Bates Motel

Norman Bates is one of the most renowned villains in cinema history, owing in large part to Anthony Perkins' portrayal of the character as an insane bird of prey. And, while we see glimpses of his family background and his problematic connection with his mother in the original "Psycho," it's really just enough to pique our interest in his early years - before he degraded to the point of chatting with skeletons in his basement. "Bates Motel" delivers, providing a tantalizing glimpse of adolescent Norma and Norman Bates, an oddly co-dependent combination for the ages.

The smart casting choice is a big part of what makes "Bates Motel" succeed. Who better to play Norman than Freddie Highmore, who was previously recognized as a twee kid actor in films such as "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Finding Neverland"? His boyish appearance gave him the ability to appear innocent at times and creepily evil at others. And, of course, you've already won the game if you can convince Vera Farmiga to portray a crazily unstable mother.

Detailed information:

Creators: Anthony Cipriano, Carlton Cuse, Kerry Ehrin
Stars: Vera Farmiga, Freddie Highmore, Max Thieriot

Original release: March 18, 2013

Number of seasons: 5

Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2188671