalsodied?
- And I saw li’l blondie Katie looking just like Grandma Norma!
May we all watch something this good together again in the very near future.
