The bubbling serial killer in the making is one reason for all of the dread here, but it’s also just a bummer to see Romero try and act normal with Norma, with her just unable to deal without her son. A lot of time is focused on Norman’s instability, but I’d argue that Norma is just as dysfunctional (her pleading attempts to get an “I love you” message to Norman are grueling). Romero is simply trying to be a nice guy and it’s brutal to see him dealing with Norma’s temperament when it’s a battle that he can’t win (even if alcohol might tamp it down momentarily).

Norma recounts her previous marriages and failures, which is glum stuff, but acts as a reminder of how scarred her life is, and continues to be. The episode keeps trying to trick us into thinking there could be a happy ending here — rubbing it in with shots of Norma smiling contently in bed — but I refuse to believe that we’re heading in that direction.

Before all of the absurd matrimony takes place though, we get to see Norma and Norman uncomfortably getting by without each other. Norma moves through their home like a ghost, as Norman skitters through Pineview like a china doll. I’m at the point now where I’m actively nervous watching Norman, worried that he’s going to snap at any moment, and that’s the perfect place to have him right now. Applying pressure by examining him, micro-managing, and steeping rules on top of him is surely not going to help, and it’s why this observation arc that the show is currently digging into holds such exciting potential.

The most telling and tense scenes of the lot involve Norman’s sessions with his in-center therapist, Dr. Edwards. As you might imagine, putting Norman’s motivations under the microscope, watching him tic away, slowly letting out his inner self is constantly engaging. This whole season seems like it’s going to be a game of chicken with Norman’s psyche, with Dr. Edwards helping push those buttons early on. He’s exactly the sort of person that I’d say would have a huge bullseye on him if I didn’t think Norman was fairly pacified in his care here.

Highmore continues to show his incredible hold on this material, fidgeting on the couch and bristling at every little thing that’s said. His suggestion at how he’d rather “stick hot pins in his eyes” than do yoga, is a particular highlight. It’s probably just wishful thinking, but maybe this will be the year he manages to generate some Emmy buzz. He’s certainly deserving of it.