Freddie Highmore & Kerry Ehrin Talk Bates Motel Season 3

A&E checked back into Bates Motel last Monday for a season three premiere that featured familiar faces, a new arrival, and a difficult first day back at school for the troubled Norman. The next episode, "The Arcanum Club", airs tonight at 9:00pm EST and we recently had the chance to take part in an interview call with actor Freddie Highmore (Norman) and writer/executive producer Kerry Ehrin. The Bates Motel duo discussed the disturbing direction Norman is going in the third season, the new cast members and their intriguing characters, the show's sprinkled-in connections to Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, and much more.

On the approach taken with the character of Norman Bates in season three:

Freddie Highmore: "This season was more changing him and making him a bit more mature with the self-awareness that he gained at the end of the second season and so it was perhaps trickier than giving a look or finding out who Norman was. In this third season, it was more about discovering in what ways he would change and grow up."

Kerry Ehrin: "It’s definitely an evolution where Carlton and I began with the character in the first season. It’s a very different person at this point - and a lot of that has to do with self-awareness and also the natural development of teenagers to start seeing their parents as real people as opposed to gods or goddesses in their universe.

I think there’s a bit of that in it as well. And also this season was very much playing with the game of control between him and Norma and the power struggle, which is really delicious."

On the influence of Anthony Perkins' portrayal of Norman Bates as Bates Motel enters its third season:

Freddie Highmore: "I guess potentially now there are less comparisons that are made to it because people see the Norman on Bates Motel as being his own entity opposed to necessarily a precursor to Anthony Perkins’ version.

But at the same time I’ve re-watched Psycho before every season and in some ways try implementing what Anthony Perkins brought to the role, especially as the show continues, because I’ve always seen the end of Bates Motel not necessarily as the end of Psycho.

But Norman is a lot closer to Anthony Perkins’ version than the boy we saw at the start. But certainly I don’t think any of us feel tied constrainingly to Psycho or to any performance that came before."

On whether or not the location on set and its structures—the Bates' motel and house—lend a creepy atmosphere on set:

Freddie Highmore: "Yes, it does. The first time I stepped on the set, it kind of had this weight already behind it when you look up and you see a very similar version of the house and the motel to the one that was in the original.

And then, over time, it seems to become in view with your own memories and events that took place on Bates Motel. Like from the set, for example, leading up, there’s still the blood stain—or whatever they used to pretend to be blood—from Deputy Shelby’s death in [the first] season.

So there are little reminders to us all of how far he’s come."

Kerry Ehrin: "There’s definitely a texture to that set that is emotional and you feel it when you’re there. It’s very cool."

On whether Norma will try to keep Norman even closer in response to his increasing murderous blackouts:

Kerry Ehrin: "Yes, it’s sort of like any mother. If your child had something wrong with him, especially something you couldn’t control, your instinct would be to literally tie them to your ankle. I mean you would want to be in as close proximity to them at all times as you possibly could be.

And then you add to that all the dark undercurrents and suspicions and that a terrifying ordeal for Norma. And yes, her instinct is to keep him as close as possible."

On the possibility of more bathroom scenes after the Psycho-esqe peeping that Norman did in this season's first episode:

Kerry Ehrin: "We got a new bathroom set this year, which is amazing. I know it sounds stupid to say that we’re excited about a bathroom set, but it’s such an amazing design and we got to film some really pivotal scenes in it. It’s inside the Bates house and there are some huge scenes in it."

Further exploring the family triangle of Norma, Norman, and Dylan in season three:

Freddie Highmore: "In the first episode Dylan starts to get in between Norma and Norman. And I think that previously, they have both shared this unbreakable bond and no one could come between them.

And I think for the first time in the third season, Dylan starts to breech that a little bit and Norma will start to confide in Dylan things that she can’t say to Norman. So that’s kind of where their threesome is headed to some extent."

On where the relationship between Emma (Olivia Cooke) and Norman could go this season:

Freddie Highmore:"We’ve seen in the first episode how Norman wants to try and date Emma. The reasons behind that become clearer as the season goes on and it is out of the feelings that he has for her, but a lot of it is also out of feelings for his mother.

And not only does he on some level want to [date Emma], he also feels like he’s doing the right thing by asking her out."

Kerry Ehrin:"And Emma in general has been growing up as Norman has. When Norman first met her she was in many ways still kind of a little girl, very idealistic and I think lonely. And she was really grateful to have this friend who was Norman Bates.

And as she grows older, she has to deal with the reality of her health, which clarifies a lot of things in life when you have a crisis like that. She starts to mature and part of her story this year is her starting to understand things about Norman that are concerning to her."

The power exchange in Norma and Norman's relationship:

Freddie Highmore: "There’s this power, there’s this struggle for power between Norma and Norman in their relationship that will start to become ever more important.

And whereas Norman has always been very much the son or the younger person in the relationship before, that dynamic is starting to shift and even in the shots that we see in the first episodes, it’s much more set up as these two equals that are lying in bed together and are on some level equal.

But it won’t stay that way. Norman will seek to take more and more of control in their relationship and become the person who’s more dominant by the end of the season.

And I think that’s interesting. He’s become slightly more manipulative and capable of toying with Norma and using his knowledge about what he’s capable of to gain things from her."

Kerry Ehrin: "He’s starting to understand the kinks in her emotional armor very well."

Freddie Highmore:  "Yes. And he gets to [wearing] some of her clothes, so that’s another side to him."

On the potential outcomes of Norma's brother (and Dylan's father), Caleb Calhoun (Kenny Johnson), being back in White Pine Bay:

Kerry Ehrin: "An exciting dynamic of the story is that she [Norma] is a ticking bomb present in that family community and we don’t know what’s going to happen. We don’t know if Norma’s going to see him. We don’t know if she's going to bond with him. We don’t know if Caleb is full of it and is duplicitous.

We have no idea, and it could be any of those because of the history we have of him. The thing that’s so moving to me is Dylan - this kid who wanted nothing more than a family and to belong to someone his whole life, who’s finally made strides with his mother for the first time ever and now is faced with this thing that is going to betray her but also has such a tremendous emotional pull on him, which is a father, an alleged father showing up saying, 'I want to claim you. I want to be in your life. I want you to belong to me.'"

On taxidermy continuing to establish Norman's character and other connections to the film, Psycho:

Freddie Highmore: "Yes, taxidermy becomes more important as the season goes on and we’ll have to see what he ends up [stuffing] by the end. The trick is in not making those moments that are present in Psycho seem really noticeable when you’re watching it.

But at the same time, it should never be gratuitous or simply put in to cause that little wink to the audience. What Kerry balances so well is never making those moments in Norman’s progression seem out of place within our show, but at the same time allowing them to have the power that comes from referencing Psycho."

On Norman's interest in new motel customer Annika (Tracy Spiridakos) in the season three premiere:

Freddie Highmore: "It remains to be seen whether their relationship has evolved definitively and conclusively already or not. We’ll have to wait and see in that respect.

It is interesting that Norman’s action of looking at Annika through the window isn’t necessarily a trait unique to a serial killer.

It wasn’t that he sought her out or aimed to do it. He merely kind of stumbled upon the open window and peered in and was slightly transfixed. We have to ask ourselves what would have happened had Norma not come down and caught him in the act. Would Norman have just realized that he was being slightly purvey and gone upstairs back to the house, or would he have gone around and tried to break into her motel room?"

On new characters Chick Hogan (Ryan Hurst) and Bob Paris (Kevin Rahm), and the latter's relationship to Sheriff Alex Romero:

Kerry Ehrin: "This year we have some amazing actors. Ryan Hurst plays such a cool character, who’s this kind of bent mountain man. He does such a brilliant performance.

He feels threatening. Dylan does not know what to make of him, but he definitely brings some mystery and trouble with him.

And another really wonderful character—a very prominent head of a very exclusive, elite hunting club—is played by Kevin Rahm. It's a very old school, high buy-in [club] and he’s just such a great antagonist. He’s a really fun character.

He's a bad buy that really likes himself, that enjoys his life and his senses and his body and dresses great. And Kevin Rahm just is so amusing in this role and so great.

And then it also takes a darker turn, because he’s someone who grew up with Alex Romero and the storyline reveals a lot about their own history growing up together, but also Alex Romero’s history, and he’s this great, stoic character who we know nothing about. So we get to peel back some layers and look inside, which is really fascinating."

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“Bates Motel,” returns for a gripping third season filled with family strife, murder and mystery, led by Vera Farmiga (Norma) and Freddie Highmore (Norman). This season focuses on the evolution of the Bates family and dives head first into Norman’s waning ability to stay in denial about what’s happening to him and the lengths he will go to gain control of his fragile psyche. The dramatic events of last season leaves Norma (Vera Farmiga) reluctantly more aware of Norman’s mental fragility and is fearful of what he is capable. From executive producers Carlton Cuse (“Lost,” “The Returned”) and Kerry Ehrin (“Friday Night Lights,” “Parenthood”), “Bates Motel” serves as a contemporary prequel to the genre-defining film “Psycho” and provides viewers with an intimate portrayal of how Norman Bates unravels through his teenage years.

After a blissful summer of being close with his mother and living within the safe confines of home and the Bates Motel, Norman’s fears about what really happened with Blaire Watson resurface. Simultaneously, Norma also questions the chain of events. Forced to look at the truths about Norman for the first time, Norma’s deeply intricate relationship with her son continues to evolve.

Norma finds herself turning to the other man in her life, Norman's half-brother, Dylan (Max Thieriot) and begins to rely on him in ways that she never expected. This relationship inevitably triggers jealousy in Norman and a new kind of love triangle between Norma and her two sons erupts. Estranged brother and uncle Caleb (Kenny Johnson) returns to haunt the family throughout the season in challenging ways.

Pressures of the outside world take a hold of the family when newcomers Kevin Rahm (“Mad Men,” “Desperate Housewives”), Tracy Spiradakos (“Revolution”) and Ryan Hurst (“Sons of Anarchy”) arrive at White Pine Bay. After a summer of living at the Bates Motel, Sheriff Romero (Nestor Carbonell) and Norma have grown closer but there is friction between them when it concerns Norman. Something doesn’t feel right and in spite of his instincts, Romero finds himself continually drawn back to the Bates family -- and to Norma. Emma (Olivia Cooke) is also determined to find out what is happening to Norman, becomes more emboldened and isn’t afraid to go after the things she wants. Familiar face Bradley (Nicola Peltz) returns to surprise the family and digs up old memories.

“Bates Motel” is produced by Universal Television for A&E Network. Carlton Cuse and Kerry Ehrin serve as executive producers for Carlton Cuse Productions and Kerry Ehrin Productions respectively."

In case you missed it, check out Alyse's early review of the Bates Motel Season 3 premiere:

• http://dailydead.com/review-bates-motel-season-3-premiere/