Bates Motel/Meltdown

Meltdown
Season 2, Episode 8
Airdate	April 21, 2014
Written by	Liz Tigelaar & Nikki Toscano
Directed by	Ed Bianchi
← 2x07 Presumed Innocent	2x09 → The Box
Bates Motel — Season Two

Meltdown is the eighth episode of the second season of Bates Motel, and the eighteenth episode overall.

Starring: Vera Farmiga (Norma Bates), Freddie Highmore (Norman Bates), Max Thieriot (Dylan Massett), Olivia Cooke (Emma Decody)

and Nestor Carbonell (Sheriff Alex Romero)

Guest Starring: Agam Darshi (Patty Lin), Michael Eklund (Zane Morgan), Michael O'Neill (Nick Ford), Kathleen Robertson (Jodi Morgan), Ian Tracey (Remo), Michael Vartan (George Heldens)

Also Starring: Joel Montgrand (Guard (Jodi's))

Plot Overview

Everyone looks for a resolution to the escalating war between the two drug families. Nick Ford's demand to see Dylan has Norma break up their partnership. As Norman continues to resent his mother for withholding information about his blackouts, Romero tries to question him in light of the recent DNA evidence.

Notes

Music

• Les McCann & Eddie Harris - "Cold Duck Time"

• Eddy Grant - "Electric Avenue"

• Foghat - "Slow Ride"

• Radiohead - "Bodysnatchers"

Arc Advancement

Happenings

• Nick Ford uses Norma to set up a meeting with him and Dylan. Once they finally meet, Nick offers to stop the war if he kills Zane. Jodi later gives him permission to do what he needs to do.

• Jodi has Zane lay low and go off the radar.

• The bypass is halted temporarily due for environmental studies.

• Kyle Miller is convicted of the murder of Blaire Watson.

• Norman is kidnapped by one of Nick Ford's men.

Characters

• Norman subtly strikes back his mother, culminating in him lashing out, telling her that he no longer trusts her.

• Norma and Dylan talk for the first time since he moved out.

• Racked with some doubt, Romero tries to get information about having sex with Watson.

• Norma goes on a date with George Heldens. She breaks down and confesses much of what's told of herself is a lie. She leaves, believing she's not the kind of person that belongs with someone like him. After an argument with Norman, she returns and they sleep together.

Referbacks

• Nick Ford recalls Norman taking pictures of him at his daughter's grave from "Gone But Not Forgotten".

Trivia

Goofs

• When Dylan first walks into the pizzeria, a waitress looks to greet him, but frowns when he ignores her. It cuts to another shot and we see the exact same interaction again.