A&E is extending its stay with Psycho prequel series Bates Motel, handing its flagship drama a two-season renewal that picks up the acclaimed series for an additional 20 episodes. Prospects aren’t so rosy, however, for freshman supernatural drama The Returned, which never drew the same ratings that Bates Motel could conjure and has been summarily canceled.
The Returned, a remake of the French series of the same name, did better as a Bates lead-in than last year’s quickly canned Those Who Kill, but it still failed to make waves in the same manner.
A&E had seemingly resigned itself to The Returned being a one-and-done by committing to another horror movie series, The Omen continuation Damien, earlier this year. That show, from Glenn Mazzarra (The Walking Dead), seems like a better companion piece for the horror-heavy Bates Motel than the more enigmatic Returned.
The Psycho prequel has drawn across-the-board praise for leads Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga (both Critics Choice TV Awards nominees), if slightly reduced ratings in its third season. A&E & Lifetime EVP and GM Rob Sharenow recently said the following about the renewal:
“The vision of our incredible creative team has exposed the steady breakdown of the relationship between Norman and Norma Bates. We are thrilled to bring fans two more seasons to witness the next stages of Norman’s transformation into the most notorious psychopath in cinematic history.”
A&E isn’t necessarily ending Bates Motel after its now-ordered fifth season, but it could certainly go that way dependent on how the writing staff decides to pursue Norman’s (Freddie Highmore) steady descent into insanity.
Tell us, are you excited to see more Bates Motel? And are you disappointed that The Returned won’t be, ahem, returning? Sound off below.