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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!

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...
Genres:DramaCrimeMystery
Network:A&E

Best Episodes Summary

"Forever" is the best rated episode of "Bates Motel". It scored 9.4/10 based on 2542 votes. Directed by Tim Southam and written by Carlton Cuse, Kerry Ehrin, it aired on 5/9/2016. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "Marion".

  • Forever
    9.4/102,542 votes
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    #1 - Forever

    Season 4 Episode 9 - Aired 5/9/2016

    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

    Writer: Carlton Cuse, Kerry Ehrin

  • Marion
    9.2/102,201 votes
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    #2 - Marion

    Season 5 Episode 6 - Aired 3/27/2017

    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

    Writer: Carlton Cuse, Kerry Ehrin

  • Norman
    9.1/102,166 votes
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    #3 - Norman

    Season 4 Episode 10 - Aired 5/16/2016

    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

  • The Cord
    9.1/102,455 votes
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    #4 - The Cord

    Season 5 Episode 10 - Aired 4/24/2017

    Norman Bates comes home.

    Director: Tucker Gates

    Writer: Carlton Cuse, Kerry Ehrin

  • Norma Louise
    9.0/102,189 votes
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    #5 - Norma Louise

    Season 3 Episode 6 - Aired 4/13/2015

    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

  • Goodnight, Mother
    9.0/101,924 votes
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    #6 - Goodnight, Mother

    Season 4 Episode 2 - Aired 3/14/2016

    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

    Writer: Torrey Speer, Kerry Ehrin

  • Inseparable
    8.9/101,634 votes
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    #7 - Inseparable

    Season 5 Episode 7 - Aired 4/3/2017

    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: N/A

  • Unconscious
    8.8/101,898 votes
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    #8 - Unconscious

    Season 3 Episode 10 - Aired 5/11/2015

    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

    Writer: Carlton Cuse, Kerry Ehrin

  • Visiting Hours
    8.8/101,577 votes
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    #9 - Visiting Hours

    Season 5 Episode 9 - Aired 4/17/2017

    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

  • The Immutable Truth
    8.7/102,101 votes
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    #10 - The Immutable Truth

    Season 2 Episode 10 - Aired 5/5/2014

    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

    Writer: Carlton Cuse, Kerry Ehrin

  • The Last Supper
    8.7/101,819 votes
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    #11 - The Last Supper

    Season 3 Episode 7 - Aired 4/20/2015

    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

  • A Danger to Himself and Others
    8.7/101,904 votes
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    #12 - A Danger to Himself and Others

    Season 4 Episode 1 - Aired 3/7/2016

    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

    Writer: Carlton Cuse, Kerry Ehrin

  • The Convergence of the Twain
    8.7/101,696 votes
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    #13 - The Convergence of the Twain

    Season 5 Episode 2 - Aired 2/27/2017

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

    Director: Sarah Boyd

    Writer: Alyson Evans, Steve Kornacki

  • The Body
    8.7/101,546 votes
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    #14 - The Body

    Season 5 Episode 8 - Aired 4/10/2017

    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

  • The Truth
    8.6/102,662 votes
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    #15 - The Truth

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 4/22/2013

    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

    Writer: Carlton Cuse, Kerry Ehrin

  • The Box
    8.6/101,912 votes
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    #16 - The Box

    Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 4/28/2014

    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

    Writer: Carlton Cuse, Kerry Ehrin

  • Unfaithful
    8.6/101,626 votes
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    #17 - Unfaithful

    Season 4 Episode 8 - Aired 5/2/2016

    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

  • Dreams Die First
    8.6/101,652 votes
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    #18 - Dreams Die First

    Season 5 Episode 5 - Aired 3/20/2017

    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

    Writer: Erica Lipez, Kerry Ehrin

  • Midnight
    8.5/102,476 votes
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    #19 - Midnight

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 5/20/2013

    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

    Writer: Carlton Cuse, Kerry Ehrin

  • The Vault
    8.5/101,682 votes
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    #20 - The Vault

    Season 4 Episode 6 - Aired 4/18/2016

    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

  • Dark Paradise
    8.5/101,797 votes
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    #21 - Dark Paradise

    Season 5 Episode 1 - Aired 2/20/2017

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

    Director: Tucker Gates

    Writer: Kerry Ehrin

  • The Deal
    8.4/101,782 votes
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    #22 - The Deal

    Season 3 Episode 5 - Aired 4/6/2015

    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

  • The Pit
    8.4/101,691 votes
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    #23 - The Pit

    Season 3 Episode 8 - Aired 4/27/2015

    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

  • Caleb
    8.3/102,060 votes
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    #24 - Caleb

    Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 3/17/2014

    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

  • Plunge
    8.3/101,923 votes
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    #25 - Plunge

    Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 4/7/2014

    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