TV Rundown: March 23 - 28: 'Bates Motel' Hits a Sad Note
Saddest Character:
Dylan (Max Thieriot), Bates Motel: After the reveal of his true
parentage, Dylan's
downward spiral was to be expected. What “Bates Motel” brilliantly
delivered
this week was the tragic notion of what that means for him as a
person. It
also brought about numerous implications in his already troubled
relationship
with Norma (Vera Farmiga) and after their explosive encounter at the
end of
the episode it seemed to have torn them apart for good.
Thieriot's
portrayal hit all of the right notes in a searing turn that was
understated, personifying the imploding heartbreak. How “Bates” handles
its ruminations on mother-son relationships continues to be fascinating. In the end, the
show seems to be about just that, a mother and her two very different
relationships with her sons and it is highly compelling.
Best New Character:
Stevie (Gail O’Grady), Revenge: Lifetime Movie heroine Gail O'Grady is tearing it up
as the conflicted antithesis to the icy Victoria (Madeleine Stowe). The show
has typically struggled with the introduction of new characters and they
finally have one that works.