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The Best Episodes of Bates Motel

Every episode of Bates Motel ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Bates Motel!

Binge this in 1d 12h•Peaking at 9.4/10

A "contemporary prequel" to the 1960 film Psycho, depicting the life of Norman Bates and his mother Norma prior to the events portrayed in Hitchcock's film, albeit in a different fictional town and in a

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Bates Motel Season 4 Episode 9 - Forever
    9.4/10(2653 votes)

    #1 - Forever

    S4:E9

    Norma and Norman try to reconnect as they plan for the future. Frustrated by Norma's blind eye, Romero and Dylan decide to take action for Norman's own good.

    Director:Tim Southam
    Writers:Kerry Ehrin, Carlton Cuse

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  2. Bates Motel Season 5 Episode 6 - Marion
    9.2/10(2308 votes)

    #2 - Marion

    S5:E6

    Norman checks in a special guest at the motel. Dylan grapples with devastating news. Sam and Madeleine face a crossroads in their marriage.

    Director:Phil Abraham
    Writers:Kerry Ehrin, Carlton Cuse

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  3. Bates Motel Season 4 Episode 10 - Norman
    9.1/10(2266 votes)

    #3 - Norman

    S4:E10

    Norman and Norma's relationship faces its greatest test yet. Romero faces pressure from all sides, and Dylan considers reaching out to Norma but wants nothing to do with her.

    Director:Tucker Gates
    Writer:Kerry Ehrin

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  4. Bates Motel Season 5 Episode 10 - The Cord
    9.1/10(2564 votes)

    #4 - The Cord

    S5:E10

    Norman Bates comes home.

    Director:Tucker Gates
    Writers:Kerry Ehrin, Carlton Cuse

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  5. Bates Motel Season 3 Episode 6 - Norma Louise
    9.0/10(2293 votes)

    #5 - Norma Louise

    S3:E6

    Norma considers a life outside of White Pine Bay, leaving Norman in a vulnerable position. Dylan and Emma bond while helping Norman through a rough night. Romero is confronted by a new threat. Caleb makes a difficult decision after learning of Norma's sudden departure.

    Director:Phil Abraham
    Writer:Kerry Ehrin

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  6. Bates Motel Season 4 Episode 2 - Goodnight, Mother
    9.0/10(2034 votes)

    #6 - Goodnight, Mother

    S4:E2

    Norma and Norman face off as each suspects the other of a terrible deed. Dylan considers his future with Emma. Romero makes a choice that will have far-reaching consequences for the Bates family.

    Director:Tim Southam
    Writers:Kerry Ehrin, Torrey Speer

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Bates Motel

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  7. Bates Motel Season 5 Episode 7 - Inseparable
    8.9/10(1721 votes)

    #7 - Inseparable

    S5:E7

    Norman and Mother are brought together as trouble looms large; Romero convalesces with the help of an old friend; Dylan comes home.

    Director:Steph Green
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Bates Motel Season 3 Episode 10 - Unconscious
    8.8/10(1987 votes)

    #8 - Unconscious

    S3:E10

    Norma hits a breaking point with Norman's issues. Emma has a surprising reaction to seemingly positive news. Romero finally chooses sides, sealing his fate in town. Caleb makes a decision that will uproot his new life.

    Director:Tucker Gates
    Writers:Kerry Ehrin, Carlton Cuse

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  9. Bates Motel Season 5 Episode 9 - Visiting Hours
    8.8/10(1667 votes)

    #9 - Visiting Hours

    S5:E9

    Norman's legal problems worsen; Emma tends to the family business as Dylan finds himself caught between his past and his future; Romero enacts his plan for revenge.

    Director:Olatunde Osunsanmi
    Writer:Scott Kosar

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  10. Bates Motel Season 1 Episode 6 - The Truth
    8.7/10(2795 votes)

    #10 - The Truth

    S1:E6

    Dylan asks Norman to move in with him. Chaos ensues at the Bates home as Norma tells Emma that some things are better kept to themselves.

    Director:Tucker Gates
    Writers:Kerry Ehrin, Carlton Cuse

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  11. Bates Motel Season 2 Episode 10 - The Immutable Truth
    8.7/10(2192 votes)

    #11 - The Immutable Truth

    S2:E10

    Norma tries to save Norman from making a horrible mistake. Meanwhile, Romero and Dylan find a way to bring closure to the drug war and Emma makes a decision about her future at Bates Motel.

    Director:Tucker Gates
    Writers:Kerry Ehrin, Carlton Cuse

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  12. Bates Motel Season 3 Episode 7 - The Last Supper
    8.7/10(1915 votes)

    #12 - The Last Supper

    S3:E7

    Norma returns home to find a mess waiting for her. Norman agrees to get some help. Dylan learns some shocking news about Emma's health.

    Director:Ed Bianchi
    Writer:Philip Buiser

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  13. Bates Motel Season 4 Episode 1 - A Danger to Himself and Others
    8.7/10(2003 votes)

    #13 - A Danger to Himself and Others

    S4:E1

    Norma searches desperately for Norman, who finds himself in unfamiliar surroundings. Meanwhile, Dylan anxiously awaits news regarding Emma, while Romero receives a surprising proposition.

    Director:Tucker Gates
    Writers:Kerry Ehrin, Carlton Cuse

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  14. Bates Motel Season 5 Episode 2 - The Convergence of the Twain
    8.7/10(1783 votes)

    #14 - The Convergence of the Twain

    S5:E2

    Norman's date doesn't go as planned. Romero's frustrations reach a boiling point. Chick brings Norman a gift.

    Director:Sarah Boyd
    Writers:Steve Kornacki, Alyson Evans

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  15. Bates Motel Season 5 Episode 8 - The Body
    8.7/10(1633 votes)

    #15 - The Body

    S5:E8

    Mother turns to tough love to protect Norman; Sheriff Greene opens a murder investigation; Dylan gets his brother help.

    Director:Freddie Highmore
    Writer:Erica Lipez

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  16. Bates Motel Season 2 Episode 9 - The Box
    8.6/10(2003 votes)

    #16 - The Box

    S2:E9

    Norma desperately tries to connect with Norman. Dylan decides if risking his life is worth saving a loved one. Romero enlists the help of a former colleague to determine if Norman is guilty of a crime.

    Director:Tucker Gates
    Writers:Kerry Ehrin, Carlton Cuse

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  17. Bates Motel Season 4 Episode 8 - Unfaithful
    8.6/10(1711 votes)

    #17 - Unfaithful

    S4:E8

    Norma finds herself torn between Romero and Norman. A holiday outing makes Norman realize how much everyone else has changed in his absence.

    Director:Stephen Surjik
    Writer:Freddie Highmore

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  18. Bates Motel Season 5 Episode 5 - Dreams Die First
    8.6/10(1741 votes)

    #18 - Dreams Die First

    S5:E5

    Norman attempts to piece together Mother's movements. In Seattle, Dylan and Emma confront an ugly truth. Sam's girlfriend, Marion, makes a spur-of-the-moment decision with far-reaching consequences.

    Director:Nestor Carbonell
    Writers:Kerry Ehrin, Erica Lipez

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  19. Bates Motel Season 1 Episode 10 - Midnight
    8.5/10(2598 votes)

    #19 - Midnight

    S1:E10

    Romero decides that it is time to act, and Norman takes Emma to the dance. Miss Watson gives Norman a ride home.

    Director:Tucker Gates
    Writers:Kerry Ehrin, Carlton Cuse

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  20. Bates Motel Season 4 Episode 6 - The Vault
    8.5/10(1772 votes)

    #20 - The Vault

    S4:E6

    While Norman digs deep in his past in therapy and confronts some painful truths, Norma does everything in her power to keep a secret of her own from coming to light.

    Director:Olatunde Osunsanmi
    Writer:Scott Kosar

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  21. Bates Motel Season 5 Episode 1 - Dark Paradise
    8.5/10(1885 votes)

    #21 - Dark Paradise

    S5:E1

    Norman tries to keep up appearances despite a troubling discovery. Dylan and Emma receive a surprise guest.

    Director:Tucker Gates
    Writer:Kerry Ehrin

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  22. Bates Motel Season 3 Episode 5 - The Deal
    8.4/10(1881 votes)

    #22 - The Deal

    S3:E5

    When Norma finds herself in a rare position of power, she appeals to Romero for guidance. Norman and Dylan both come undone from the fallout of a secret. Caleb considers an offer made to him by a surprising source.

    Director:Nestor Carbonell
    Writer:Scott Kosar

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  23. Bates Motel Season 3 Episode 8 - The Pit
    8.4/10(1786 votes)

    #23 - The Pit

    S3:E8

    Romero confronts Norma about new information that has recently come to light. Norman reels from a recent discovery. Caleb and Dylan take a job that involves some risk. Emma makes a decision about her future with Norman.

    Director:Roxann Dawson
    Writer:Bill Balas

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  24. Bates Motel Season 2 Episode 3 - Caleb
    8.3/10(2161 votes)

    #24 - Caleb

    S2:E3

    Norma meets an ally in her battle to stop the bypass. Emma's memorial for a friend leads to a new relationship. Norman falls under the influence of a townie girl.

    Director:Lodge Kerrigan
    Writer:Alexandra Cunningham

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  25. Bates Motel Season 2 Episode 6 - Plunge
    8.3/10(2021 votes)

    #25 - Plunge

    S2:E6

    Dylan is asked to take control of a volatile situation. A secret spreads, threatening Norma and Norman's relationship. Emma finds herself in a very dangerous situation.

    Director:Ed Bianchi
    Writer:Kerry Ehrin

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Best Episodes Summary

"Forever" is the best rated episode of "Bates Motel". It scored 9.4/10 based on 2653 votes. Directed by Tim Southam and written by Kerry Ehrin, Carlton Cuse, it aired on 5/9/2016. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "Marion".