Performer of the Week: Freddie Highmore 

THE PERFORMANCE | Throughout the superlative A&E drama’s five-season run, Highmore has slayed us over and over again not just by revealing the depths of the mental illness that transformed Norman into his “psycho” Mother but by doing so without ever letting us forget the sweet boy trapped in the prison of his own warped mind. In the series’ heartbreaking final episode, the actor — infuriatingly never Emmy-nominated — took a last “stab” at it, delivering a performance that could only be described as killer.

First, Highmore vanished into Mother, letting her cruelly bait Norma’s enraged widower “Sheriff Lonely Heart” before ultimately reuniting the couple in death. Next, he invited out Norman, tears in his eyes, horror in his voice, as he confessed to a vision of Mother that he feared Alex might have been right — maybe he

had killed her. From there, Norman careened back and forth between a twisted semblance of sanity (cheerfully assuring hotel guests that White Pine Bay was “nothing if not safe”) and utter madness (arranging Norma’s body at the dining-room table for a family dinner with Dylan).

When the hour — and the show — arrived at its almost inevitable conclusion, Highmore laid bare Norman’s desperation to make-believe that everything could be as wonderful as it was in his head with such crushing optimism and frightful ferocity that, by the time Dylan had been forced to shoot him, all we could think was the same thing he said to his brother: Thank you.

HONORABLE MENTION | Every business tycoon could use a levelheaded number-cruncher like

standout Michael Stuhlbarg. With a closely trimmed crewcut and mustache, Sy is the epitome of quiet Midwestern efficiency, but this week, Stuhlbarg let us see how nasty Sy can get when things don’t go according to plan. He was hilariously frazzled as V.M. Varga barged into Emmit’s office, and delivered the episode’s biggest laugh when Sy speculated on what Varga might be concealing in the back of his big rig: “Slave girls?” Plus, he allowed Sy’s pent-up rage to boil over when the money man gleefully smashed into Ray’s Corvette (twice) with his white Hummer. Other cast members might have flashier roles, but two episodes in, Stuhlbarg might just be Season 3’s stealth MVP.

HONORABLE MENTION | A far cry from the stable, glamorous women we’re used to seeing her portray, Kate Walsh’s

character Olivia Baker — a mother in mourning after losing her teenage daughter to suicide — is unquestionably her most powerful to date. Walsh completely loses herself in the role, allowing us to feel every ounce of pain that Olivia is experiencing, especially in the final episode of the Netflix drama’s first season, when (Spoiler alert!) Olivia discovers her daughter’s lifeless body in the bathtub. To call the moment “sad” would be to downplay the nightmarish scenario Walsh effortlessly brings to life — the screams of a woman with no air left in her lungs, the struggle of a mother trying to carry her child while falling to pieces herself. In a season full of haunting, heartbreaking images, the sight of Olivia Baker’s entire world unraveling before her (and our) very eyes will stick with us as one of its most devastating.

HONORABLE MENTION | Alexis Bledel doesn’t speak for much of

‘s third episode. She doesn’t have to. As her character, Ofglen, is muzzled and found guilty of “gender treachery” (aka being a lesbian), Bledel’s horror-filled eyes and desperate glances speak volumes. What Ofglen can’t express in words, Bledel eloquently communicates with body language — a frantically clasped hand when her lover also is rounded up, a chilling cry of terror and grief as that lover is executed while Ofglen is forced to watch. By the time the handmaid wakes up and realizes she’s been the victim of an intimate violation, Bledel’s versatility as an actress is on full display: Ofglen’s shock, loss, horror and anger move across her face, eventually erupting in a raw yell of fury. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself asking, “Rory Gilmore who?”

If you like TVLine, you\'ll LOVE our weekly newsletter. Click here to subscribe.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!! Thank you for making Freddie Highmore performer of the week.

Kate Walsh was so great in that scene. The look on her face and then denying the truth that her daughter is gone is heartbreaking

Agreed Kate Walsh was amazing in 13 Reasons. Yes, the hair and make up team helped, but the contrast between the present and past Olivia was really evident in Walsh’s haunted performance

Chloe Bennet and Brett Dalton were pretty fantastic on AoS this week (the whole arc, really, but 4.19 especially)

I’ve finished 13 Reasons Why weeks ago, but I still find myself haunted by Kate Walsh’s powerful performance. Also, kudos to everyone else mentioned doing a great job (to a lesser extent Michael Stuhlbarg).

I’m so glad you always recognize the amazing work that Freddie Highmore has done over the course of this show! He’s simply haunting, and manages to keep us on Norman’s side, no matter how many murders we’ve seen him commit. That’s no small feat. And the pure relief he felt when Dylan had to do the unthinkable to finally save his brother from himself was heartbreaking and beautiful.

This whole cast is stellar, and they promised us a killer final season…well, they certainly delivered! This will go down as one of the most well written and most well acted shows of all time in my book.

HOW ABOUT YOU DONT SPOIL THE FREAKING TV SHOW!!! LITERALLY THE TWIST OF THE FINALE IS IN THE TITLE ACTUAL ANNOYING DUMB PEOPLE UGHHHHHHH CHANGE THE TITLE !!!!!!!

Alexis Bledel was absolutely fantastic. I couldn’t believe she is the same Rory we have known her for.

Absolutely stunning performance from Bledel in episode 3. She is muzzled for pretty much the whole time, so all her acting is done with her eyes. Just so good.

Happy Freddie got Performer of The Week. He did great in the finale of Bates Motel and the whole final season of the show. Really hope he gets an Emmy nomination for the show in July!

Pisses me off how Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga never got any Emmy recognition.

2017 Renewal Scorecard: What\'s Coming Back? What\'s Getting Cancelled? What\'s on the Bubble?

May Sweeps Scorecard 2017: Deaths, Breakups, Weddings, Firings, Sex, Resurrections, Time Jumps and More!

Orange Is the New Black: Anonymous Hackers Leak (Most of) Season 5

1Blind Item: Which New Drama Series Is So Bad Its Network Tried to…225

3S.H.I.E.L.D. Poll: If Evil Fitz\'s Machine Could \'Bring Back\' One…91

5Did FEUD Overlook a Secret? Can Liars Afford Filler? Flash Twins…56

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony