# The Bates Motel: Psycho Pre-Quel Series Starts Tonight On A&E **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 18, 2013, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bates-motel-psycho-pre-quel-series-starts-tonight-on-a-e/653268 "2013-03-18T15:50:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bates-motel-psycho-pre-quel-series-starts-tonight-on-a-e/653268/61 "2013-05-01T23:51:04Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Would the show risk involving Dylan and under age Bradley? She’s a high school girl and jail bait for Dylan. I kind of hope they don’t go in that direction. 17 isn’t jailbait if legal age is 16 or if they’ve got one of those within 5 year exceptions or any of a number of other outs. But I dunno what the rules in that state are. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bates-motel-psycho-pre-quel-series-starts-tonight-on-a-e/653268/62 "2013-05-02T00:17:36Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > 17 isn’t jailbait if legal age is 16 or if they’ve got one of those within 5 year exceptions or any of a number of other outs. But I dunno what the rules in that state are. Maine? Probably 30. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bates-motel-psycho-pre-quel-series-starts-tonight-on-a-e/653268/63 "2013-05-02T00:45:43Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Maine? > Probably 30. They’re in Oregon. Age of consent is 18. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bates-motel-psycho-pre-quel-series-starts-tonight-on-a-e/653268/64 "2013-05-02T02:21:27Z")
> [@fachverwirrt](#): > > They’re in Oregon. Age of consent is 18. Oregon, Maine, what the hell, North and by the ocean. 🙂 Wasn’t the film in Maine? ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bates-motel-psycho-pre-quel-series-starts-tonight-on-a-e/653268/65 "2013-05-02T02:48:24Z")
I think the film was in California. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bates-motel-psycho-pre-quel-series-starts-tonight-on-a-e/653268/66 "2013-05-08T16:01:01Z")
It’s becoming harder and harder to believe that Norma wouldn’t jump in the car with Norman and leave the state. Let a local realtor sell that motel. Dead decaying deputy in the bed trumps a decapitated horse’s head anytime. I seriously can’t imagine Norma sticking around after that scene. But the show got renewed and she has to. LOL I’m not sure Dylan is up for another gunfight in the Bates house. Norman’s into taxidermy now. Yikes! I’m already seeing Ms Watson (the teacher) stuffed in his living room a few years from now. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bates-motel-psycho-pre-quel-series-starts-tonight-on-a-e/653268/67 "2013-05-08T16:35:03Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > It’s becoming harder and harder to believe that Norma wouldn’t jump in the car with Norman and leave the state. Let a local realtor sell that motel. **Dead decaying deputy in the bed trumps a decapitated horse’s head anytime.** I seriously can’t imagine Norma sticking around after that scene. But the show got renewed and she has to. LOL I’m not sure Dylan is up for another gunfight in the Bates house. > > Norman’s into taxidermy now. Yikes! I’m already seeing Ms Watson (the teacher) stuffed in his living room a few years from now. \ you got that right - ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bates-motel-psycho-pre-quel-series-starts-tonight-on-a-e/653268/68 "2013-05-08T18:06:21Z")
I’m hoping that we won’t see dear stuffed Fluffy again. That scene of Norman petting it wasn’t pleasant to watch. I’m hoping that the writers realize keeping Fluffy as a prop in Norman’s bedroom is just too sick. I don’t want to see that thing every episode. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bates-motel-psycho-pre-quel-series-starts-tonight-on-a-e/653268/69 "2013-05-08T18:14:31Z")
Ok I admit it would be funny if there was a yellow puddle on Norman’s bedroom floor. Bad Fluffy! But other than an occasional moment of black humor lets leave the stuffed dog in the prop department. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bates-motel-psycho-pre-quel-series-starts-tonight-on-a-e/653268/70 "2013-05-08T18:30:35Z")
A got in trouble for snorting when Norman told Emma, “You’re safe with me.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bates-motel-psycho-pre-quel-series-starts-tonight-on-a-e/653268/71 "2013-05-08T22:37:42Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’m hoping that we won’t see dear stuffed Fluffy again. That scene of Norman petting it wasn’t pleasant to watch. I’m hoping that the writers realize keeping Fluffy as a prop in Norman’s bedroom is just too sick. I don’t want to see that thing every episode. This is a guy destined to keep his mummified mom around but keeping Juno the Stuffed Dog around is too sick? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bates-motel-psycho-pre-quel-series-starts-tonight-on-a-e/653268/72 "2013-05-08T22:48:02Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > This is a guy destined to keep his mummified mom around but keeping Juno the Stuffed Dog around is too sick? 😛 Actually in the film “Psycho,” Norman has a line about how he can’t stuff dogs or cats, only birds. [QUOTE=Norman Bates] My hobby is stuffing things. You know, taxidermy. And I guess I’d just rather stuff birds because I hate the look of beasts when they’re stuffed. You know, foxes and chimps. Some people even stuff dogs and cats but, boy, I can’t do that. I think only birds look well stuffed because, well because they’re kinda passive to begin with. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2013, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bates-motel-psycho-pre-quel-series-starts-tonight-on-a-e/653268/73 "2013-05-09T00:29:12Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Actually in the film “Psycho,” Norman has a line about how he can’t stuff dogs or cats, only birds. And now we know why. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2013, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bates-motel-psycho-pre-quel-series-starts-tonight-on-a-e/653268/74 "2013-05-12T01:21:28Z")
I guess that’s just one of the details they’ve decided to ignore, like Norman’s dad dying when Norm was 5 and his mother being talked into building the motel by her lover. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Doom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Dr\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bates-motel-psycho-pre-quel-series-starts-tonight-on-a-e/653268/75 "2013-05-13T16:42:12Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Gee Whiz. I’ve never seen writing this good on tv before. Every plot point they setup seems like something they’ll focus on throughout the season or even the entire series. These writers knock down these plot points quick. Who killed Norman’s dad? You could spend the entire series waiting to find out. What should Norma do about Deputy Shelby? I thought that would be the season cliffhanger. Heck just finding that sex slave girl usually would take the entire season in most drama series. > > It’s incredible that these writers immediately create new conflicts for Norma to deal with right after resolving the old ones. It’s like a roller-coaster ride every week. > > I won’t spoil anything until tomorrow morning. Because you enjoy the program, I will not delve into the plethora of problems I have with the writing. My wife enjoys the show, and I decided to just take it for what it’s worth, and try to make the most of the experience. But to your specific point of the pacing of the plot and different storylines presented, I was more than a little put off by the fact that the entire sex-trade angle has been made a fairly large part of the tale, but no one has seemed too overly concerned about the asian girl who ran off into the night. Norman and Emma (especially) were pretty much obsessed with finding this girl. They find her. She runs off. No one mentions her again? ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bates-motel-psycho-pre-quel-series-starts-tonight-on-a-e/653268/76 "2013-05-13T16:50:45Z")
I thought the bad sheriff said he shot her when he chased after her. I can’t remember for certain. But it does seem like the show made a sharp turn in that episode. Several storylines just shut down and wrapped up. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bates-motel-psycho-pre-quel-series-starts-tonight-on-a-e/653268/77 "2013-05-13T17:03:28Z")
I thought the Asian girl was dead. But its never been confirmed. She could pop up anytime. They will need to dial back the plot a little. Explosive things can’t happen every week or the show loses believability. Digging up a dead deputy and putting him in Norma’s bed is a breath taking moment. But how do they top that? I’m not sure how over the top things will get in this battle of wills between Norma and the sex ring boss. Certainly she’s going to be attacked at some point. Maybe kidnapped? I’m expecting the season to end on a cliffhanger. Season 2 will probably escalate Norman’s mental deterioration. just my WAG. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Doom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Dr\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bates-motel-psycho-pre-quel-series-starts-tonight-on-a-e/653268/78 "2013-05-13T17:08:52Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > I thought the bad sheriff said he shot her when he chased after her. I can’t remember for certain. Hmm. I don’t remember that happening. Hopefully that episode gets replayed and I can check for sure. You might be right, and I just wasn’t paying close enough attention. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2013, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bates-motel-psycho-pre-quel-series-starts-tonight-on-a-e/653268/79 "2013-05-13T17:12:50Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Digging up a dead deputy and putting him in Norma’s bed is a breath taking moment. But how do they top that? Given that virtually the entire town is crooked, I think the sex ring guy has an inside track with city government. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2013, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bates-motel-psycho-pre-quel-series-starts-tonight-on-a-e/653268/80 "2013-05-14T01:02:36Z")
Yes, there was a mention that Deputy whatsisname shot the girl in the woods. I missed him saying anything in the actual episode about it, but someone in a later episode said it too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bates-motel-psycho-pre-quel-series-starts-tonight-on-a-e/653268.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bates-motel-psycho-pre-quel-series-starts-tonight-on-a-e/653268.md?page=5)