Bates Motel, the modernistic, re-imagining prequel TV series to the 1960 film, Psycho, aired on A&E last March and season two is expected to premier March third. Many people have seen Psycho or are at least familiar with the classic, black and white, suspense/horror movie that set standards and broadened horizons for future films and shows.

Multiple sequels were made for Psycho; most of them being made over twenty years later in the 80s and 90s, each being fairly popular. All were still inferior to brilliant Hitchcock’s first Psycho film and this reigns true to this day. However, various other artists’ versions of reenactments, prequels, and sequels have surfaced over time. Many were inspired by Hitchcock’s work and there have been productions made based off of Psycho as recently as December of 2012.

In particular, the prequel TV series that premiered last March on A&E has received a decent amount of attention and interested viewers. Bates Motel was originally the title of a failed pilot episode of a television spin-off aired during 1987 but the TV show that began March of 2013 is reportedly unrelated. The series takes place before the events of the original film and chronicles Norman Bates’ teen years while he is living at the Bates Motel.

Bates Motel begins with the death of Norman Bates’ father; which results in he and his mother moving to a seaside town in Oregon where they proceed to run a motel, (rather than in inland California like in the original film). The series places focus on providing a backstory for Norman Bates prior to him becoming a murderer. The first season, which premiered on March eighteenth of 2013, received high ratings and positive reviews and has been renewed for a second season to air March third this year.

Full of the suspense and thrill that 1960’s Psycho originally drew viewers in with, Bates Motel is a prequel with a modern-day spin that allows viewers inside the mind of Norman Bates as a teenage boy and gives insights as to what led to his serial killer alter-ego.