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Bates Motel

2013 – 2017Show5 seasons50 episodesTV-MA

CrimeDrama
82
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb8.1Metacritic698.2Rotten Tomatoes93%91%

A nerve-racking, gripping drama series about family and the mind, with standout performances and characters.

Good for friends night · binge-friendly · thought-provoking

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · graphic violence bothers you · you scare easily

Where to watch

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Not for warmth, laughs or comfort.

Shows with

Episodes

5 seasons · 50 episodes · best: S4E9 "Forever" 9.4

Episodes

8.1
8.2
8.4
8.6
8.7

Story

Together until the end.

A "contemporary prequel" to the 1960 film Psycho, depicting the life of Norman Bates and his mother Norma prior to the events portrayed in Hitchcock's film, albeit in a different fictional town and in a modern setting. The series begins after the death of Norma's husband, when she purchases a motel located in a coastal Oregon town so she and Norman can start a new life.

Feels like

  • Psychological Horror Drama
  • Toxic Mother-Son Codependency
  • Modern Norman Bates Origin Story
  • Unreliable Narrator
  • Small Town Noir
  • Mental Illness Exploration
  • Slow-Burning Suspense
  • Charisma and Manipulation
  • Tragic Descent into Madness
  • Crime Thriller Elements

Cast

24 of 226 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Tucker Gates, Ed Bianchi, Nestor Carbonell
Written by
Philip Buiser, Kerry Ehrin, Carlton Cuse
Produced by
Justis Greene, Jamie Vega Wheeler, Cory Bird
Music by
Chris Bacon

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

March 18, 2013 · April 24, 2017 · Ended

First aired
March 18, 2013
Last aired
April 24, 2017
Status
Ended
Length
5 seasons · 50 episodes
Age rating
TV-MA
Content
Violence, Disturbing Imagery, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Suicide Themes
Genres
Drama, Crime, Mystery
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
73 countries

Tropes

Altar Diplomacy, Heel–Face Turn, Above the Influence +9

  • Altar Diplomacy
  • Heel–Face Turn
  • Above the Influence
  • Trailers Always Lie
  • Took a Level in Badass
  • The Password Is Always "Swordfish"
  • Dirty Cop
  • Once More, with Clarity
  • Shoo Out the Clowns
  • Hostage for MacGuffin
  • Decomposite Character
  • Knight Templar Parent

12 of 167 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream Bates Motel?"

Questions about Bates Motel

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Bates Motel?

PrimeThe CW

In the United States, Bates Motel streams on Prime, and it is free with ads on The CW. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 28 other countries.

Is Bates Motel worth watching?

82
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 82 (IMDb 8.1, Rotten Tomatoes 93%, and Metacritic 69).

Does Bates Motel get better after season 1?

Yes: season 1 has an IMDb average of 8.1, and season 5 peaks at 8.7. The highest-rated episode is Forever (season 4, episode 9) at 9.4, and the lowest is Nice Town You Picked, Norma... (season 1, episode 2) at 7.8.

How long does it take to watch Bates Motel?

38 h

About 38 hours: 50 episodes in 5 seasons of about 45 minutes each, aired from 2013 to 2017.

Will I feel good after watching Bates Motel?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for bleakness and 6 for melancholy, against 2 for hopefulness.

Will Bates Motel scare me?

Not scaryTerrifying

Yes, it's frightening: scares are rated 8 of 10, and some images are gruesome (grotesque 7 of 10).

What tropes does Bates Motel use?

Altar DiplomacyHeel–Face TurnAbove the InfluenceTrailers Always LieTook a Level in BadassThe Password Is Always "Swordfish"Dirty CopOnce More, with ClarityShoo Out the ClownsHostage for MacGuffinDecomposite CharacterKnight Templar Parentand 155 more

TV Tropes lists 167 tropes for it, including Altar Diplomacy, Heel–Face Turn, and Above the Influence.