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The Worst Episodes of Bates Motel

Every episode of Bates Motel ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Bates Motel!

The Worst 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...

Seasons5

  1. Background image for Nice Town You Picked, Norma...
    7.8/10(3.0k votes)

    #1 - Nice Town You Picked, Norma...

    S1:E2

    Dylan wastes no time causing trouble at home and all the while, the Bates family is inexorably drawn into the dark underbelly of White Pine Bay.

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    Director:Tucker Gates
  2. Background image for The Man in Number 9
    7.8/10(2.4k votes)

    #2 - The Man in Number 9

    S1:E7

    Norma's first guest at the Bates Motel is not what she expected. Norman discovers that even popular girls are complicated.

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    Director:S.J. Clarkson
  3. Background image for Underwater
    7.8/10(2.3k votes)

    #3 - Underwater

    S1:E9

    Abernathy amps up the pressure, but Norma doesn't know what he wants. Dylan and Bradley connect. Norman has an active imagination, which Miss Watson encourages. Emma goes on a trip.

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  4. Background image for A Boy and His Dog
    7.9/10(2.4k votes)

    #4 - A Boy and His Dog

    S1:E8

    Norma finds herself in conflict with a mysterious strangers. Rumors spread at school, and Bradley is not enthused. Dylan and Remo go on a road trip that has a violent outcome. Norman takes up a grisly hobby.

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    Director:Ed Bianchi
    Writer:Bill Balas
  5. Background image for Shadow of a Doubt
    7.9/10(2.1k votes)

    #5 - Shadow of a Doubt

    S2:E2

    Norma tries to distract Norman from his obsession with Miss Watson by having him audition for a play. A new player in town has Dylan and Remo on edge.

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    Director:Tucker Gates
  6. Background image for The Escape Artist
    7.9/10(1.9k votes)

    #6 - The Escape Artist

    S2:E5

    Norman trusts Cody with a family secret. Dylan finds himself fighting for his life as Zane’s war escalates. Norma makes a deal with a mysterious man to help stop the bypass.

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  8. Background image for Unbreak-Able
    7.9/10(1.7k votes)

    #7 - Unbreak-Able

    S3:E4

    Emma and Norman spend a day away from the motel. Romero looks into two strange deaths in White Pine Bay. Norma returns to school. Caleb and Dylan's hidden secrets unravel.

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  9. Background image for First You Dream, Then You Die
    8.0/10(3.7k votes)

    #8 - First You Dream, Then You Die

    S1:E1

    Widow Norma Bates and her shy teenage son, Norman, seek a fresh start in a coastal town filled with secrets. The arrival of an unexpected guest turns the Bates' lives upside down.

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    Director:Tucker Gates
    Writer:Unknown
  10. Background image for What's Wrong with Norman
    8.0/10(2.8k votes)

    #9 - What's Wrong with Norman

    S1:E3

    Dylan starts his new job and learns that there is more to it than he thought. Meanwhile, Norman and Emma make a shocking discovery.

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  11. Background image for Trust Me
    8.0/10(2.6k votes)

    #10 - Trust Me

    S1:E4

    Norma's suspicions about people in town are raised, but other distractions continue to surface.

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    Director:Johan Renck
  12. Background image for Presumed Innocent
    8.0/10(1.9k votes)

    #11 - Presumed Innocent

    S2:E7

    Norman questions Norma's faith in him. Zane's thirst for revenge threatens Dylan. Romero is presented with new evidence while Cody's friendship with Norman reaches a breaking point.

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  13. Background image for Meltdown
    8.0/10(1.8k votes)

    #12 - Meltdown

    S2:E8

    Romero digs for the truth behind Miss Watson's murder, while the war between the drug families presents Dylan with an impossible choice. Norman pushes Norma away when she won't tell him the truth about his blackouts.

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  14. Background image for A Death in the Family
    8.0/10(2.0k votes)

    #13 - A Death in the Family

    S3:E1

    Norman and Emma make a decision about their future. Norma sets boundaries with Norman. An unexpected visit causes trouble in Dylan's fresh start.

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  15. Background image for The Arcanum Club
    8.0/10(1.8k votes)

    #14 - The Arcanum Club

    S3:E2

    Norman and Norma fixate on Annika's disappearance. Norma learns what the Arcanum Club really is. Dylan and Caleb encounter a new neighbor.

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    Director:Tucker Gates
  16. Background image for There's No Place Like Home
    8.0/10(1.5k votes)

    #15 - There's No Place Like Home

    S4:E7

    A chance discovery motivates Norman to return home. Norma throws herself into new projects with Romero's help, while Dylan searches for Emma's mother -- with troubling results.

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  17. Background image for Ocean View
    8.1/10(2.5k votes)

    #16 - Ocean View

    S1:E5

    Norman desperately seeks his mother's return home as Norma gets some much needed help. Norman and Emma find more clues that lead to a big discovery, while Norman continues to pursue Bradley.

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  18. Background image for Check-Out
    8.1/10(2.0k votes)

    #17 - Check-Out

    S2:E4

    A new revelation forces Dylan to question his loyalty to Norma and Norman. Christine brings Norma into the White Pine social scene.

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  19. Background image for 'Til Death Do You Part
    8.1/10(1.6k votes)

    #18 - 'Til Death Do You Part

    S4:E3

    Norma and Romero take a big step together, but neither knows what it means to the other. As Norman struggles to accept his new circumstances, Dylan attempts to shed old business.

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  20. Background image for Gone But Not Forgotten
    8.2/10(2.3k votes)

    #19 - Gone But Not Forgotten

    S2:E1

    Norman fixates on the death of Miss Watson. Norma gets unexpected news about the bypass project while Bradley's hunt for her father's killer drives her to dangerous extremes.

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  21. Background image for Lights of Winter
    8.2/10(1.6k votes)

    #20 - Lights of Winter

    S4:E4

    Norman has an adventure with his new friend. An annual festival in White Pine Bay gives Norma her first taste of real happiness in some time but puts Romero in a potentially awkward situation. Dylan finds himself caught between two families.

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  22. Background image for Refraction
    8.2/10(1.6k votes)

    #21 - Refraction

    S4:E5

    Norman tries to confide in Dr. Edwards, but worries he might be saying too much. Norma hires an artisan to fix a window, while Romero pieces together a crime that threatens his new life.

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    Director:Sarah Boyd
  23. Background image for Hidden
    8.2/10(1.6k votes)

    #22 - Hidden

    S5:E4

    Norman discovers whom he can trust as he attempts to protect his secrets. Romero struggles to find safety.

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    Director:Max Thieriot
  24. Background image for Caleb
    8.3/10(2.1k votes)

    #23 - 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.

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  25. Background image for Plunge
    8.3/10(2.0k votes)

    #24 - 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.

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    Director:Ed Bianchi
  26. Background image for Persuasion
    8.3/10(1.8k votes)

    #25 - Persuasion

    S3:E3

    Norman and Norma grow apart as he and Emma grow closer. Norma balks when Romero asks Norman some tough questions. Romero meets his competition for re-elections.

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Nice Town You Picked, Norma..." is the worst rated episode of "Bates Motel". It scored 7.8/10 based on 2970 votes. Directed by Tucker Gates and written by Kerry Ehrin, it aired on 3/25/2013. This episode scored 0.0 points lower than the second lowest rated, "The Man in Number 9".