The Bates Motel season 2 finale “The Immutable Truth” is the genesis of a psycho! (Eee-Eee-Eee) Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore) looses it when he realizes that during one of his blackouts he not only had sex with his high school teacher, Blair Watson (Keegan Connor Tracy), but also was the one who killed her. The guilt-ridden murderer decides to commit suicide but the ultimate momma’s boy just can’t man up.
Norma (Vera Farmiga) finds a bird taxidermy with a suicide note from Norman professing his love for her. “We will always be a part of each other,” it ends. Norma chases after after her son and begs him not to kill himself if only for her sake. Norman says she can’t live without him, then passionately kisses her son practically on the mouth.
“All right, mother. You win,” he tells her.
Executive Producer Carlton Cuse credits the actors for the intensity of the scene.
“That’s a thing where actors kind of work out what works in the moment,” Cuse said on Bates Motel: After Hours. “And I think it was a beautifully directed and acted moment, where I think it just conveyed the intensity of what goes on in their relationship. And it was just a critical part of understanding how much Norma loves Norman.”
Sheriff Alex Romero (Nestor Carbonell) forces Norman to submit to a lie detector test. He admits to various nonspecific wrongdoings until he’s specifically asked about the murder of Watson. Another hallucination of his mother appears with a revelation.
“You didn’t kill Blair Watson,” she tells him. “I did.”
She makes him promise not to tell anyone and in turn promises that she will always be there to protect him. The interrogator repeats his question, which Norman didn’t hear because of yet another blackout. Norman calmly tells him that he didn’t do it and passes. It signifies the transformation from a voice in his head that can influence him to a full-blown split personality that can take action on its own.
It won’t be long now until Norman starts cross-dressing as his mother. Highmore displayed bright red lips during an appearance via satellite on Bates Motel: After Hours. Farmiga teased him about it and asked if he was wearing lipstick.
“No, mother. No,” Highmore smiled. “That’s next season. Not yet.”
Bates Motel season 3 will begin filming this Fall.