Once again gutted by this episode, not really ready yet to dig deep, need to sleep on it, so just some stray observations for the moment:

Not sure about those clips haven't seen them / maybe red herring, maybe it was something they just never used. We shall see next week!
I'm curious to see how they handle Dylan and the Doctor in the finale. If the Feds cart poor Alex off to jail (if that is what happens - admittedly this is simply my guess) that…

Actually note in my post that most of my anger or really frustration in the episode is directed right at Norma. That's actually what I am struggling with in this thread.

Agree 100 percent.

They air it again at 1 am eastern time.

Half of me agrees 100 percent with everything that you said - and then half of me feels pissed off that Norma gets to pass quietly into the night with her delusions and the emotional devastation is left to the survivors (Alex, Dylan, and even Norman, who frankly at this moment I wish Alex had just left there to rot).
I…

I don't know. Did we want Norma to die oblivious or have to really face her part in this creation? One of the things I am torn about.

I did think about the fact that given the massive level of guilt that Norman is going to feel (no matter if aware of it or suppressed) how much of that is going to fundamentally change the "Mother Norma" in Norman's mind. Before the events of this episode her primary role was to protect Norman. After this I wonder…

Pretty concerned about that - especially since Norman overheard the conversation.

I'm decided to rewatch the very first episode and man, I really forgot, but Norma IS pretty bad. She gives Norman the riot act for coming home late from his first day of school and trying out for the track team - makes him feel guilty and completely manipulates the situation. And then refuses to let him go out with…

My read on it also. He killed her in his own skin as it were, out of delusional jealousy, and the guilt of that action led to Mother re-establishing dominance as a coping mechanism. The show is already leaning towards this - as delusional or in denial as Norman may have seemed last night - that was most assuredly…

They do in fact state the fact that he killed his mother (and others) at the film's end (Norma/n admits to it):

Agreed. I'm fairly certain that the somewhat inane DEA subplot is only in play to be used to service the broader plot line (e.g. To be used to explain motive, or a disappearance etc).

Seriously Dylan should just leave and never look back. During Norman's whole meltdown at the dinner table and him going on about how it was just him and Norma and that there was no one else in the world, I kept thinking "Norman you realize that your brother was there too (not to mention an albeit crappy father)." …

There's a part of me that hopes that they are setting up carting Alex off to jail rather than meet a more permanent fate courtesy of Norman. Although I'll say this - whatever they do with Romero, I think that they'll honor the character - I don't see him just getting easily duped. If he goes out, I think he goes out…

I have to agree. Frankly I really don't want the last 10 episodes to just be about Norman talking to dead people. Especially when I am still so invested in the other characters. My guess is that they end this season on an ominous cliffhanger with maybe a time jump - and spend the last season putting together the…

Agreed. That last shot of the house - zooming in at the end to the attic window - sent chills down my spine. Between that shot, the strings music that you referenced, and the mention of the infamous and dreaded "fruit celler", I felt Psycho just irrevoclaby handcuff itself to the remainder of Bates Motel, as it was…

After weeks of clearly (but blissfully) sticking my head in the sand and thoroughly enjoying watching Norma and Alex fall in love, this episode was a real wake up call, and an eye-opening reminder of how hopelessly - and dangerously - co-dependent (and manipulative) Norman and Norma really are with one another. …

When Norma told Alex that Norman was coming home he looked like his dog died. You could almost palpably feel all of the air get sucked out of that room. And he still recovered and was supportive and loving. This show is one emotional gut punch after the other, and Hurricane Norman hasn't even quite hit land yet.

Seriously. They have to not only get rid of Edwards but his treatment records of Norman yes? As much of a blind eye as the White Pine Bay police department has had with what goes on in town - if they follow Psycho canon as to Norma-her lover's fate - who would actually NOT suspect Norman and just blindly believe…