Goodbye, Pineview
We all knew the good times couldnt last.
And if the setup is any indication, were in for quite a ride.
And its about damn time, if I say so myself.
Credit: Cate Cameron/A&E
At Pineview, its arts and crafts time.
So, yeah, this looks bad.
At home, Romero finds Norma in the basement, where shes looking at options for home improvement.
So what does Romero do?
He gives her Bob Paris money that hes hidden in the basement.
Normas hesitant to take it, but Romero urges her to use the money for something good.
Besides, Normadeservessomething good.
A phone call interrupts the sweet moment, and it turns out to be none other than Norman.
Unfortunately, Romero is the one that answers.
Granted, this wouldve been bad either way since Norman already knows about Norma and Romero.
Norman, in response, tells her hes coming home.
He signed himself in voluntarily, so he can sign himself out voluntarily.
Hey, hes gotta protect his mother.
Unfortunately, the procedure for checking out isnt quite as simple as Norman thinks.
Emma, meanwhile, is fighting with her dad about her mother.
Norma didnt know about that, but she does admit to knowing Emmas mom stayed at the motel.
He tells Julian hes getting out, and Julian is a little surprised.
But Norman quickly puts him in his place.
But Im also not like you.
See, Norman is SMART.
Its safe to say Julian is acutely terrified, and yes, Julian, you should be afraid.
And the smartest people are often the most dangerous.
Norma meets with Edwards and says she doesnt want Norman to come home.
Good news: Edwards doesnt, either.
Unfortunately, theres not much he can do to stop him except petition the court that hes violent.
Or Norma can state hes no longer voluntary when it comes to his decisions.
Norma refuses to go behind his back and asks if it would be helpful to speak to him.
Norman isnt so happy to see Norma, though, and its not their usual reunion.
Hes distant and cold and picks up on her language and the things shes not saying.
She just isnt, well…psycho.
say bad things about her dad.
I do love how Dylan genuinely cares about her, though.
In a show full of dysfunctional relationships, its nice to see that something genuine can grow.
Edwards visits Norman after hours (Normans papier-mache dog, by the way, is coming along splendidly).
Edwards relents on signing the release, with the caveat of having three sessions a week.
Norma returns home and finds Romero…and a 60-inch television because nothing says love like an oversized TV.
(And two movies, one of which isThe Third Man, which is about investigating a murder.
Norma is thrown off by the gesture and then tells Romero about how Norman is coming home.
After all, thats HER kid.
Alex Romero, too good for this world.
And so, Norman leaves Pineview under the watchful eye of Edwards.
He exits into the arms of his mother and arrives home with a smile.
Manipulation or not, Norman Bates is exactly where he need to be.
