Bates Motel (season 2)
The second season of "Bates Motel" consisted of 10 episodes and premiered on A&E on March 3, 2014. The season aired on Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on A&E, and concluded on May 5, 2014. The series itself is described as a "contemporary prequel" to the 1960 film "Psycho" and follows the life of Norman Bates and his mother Norma in the fictional town of White Pine Bay, Oregon prior to the events portrayed in the Hitchcock film. The season received positive reviews from television critics, and the premiere episode drew in a total of  3.07 million viewers. "Bates Motel" was renewed for a third season after five episodes of the second season had aired. For her performance as Norma Louise Bates, Vera Farmiga received nominations for the 2014 Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series and the 2014 Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television. The season was released on Blu-ray and DVD on October 7, 2014. Production. Casting. For the second season, Nestor Carbonell, who recurred as Sheriff Alex Romero throughout the first season, was upgraded to a series regular. On July 23, 2013, Michael Vartan was cast  in the recurring role of George Heldens, a 40-something divorcée and love interest for Norma. That same day, Kenny Johnson joined the recurring cast as Norma's estranged brother Caleb Calhoun, and Rebecca Creskoff was cast as Christine Heldens, a White Pine Bay society woman and George's sister, who befriends Norma. The following day, Michael Eklund was cast as Zane Morgan, an upper level player in the drug business. On August 13, 2013, Kathleen Robertson was cast to recur as Jodi Morgan, Zane's sister, first described as "a smart, sexy businesswoman". The following day, Michael O'Neill joined  the cast as Nick Ford, the season's major villain. Filming. At the beginning of the first season, a replica of the original Bates Motel set from the film "Psycho" was built on location in Aldergrove, British Columbia on 272nd Street, where the series is filmed. Principal photography for the second season began on July 24, 2013. Production at the series' Aldergrove set concluded on November 6, 2013, with only location filming left to be completed for the season. During an interview in March 2014, Highmore and Thieriot revealed that the fight scene between Norman and Dylan left both actors  in need of medical attention. "I cut my nose. It was nothing, really. Just a little blood," said Highmore, "But it was real blood, not the fake stuff they put on us. Freddie and I just laughed about it," added Thieriot. Episodes. <onlyinclude></onlyinclude> Reception. Critical response. The second season of "Bates Motel" received mostly positive reviews. It received 67 out of 100 from Metacritic, based on 11 television critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 19 out of 21 critics gave the second season a positive review, averaging a 90% rating. The site 's consensus reads, ""Bates Motel" reinvents a classic thriller with believable performances and distinguished writing." On April 7, 2014, A&E renewed the series for a third season following the positive reviews and good ratings after the first five episodes. Ratings. The season premiere episode drew in a total of 3.07 million viewers, with 1.3 million tuning in from the coveted 18–49 demographic. The season finale episode drew in 2.30 million viewers, with 0.9 million watching in the 18–49 demographic. Overall, the second season averaged 2.30 million viewers, with a 0.9 ratings share in the 18–49 demographic. Awards and nominations. In  its second season, "Bates Motel" was nominated for 16 awards, winning none.