The BEST episodes of Bates Motel

Every episode of Bates Motel ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Bates Motel!

Following the tragic death of her husband, a widow and her teenage son settle into a new town with a dark underbelly and must do whatever it takes to protect their own secrets.

Last Updated: 1/30/2024Network: A&EStatus: Ended
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The Cord
star
8.24
1954 votes

#1 - The Cord

Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 4/24/2017

Norman Bates comes home.

Directors: Tucker Gates
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Marion
star
8.16
2102 votes

#2 - Marion

Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/27/2017

A special guest checks into the motel; Dylan grapples with devastating news; Sam and Madeleine's marriage reaches a crossroads.

Directors: Phil Abraham
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Inseparable
star
8.16
2093 votes

#3 - Inseparable

Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 4/3/2017

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

Directors: Steph Green
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Truth
star
8.13
2055 votes

#4 - The Truth

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 4/22/2013

Dylan asks Norman to move in with him; Norma warns Emma that some things are best kept to themselves.

Directors: Tucker Gates
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Forever
star
8.12
1976 votes

#5 - Forever

Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 5/9/2016

Norma and Norman attempt to reconnect as they plan for the future; Dylan and Romero decide to take action for Norman's own good!

Directors: Tim Southam
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Norman
star
8.09
1925 votes

#6 - Norman

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 5/16/2016

Norman plans a special event for his mother; Romero faces pressure due to his actions; and Dylan considers reaching out to Norman, but wants nothing to do with Norma.

Directors: Tucker Gates
Writer: Kerry Ehrin
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Immutable Truth
star
8.09
1530 votes

#7 - The Immutable Truth

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 5/5/2014

A tragic event from the past haunts Norman; Norma tries to prevent Norman from making a terrible mistake; Romero and Dylan find a way to end the drug war; Emma makes a decision about her future.

Directors: Tucker Gates
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Convergence of the Twain
star
8.07
2301 votes

#8 - 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.

Directors: Sarah Boyd
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Body
star
8.05
2004 votes

#9 - The Body

Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 4/10/2017

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

Directors: Freddie Highmore
Writer: Erica Lipez
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Midnight
star
8.01
1940 votes

#10 - Midnight

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 5/20/2013

Romero decides to take action; Norman brings Emma to the dance, but gets a ride home from Miss Watson.

Directors: Tucker Gates
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Visiting Hours
star
7.99
2028 votes

#11 - Visiting Hours

Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 4/17/2017

Norman's legal problems worsen; Emma takes care of family business as Dylan finds himself caught between his past and his future; Romero begins his plan for revenge.

Writer: Scott Kosar
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Goodnight, Mother
star
7.99
1824 votes

#12 - Goodnight, Mother

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/14/2016

Norma and Norman each suspect the other in a terrible deed; Dylan contemplates his future with Emma; Romero makes a choice that drastically impacts the Bates family.

Directors: Tim Southam
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Trust Me
star
7.97
2063 votes

#13 - Trust Me

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/8/2013

Norma deals with distractions as her suspicions grow about certain town residents.

Directors: Johan B. Renck
Writer: Kerry Ehrin
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Unfaithful
star
7.95
1880 votes

#14 - Unfaithful

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 5/2/2016

Norma is torn between Norman and Romero during a holiday outing, Norman comes to the realization that everyone has changed while he was away.

Directors: Stephen Surjik
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Dark Paradise
star
7.93
2345 votes

#15 - 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.

Directors: Tucker Gates
Writer: Kerry Ehrin
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
What's Wrong with Norman
star
7.93
2181 votes

#16 - What's Wrong with Norman

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/1/2013

Dylan learns there is more to his new job than he originally thought; Emma and Norman make a shocking discovery.

Directors: Paul A. Edwards
Writer: Jeff Wadlow
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Vault
star
7.92
1871 votes

#17 - The Vault

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 4/18/2016

Norman uncovers painful truths as his therapy progresses; Norma works to prevent a secret from being revealed; Romero assists an old friend despite the risk to his career.

Writer: Scott Kosar
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Norma Louise
star
7.91
1474 votes

#18 - Norma Louise

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 4/13/2015

Norma contemplates a life outside of White Pine Bay. Emma and Dylan bond while helping Norman. Meanwhile, Romero faces a new threat.

Directors: Phil Abraham
Writer: Kerry Ehrin
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Box
star
7.91
1509 votes

#19 - The Box

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 4/28/2014

Norma is desperate to connect with Norman; Dylan must decide if he should risk his life to save a loved one; Romero hopes a former colleague can help him determine Norman's involvement in a crime.

Directors: Tucker Gates
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Ocean View
star
7.89
1963 votes

#20 - Ocean View

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/15/2013

Norma receives some much-needed help, while Norman desperately awaits his mother's return home; Emma and Norman follow more clues, leading to a big discovery.

Directors: David Straiton
Writer: Jeff Wadlow
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Caleb
star
7.88
1613 votes

#21 - Caleb

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 3/17/2014

Norma's brother Caleb arrives at the motel; Norma finds an ally in her efforts to prevent the bypass; Emma holds a memorial for a friend; a townie girl interests Norman.

Directors: Lodge Kerrigan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Dreams Die First
star
7.85
2120 votes

#22 - Dreams Die First

Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/20/2017

Norman tries to piece together Mother's movements; in Seattle, Dylan and Emma confront an ugly truth; Sam's girlfriend, Marion, makes an impulsive decision with far-reaching consequences.

Directors: Nestor Carbonell
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Hidden
star
7.84
2111 votes

#23 - Hidden

Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/13/2017

Norman learns who he can rely on as he attempts to protect his secrets; Romero struggles to find safety.

Directors: Max Thieriot
Writer: Torrey Speer
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Unconscious
star
7.84
1405 votes

#24 - Unconscious

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 5/11/2015

Norman's issues push Norma to the breaking point; Emma has an unexpected reaction to good news; Romero picks a side and seals his fate in the town; Caleb's decision brings about major life changes.

Directors: Tucker Gates
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Bad Blood
star
7.83
2235 votes

#25 - Bad Blood

Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 3/6/2017

Norman helps Chick with a project; Romero makes his move; an apologetic Madeleine reaches out to Norman.

Directors: Sarah Boyd
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV