Room for One: A Positive Representation of Female Sexuality in 'Bates Motel' published at BitchFlicks

For proof that I can write about television in real, actual paragraphs, I have a piece on Bates Motel published over at Bitch Flicks: http://www.btchflcks.com/2014/05/room-for-one-a-positive-representation-of-female-sexuality-on-bates-motel.html#.U40fVCiKyHc

Bates Motel S02E10: The Immutable Truth

I like that the sheriff is so crooked. It makes everything more interesting.

Is Norman making a final bucket list?

Sigh. Why doesn't anyone ever listen to Sheriff Romero?

Jesus, Norma. Why you always crying? You're a strong woman. You can do shit.

Whaaaaaat? Mouth kissing?

If I were Norman I'd milk the hell out of this. "Pancakes every day, or I kill myself."

This Mother hallucination during the polygraph test is the best one yet.

Great final shot. (Mostly because it echoes the final shot of Psycho, but still.)

Bates Motel S02E09: The Box

The box has air holes, so I wouldn't be too worried.

You think doing what Nick Ford says is going to end it?

Where's Emma's boyfriend been? Did they split after that thing at the river?

I mean, geez, if Bradley could kill that other guy, surely Dylan can kill Nick Ford.

Yup.

Oooooh, NOW we're seeing what's going on.

Bates Motel S02E08: Meltdown

Awwww, little Freddie!

Hahaha! It's the owl!!

Oooh, is he going to sit him in the parlor? No. Oh well.

I'm excited to see what happens when someone actually comes at Norma.

Is Norma *trying* to get a rise out of Norman?

Dylan has the most sense of anyone on this show.

I'm still waiting to see what the deal is with this George guy and his sister. They're too nice for this town.

"What about dinner?" Really? Did you even hear all the insecurities she just expressed?

Ooooh, I like creepy and malicious Norman!

Is Norma using George as a pawn in her relationship with Norman? Isn't that backwards?

So everybody wants Zane dead, right? Just get Sheriff Romero to do it or something.

Norma isn't there when Norman gets kidnapped because she was having sex. Does that make up for season 1 when Norman wasn't there to help Norma when she was raped?

Bates Motel S02E07: Presumed Innocent

That's a great shot of Norman's face when he's sitting in the back of the police cruiser. What a face he's making!

Is this councilman guy the only Jew in town?

I guess no one ever told Norman that he should wait to see a lawyer before he starts yapping.

Norman. Stop talking.

I like that whatsisface used "Kojak" as a verb. Remo.

Norma is going to flip on this texting receptionist.

"I've done your laundry." That seems inappropriate to bring up.

Is anyone with Cody right now? Is she alone? Why aren't the police questioning her, too?

Zane is taking this really well.

It *does* seem like they've had Norman for an awful while.

Norma, talking to Cody is not a good idea right now.

See, Norma? You're making things worse.

Vera Farminga really has the "hug someone and look up towards the ceiling in thought" thing down pat.

Norman is definitely expecting too much of Cody right now.

That house would be so much less ominous if they painted it a nice light color.

Is Norman wearing the apron a nod to his cross-dressing future?

Once again I am overwhelmed by Emma's beauty.

"Calling, texting. I know myself. I know I'm not going to do that." Respect.

I guess I don't mind the very budding romance between Norma and Romero.

Whoa. So Norma tells Norman that there's something wrong with him and that she won't tell him what and kind of threatens him. Hmm. I'll be interested to see how this changes their relationship.

I like how Remo has become "Dylan's guy"

Bates Motel S02E06: Plunge

Phish? The drug boss lady listens to Phish?

This is a nice shot of Norman in the closet.

They are going to be so fired from their theater gig.

"You sell pot, right?" Smooth, Cody.

Nice touch about the curtains.

Oh Norman, don't go swimming in your boxers. They'll be see-through.

It is a pretty spot.

Don't have second thoughts, Emma. Pot bot is way better than Norman.

Poor Emma :(

Oh, but don't yell at Cody like that, Norman.

So is this drug lady Poison Ivy or something?

Of course she wants to sleep with Dylan. Bad idea, though, Dylan. Probably.

Oh Vera, that silhouette!

"Getting this seat means everything to me." You only got this idea like two days ago!

Well that was an awkward meeting with the Mayor. The Mayor is awkward.

Wow. Cody is doing something responsible.

Oh come one, Norma. You know you didn't get that seat by yourself.

The driving teacher shouldn't scoff like that.

Norman really needs some dude friends.

Bates Motel S02E05: The Escape Artist

"How about you come down to my boat?" Yeah, that sounds safe.

Emma is so fucking cute.

Cody is such a snot.

Is Norma's skirt-suit...denim?

Seriously. So. Fucking. Cute. I want an Emma.

Aw, does Cody have a bad family life? Shocker.

Really, Norma? You wore heels to go to a boat? I mean I know you're trying to look classy and professional and stuff, but come on!

"You have nothing to lose by going against him" = "I can use you."

"I'm too mixed up in everything that goes on in this town" = "My money comes from drugs"

Ooooh, it's the little pine weasel all over again!

Watching Norman climb a rope into a treehouse is not exactly riveting television, folks.

"Are you going to kiss me now?" "Yeah. I think so." Cute! Cupcake guy is okay, I guess. A little milquetoast.

That's a really terrible thing to say about someone, Norma.

You don't have to move so fast, Emma. Take your time. (Cute undies, though.)

Who the hell is this lady? (Besides Zane's sister, which she just told us.)

Bates Motel S02E04: Check-Out

Did Emma just get her cherry popped in a room at the motel she works at? Classy.

What is this lady's angle?

This season needs more Sheriff.

This girl is kind of an asshole. And like, an asshole just for the sake of being an asshole.

So Norman doesn't tell Emma what's up, but he tells stranger-chick?

Aww, he prefers girls to be conscious when he sleeps with them. What a gentleman.

Oooh is Norman going to channel his rage?

Emma is so intelligent and sensible.

"She's kind of taken with you." Like...in lesbians?

I dunno, if I were a drug kingpin and the sheriff wanted to be buddies with me, I think that'd be okay.

Scaring people with tire irons may be okay for thugs with your everyday personality disorder. But bring Norman Bates, THE Psycho, to "scare" someone with a weapon? Baaaaad idea...

As much fun as bashful "Aw shucks" Norman is, I'm looking forward to seeing his transformation into Psycho Norman Bates.

Lem ain't gonna make it out of this town alive.

"I've been silenced long enough" Is he channeling Norma?

Whaaaaaaaat?

No cop says to the sheriff that he "just" has to get out there right away. The cop would say what the situation is.

Whose house is this?

Bates Motel S02E03: Caleb

Is Norma making a friend?? That's so great!!

Uh oh, where is she going to introduce her around?

Ohh Lem, you don't look so good.

They're playing Macklemore at Bradley's memorial? (I only know it's Macklemore because the captions said so...)

Is this chick a new love interest? Already?

She looks like Ashley from Degrassi.

I'm sure this episode is building to something, but it sure is boring.

Let me guess: she's Nick Ford's daughter.

Ohhhhhh snap.

Bates Motel S02E02: Shadow of a Doubt

Am I supposed to be worried for Bradley that she'll get caught? Cuz I don't really care if she gets caught.

"We"? Who is we?

Ohh, so the Blue Fairy was the daughter of the rival drug guy?

"It's not written on some stone tablet that that's the way it has to be" - is that a LOST reference?

I want Norma to audition for South Pacific and to get cast and for it to turn into a Golden Girls-esque scenario.

"We sing all the time." What a declaration.

Standing up to go is a nice gesture, but kind of empty when you're handcuffed to the table.

And where exactly is Bradley going to go?

Drug distribution seems like a bad business in which to be working for someone you don't respect.

So why isn't Dylan disabusing Zane of the notion that a rival drug guy killed Gil?

But with bus tickets if you miss the bus you can take the next one, no?

Those were NOT real pearls.

She's going to start over in Boston? How much money did he give her??

Of course now Dylan can't deny knowing anything...

If I were Norman I'd be soooo pissed if Norma then chickened out of the audition.

Not having sheet music at a musical theater audition is not good. But this whole audition is not really organized very well, so there's that.

You got a reeeeally week case there, Sheriff.

We didn't get to see Norman's audition?

I wouldn't have someone write a fake suicide note on paper from my notebook. Use a napkin from the diner or something. Sheesh.

 What is this melancholy music? What are we supposed to be sad about?

It's Lem!!!!

Bates Motel S02E01: Gone But Not Forgotten

I don't really remember too much of where last season left off, but it doesn't seem to matter too much because what happened last season seems to be forgotten. Like, whatever happened to that sex slave? Did she just disappear?

I also don't remember if Norman killed his teacher the Blue Fairy or if it was implied but left ambiguous.

Other things:
- What is the sheriff's D&D alignment?
- Bradley didn't comb her hair. She is DARK.
- Freddie Highmore really grew on me last season, so now he seems like a perfect fit for the role.