In This Section
TV Guide Spotlight
Also on TVGuide.com
|
« Burn Notice
Episode Recap: "Broken Rules"
I know this blog is coming a little late in the game, but I’ve been watching this show since the beginning. So whether you’ve been a fan from the first episode or a Johnny-come-lately, welcome to the party.
The Players
Michael Westen: a former spook who’s been burned. He's deposited in Miami without any money, credit or job references. He takes on local cases to make money while he tries to find out who burned him.
Fiona: Michael’s former flame, who still carries a torch. Her accent in the first episode (and her name) might have us believe she’s Irish, but she can fake an American accent pretty well. She’s former IRA and met Michael on the job.
Sam: a spy buddy of Michael’s forced to keep tabs on him. Sam’s living comfortably off his pension and can’t have his friendship with Michael interfere with that. When Michael discovers his duplicity, the agency sends in new surveillance.
Jason Bly: the new guy. He works for a branch of the NSA and isn’t impressed with Michael. He threatens to make Michael’s life and the lives of his family and friends very difficult unless Michael stops trying to find out who burned him.
Madeline: Michael’s mother. She’s ecstatic that he’s in town since she hasn’t seen him since he was a teenager. Despite his best efforts, his mom can get under his skin (like all mothers can, I’m sure). She’s absent from this episode, much to my chagrin.
Bly wants to prove to Michael that he has no qualms about going after his friends and family, so he sets Fi up knowing she’s got unregistered guns in the trunk of her stolen car. Fi nonchalantly suggests killing Bly after they make their getaway, but Michael’s sure he can get the information he needs about his burn notice from this guy. He just needs some quick cash.
Michael’s case this week involves helping local shop owner Ernie get rid of the neighborhood crime lord. Ernie fronts him $10K, promising another $10K — his entire life savings — after the thugs are gone. Fi and Sam do some recognizance and discover the crime boss is Cuban émigré Concha Ramirez, but assistant crime boss Diego Cruz oversees most of the collections.
Michael smashes up Ernie’s place. He wants Concha to think the neighborhood is his and that they’ll get nothing but trouble if they keep trying to collect. After Michael threatens a pretty nasty death to some of Concha’s henchmen, Diego takes Michael to meet her, and Concha does a pretty good job of convincing Michael to work for her.
But Michael gets another job offer — this one from Bly. He's found him a job as a security guard at a local bank. Michael will be a private citizen, unable to make any more trouble for the intelligence community. Michael isn’t really interested in that option, although he pretends to be and he recruits his friend Barry to make it look like he’s in business with Bly. Michael then uses that to get what he’d been after this whole time: the dossier on his burn notice.
Michael discovers the real reason Concha is strong-arming the shop owners: It's not about the money, it's about real estate. She wants their land because that’s where the big money is. Michael suggests a more direct route to getting people to leave would be to scare them. He pulls a gun on Fi and robs her. She doesn’t play along very well, though, and gets a few good punches in before letting Michael take her bag. Concha’s impressed with Michael’s tactics, but Diego is pissed because the cops show up. She takes him aside and tells him to kill Ernie and his whole family. When Diego and Michael go to the store, it’s closed and Michael uses that opportunity to make it seem like Concha ordered a hit on Diego. They decide to solve their little Concha problem by taking her out with the bomb Fi made for taking care of Ernie. Michael returns most of Ernie’s money to him, less expenses.
On the relationship front: Sam’s in trouble with his lady and Fi wants to talk to Michael about their relationship. Seeing he can’t get out of it this time, Michael promises her they’ll talk when the case is over. To get out of the doghouse with his lady, Sam sends flowers, but that only leaves him checking his cell constantly for a phone call that won’t be coming. Bly makes it all better in the end when he apologizes to Sam’s lady (sorry, I don’t think they’ve given us her name). Sam thinks he might even get a Cadillac out of it. But Fi doesn’t get the answer she wants from Michael about their relationship and starts a fight with him. Hand-to-hand combat must be a powerful aphrodisiac because they end up in bed. Hey, I'm not complaining; I really like these two together. Afterwards they hear a noise and both go for the guns they keep under their pillows. How romantic.
Fun fact: Surveillance is called "coverage" in the spy game. And zone coverage makes it seem like you’re not even following anyone. You let them come to you.
Some great lines:
• Fi: "You have always had a problem with my work. I have always supported you."
Michael: "I’m helping people. You’re running guns. Big difference."
• "No, don’t 'I’ll see what I can do.' Do it."
• "A Cadillac? What could you possibly be doing to these women?"
• "I promise you if I’m not satisfied, I’m gonna kick your ass."
• "As cover IDs go, I prefer rich businessman or international playboy to crazy thief, but if the situation calls for it, you do what you have to do."
• "She doesn’t need 'I’m sorry.' She needs to know who you are, where she stands... I would imagine."
• "The term 'shock and awe' gets misused a lot these days. It’s a popular name for a military tactic known as rapid dominance."
• "You have to get comfortable with people doing bad things for good reasons. Doing good things for bad reasons."
• "As unhappy as we were, I don’t think there’s anyone I could be with that would make me happier than you. And I don’t know if that’s good enough."
This show is so much fun and I’m curious to hear your thoughts. What were your favorite lines? Favorite scenes?
Want more Burn Notice? Check out our Online Video Guide.
|
TVGuide Links:
|
|
|
|
Aug 11, 2007 2:37 AM
|
I am glad tvguide.com started covering this show. Looking forward to read more. Feel free to add your opinion to the recap. 
C.
|
|
Aug 11, 2007 8:56 AM
|
|
OMG!!! This is fanfreakintastic!! Thank you, thank you, thank you Kara for doing this blog! I have been watching this show since the start too and was pretty ticked that there wasn't a blog for it but yet we had one for the likes of Who Wants to Be a Superhero?? Not that Stan Lee isn't awesome but still!!! Anywho...SO happy it was picked up for a second season. This show is sharp, sexy, funny, quick moving and just a great way to pass the hour. Can't wait to see what happens next and just how Fi is connected to Michael's Burn Notice. Can't wait for your next blog Kara and thanks again!!!
|
|
Aug 11, 2007 1:47 PM
|
This show makes me smile when it's Thursday (well, I'm already smiling because Supernatural is on, but it makes my smile bigger!).
Anyway, I've liked Jeffrey Donovan since Touching Evil, but he's really enjoyable here. I love Gabrielle Anwar as the ex, and Sharon Gless is always good for a giggle. I also think they do "skin" very well without going over the top. These are some very beautiful people, and I'm enjoying looking at them.
Kara, thanks for the blog. I was watching for it. I'll be looking forward to hearing what you think about the next episode.
|
|
Aug 11, 2007 4:53 PM
|
Yay! We have a Burn Blog!
This episode rocked because it was 100% mama-free. The one way to improve this show is much less Gless.
So much about thihs show is stuff we've seen before, but it has such a fresh approach that it's a fun ride.
|
|
Aug 11, 2007 10:54 PM
|
I'm so glad there is a blog. I really enjoy this show.
I'm particularly fond of the growing relationship between Fi and Sam. It's more subtle than other relationships yet just as important.
I loved that Michael gave back the money last night. I also missed Michael's mom in the episode. Hopefully she'll be back soon.
|
|
Aug 12, 2007 9:20 AM
|
I am so happy that there's finally a Blog for Burn Notice. It is really so deserving of one.
I enjoy this show so much on so many levels, the first being Michael Weston himself.
He's attractive
Smart
Attractive
Capable
Handy
Attractive
Quick on his feet
Attractive
Sexy and
Attractive
*sigh*
I love his family especially his mother played with such glee by Sharon Gless. When she gave him he glaring mother stare when he first charged her neighbor $500 for his services I almost choked on my rootbeer. And of course his closest friends Sam and Fi. There's not a man on earth, I think that can intimidate Fi.
I look forward to next week's show and all the others after of Michael getting information on who burned him and why.
|
|
Aug 12, 2007 10:27 AM
|
|
I'm so happy to see a blog for 'Burn Notice.' It's such a fun, snarky show and I'm looking forward to it more and more every week.
|
|
Aug 12, 2007 11:33 AM
|
|
I love this show. It's a cross between McGyver and The Equalizer. I was glad to see it's being picked up for another season.
|
|
Aug 12, 2007 1:15 PM
|
|
I have missed a couple of episdoes of this show, but thanks for doing this shows blog. But can someone please bring back the Psych, Monk, and start up an Eureka blog as well. Thanks.
|
|
Aug 12, 2007 7:43 PM
|
|
I am so happy that Burn Notice now has a blog and that it was picked up for a 2nd season!!!! I am totally loving this show and can not wait for the next episode.
|
|
Aug 13, 2007 10:32 AM
|
|
Thanks for doing the blog. It is a pleasure to watch this show.
|
|
Aug 13, 2007 10:51 AM
|
Thank Kara for the blog!
I am glad that someone in tvguide.com recognize this little gems!
I enjoy the show from the beginning! All players are great!!
I like Donovan in this series than the last one! He was way too serious in Touching Evil! I like Sharon Gless, she is fantastic as the Mother. I missed her from QAF. Of course, Bruce Campbell too.
Also, please bring back the psych blog and add Eureka and the Dead Zone blogs.
|
|
Aug 13, 2007 11:00 AM
|
I love this show. It's fun. Kinda reminds my of Magnum PI.
I was upset when they canceled Touching Evil, and I am glad he's back. I love the chemistry between Michael Weston and Fi!
|
|
Aug 13, 2007 11:51 AM
|
|
This is the first time I've seen Jeffery Donovan in anything and I love him! That smile and that body...just awesome! I really like all the characters on this show. I wasn't aware Gabriel Anwar could play this type of part but she kicks butt and I was thrilled they didn't make us wait til next season or later for them to hook up. I also love Sam and Michael's mom. I just think overall this show has it all. Action, humor, sex appeal, great writing and great characters. It's also a great view of Miami, very gritty and real. I was really shocked that Michael would go along w/blowing up Concha. Nothing in the show previously gave me the impression that he could be such a premeditated killer. Not that she didn't deserve it 'cause she was just evil, but it still surprised me. Thanks for the blog!
|
|
Aug 13, 2007 12:29 PM
|
|
|
