‘Bates Motel’ season 3 spoilers: First look at Freddie Highmore in premiere!

A&E has released one of the first photos from the season 3 premiere of “Bates Motel,” and there is one quick thing that we can take away from it: Norman Bates looks like he has been up to no good.

This photo features Freddie Highmore’s character alongside his mother Norma (Vera Farmiga), and there is all sorts of creepiness present here. It feels almost like Norman is in some sort of trance, and Norma is trying to shake it out of him. Given what he learned about himself at the end of season 2, that’s not good. He has a better understanding now of what he is capable of, and his mother is starting to come at least to some terms with it.

Now, the question that you have to wonder is this: How long can this show delay the inevitable? While there are certainly liberties between this series and the “Psycho” source material, we assume that there is one key part of the Norman – Norma relationship that ultimately has to remain the same. We would assume that the producers would want to delay that for as long as possible, if for no other reason than that they do not want to deal with the show without Farmiga on it.

In general, we do think that there is not going to be a long shelf life for this series. It will be much more effective if it lasts for only four or five seasons, for example, than going for seven or eight. You don’t want to draw out the situation where Norma is so crazy for staying around Norman that it starts to defy the laws of logic. It’s going to be getting in that direction already.

Want to see some other “Bates Motel” news? Then head over here to see the premiere date! Also, sign up now to score some further TV updates on all we cover via our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: A&E.)