Burn Notice

Burn Notice returned tonight on the USA cable channel, at 10p and 1a...but we, and protagonist Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan), aren't too much further along in figuring out how or exactly why he was given his burn notice, or identity- and asset-destroying walking papers (or lack of papers), from the espionage agency for which he was working. After luring him into trailer of a semi with the promise of a face-to-face meeting and answers, the mysterious voice over his buddy Sam's car's emergency radio tells him to call her "Carla," and is eventually revealed to belong to actress Tricia Helfer
...a fact you'd have to work pretty hard to avoid hearing about in advance.

But before we see Carla, we learn that Michael's trip in the back of the tractor-trailer was just a means of getting him on site, so that he could be blackmailed into a task for Carla and whomever she might be working with, or for. Michael emerges from the trailer to see a computer security expert lying bound, gagged and terrified, next to a couple of corpses and not too far from a burning small airplane. The IT hostage had been attempting to take a trip, with his wife and daughter, rather than get the data Carla wanted from a mercenary-soldier agency, I mean of course small-time if profitable Halliburton-style security firm, that he'd done some anti-hacking work for previously. Both Michael and his new client are informed that if they don't get Carla that data, something unfortunate might well happen to the IT guy's wife and child.

Michael agrees to play along, but makes demands in return, such as that Carla provide him with the guns used for the murders as the airstrip. Meanwhile, old friend and ex-Navy SEAL Sam (Bruce Campbell) and professional gunrunner and old flame Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar), who'd never given up on their romance, are surprised to see Michael back so soon; Fi has particularly mixed emotions, as Michael had put possibly getting killed for the chance to find out who had put the burn notice out on him ahead of their possibly making lives together in Miami. She reluctantly comes to accept, that for this and other related reasons, what Michael had been insisting for a while: that they couldn't be a couple. Michael's fretful mother, Madeline (Sharon Gless), who had fled to Ft. Lauderdale with Michael's brother at the end of last season, just to get out of the crossfire, also comes to see the practical reasons that Michael has been a distant son during his career as a spy, as she returns to her home only to find that it had been tampered with, by Carla, just to keep Michael aware that his loved ones aren't safe, either.

After a ruse, involving a somewhat unconvincing accent and cover story on Michael's part, to get a sense of the security measures on hand at the mercenaries' offices, Michael and the IT guy break in and succeed in getting the required data, but accidentally set off an alarm. Michael destroys the rather retro-looking office mainframe and gets them out just in time, but the mercenaries know that the IT guy is involved...requiring the luring of the mercernarie's boss and his chielf henchmen into a trap and framejob involving the guns from the airstrip. With the IT guy more or less safely reunited with his family, we end Sam flirting briefly with a woman working a crossword puzzle at a bar, while Michael almost relaxes at a nearby table; the woman waves goodbye as she steps into a cab, then calls Michael to let him know who she is. "Enjoy the puzzle," she's written across the top of the paper she'd left behind.

So far, I am, at least. This episode seemed a bit less snappily paced than most of last season's, at first...perhaps a few too many reaction-shots from Michael/Donovan edited in. However, the repartee between Anwar and Campbell, who have several setpieces together in the episode, is so deft and breezy that it's great fun even when the jokes are telegraphed; Anwar and Donovan also quite good in their Discussion, the temporarily-settled running helf-argument throughout the series so far about whether they are emotionally right for each other, and if so, if circumstances will allow them to continue to be.

And you have to love the bits of spycraft and crime how-tos that are more or less liberally sprinkled into the episodes by creator and writer Matt Nix.

A welcome return. The best espionage series since The Agency, and funnier and even more compulsively watchable than that one.

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I've been looking forward to this season finale all week. We finally got to meet the mysterious Philip Cowan; that definitely didn't go as planned. Sam's double blackmail case gets more and more complex until ultimately it puts him in mortal danger. Michael finally understands why his mother is so needy and learns that in a crunch he can count on family. And lastly, I think we finally understand why Michael needs to find out why he was burned: His job was his family. He could count on them to have his back and be there when he needed them.

Let's start at the beginning. Michael's feeling a little jumpy, as evidenced by him pulling a gun on Sam while he's working out. Cowan burned him, sent someone to kill him and is now off the grid. When Cowan calls him to meet, they start a kind of high-stakes scavenger hunt — Cowan leaves sophisticated clues that Michael must interpret and follow to get a face-to-face meeting. Michael's first mistake is taking Sam as backup. Cowan spots Sam and gets away. Everyone's being extra cautious for good reason. You trust the wrong people and you're dead.

At the same time, Sam has decided to pursue a job without Michael's help. He recruits Fi, who demands a daily fee plus expenses. What's Sam going to do? He needs backup. He meets with Gillian, who is being blackmailed into helping her married friend's boyfriend smuggle heroin. Only, Sam discovers it's a double blackmail and Gillian's friend Melissa and her husband Kent are really the ones in the drug trade. Gillian suspects she'll only lose her job over this if she's caught, but Melissa and Kent are in so deep they try to kill her.

Back on the home front, Mama Westen has received a scary phone call and summons both her boys. Now, I know some of you really don't like Michael's brother (or his mother) but there were some very nice family moments in tonight's episode. I thought Nate really came through for Michael when he needed him. Sure, he gave him some serious lip first, but you know how family is.

Michael finally goes (runs actually) to his meeting with Cowan. While Cowan cops to trying to have him killed, he tells Michael he didn't burn him. Cowan says the people he works for have plans for Michael right before he's assassinated. He's dead when he hits the ground. I will admit that took me by surprise. I was shocked to see Cowan shot, but that only makes the stakes that much higher. It reinforces that important — and maybe scary — people, are controlling Michael's life and they're not done with him yet.

Across town, Sam's case gets a little more complicated when Melissa and Kent are killed by their boss, Harrick. Sam is taken but Fi manages to get away and hide out until Michael, with the help of Nate, collects her. While Sam is being interrogated (with fists of fury), Michael and Fi arm themselves for a rescue effort. When Michael asks for proof of life, Sam gives him a sign in the photo that warns him to stay away — it's a setup and they're all going to die. Michael, never one to leave a man behind, ignores the warning and makes his money-laundering friend Barry give him a lead. That lead helps Michael locate Harrick's base of operations.

Michael continues to try to draw Cowan's bosses out in the open and succeeds but manages to get away. He's not ready to go in just yet. Things get a little tense when Mama Westen accidentally provides a tracking device to Cowan's bosses. Michael realizes they're being followed as he's trying to get his family out of town and threatens to kill himself while they escape. Michael will come to them in 12 hours if they let him go now.

Michael is contacted by Cowan's bosses and directed to a remote location. The last image we see is Michael driving Sam's car into the back of an 18-wheeler with no idea what he's gotten himself into or what will happen next.

There was some good closure with both Fi and Sam. Fi gets to say goodbye this time and they share a sweet kiss. It looks like Fi wants more (as always) but she knows it's not the right time. And Sam tells Michael he should have stayed away while admitting he would have done exactly the same thing.

This was a highly enjoyable episode. I have a few quibbles (Would a proof-of-life photo be more than just a headshot? Wouldn't Kent and Melissa have seen Michael out in the open when Gillian drove away?) but mostly it was satisfying and entertaining. Good pyrotechnics and a great fight scene between Michael and Harrick at the end. I still can't believe they killed Richard Schiff. Now there are more questions than ever but I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm so there when the new season starts. I can't believe I have to wait until next summer. Boo. They need to do special midwinter episodes like The Closer did last year.

Some great lines:

Michael: "That'll kill you, you know."
Sam: "Yeah, no kidding."
Michael: "No, the bucket of trans fat you got there."

Nate: "Hey bro. You look tired."
Michael: "Hey Nate. You look clean. You shaved the ferret off your face."

Sam: "You never charge Mike."
Fi: "Oh, I expect other things from Michael."

Fi: "Well, I think the balls are in your court."

Mama Westen: "We're your family Michael. I'm asking that you trust us."
Michael: "And when would I have learned how to do that?"

Nate: "I know how to lose a tail, all right? I hate to break it to you, but spies aren't the only people with enemies."

Michael: "…spies hide guns like squirrels hide acorns…."

Michael: "…and finally it all comes down to putting your ass on the line to learn something."

Questions to ponder:
• Do you think Michael's really done being a spy?
• What do you think Cowan's bosses have in store for Michael? Did you recognize the voice of the female caller? At first I thought it was Melinda Clarke, but I don't think that's right.
• Bonus: If Lucy Lawless' character is still alive as some of you have suggested, how and when would you like her to reappear?

Check out our Online Video Guide for more on Burn Notice.

Until next year...

I enjoyed the U.S. Open but I’m not nearly as passionate about tennis (well, any sport really) as I am about this show.... I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking: Stop your yappin’, Kara, and get to recappin’. Well, here I go.

I enjoyed Evelyn the client turning into Evelyn the assassin. And what do you know? She’s got some history with Michael. We don’t see enough of Lucy Lawless in general (I can’t wait for her return on Battlestar Galactica next year). It was nice, if not a little strange, to see her mix it up and play a different type of character even though her facade didn’t remain in place for long.

But let me back up. Michael is pulled into his latest case because he needs his friend Lucy, whom he trained in the fine art of spying, to set him up with a fake identity, or a "false flag," after an earlier plan falls through. Even though he’s not supposed to leave Miami, Michael wants to travel to D.C. to confront Cowan. Lucy begrudgingly agrees to do it, but only if he’ll help out with a case. Meet Evelyn, who claims her husband is abusive and has kidnapped their son. That tugs at Michael’s heartstrings and he takes the case. The problem is that he also drops his guard and gets a little too close to Evelyn. She even kisses him when she thinks they’ve found her son. Fi, picking up on Michael’s shiftiness, excuses herself from the case — but not for long.

Michael finds Doug’s hideout. Once there, Evelyn turns on him (who’s got a false flag now?) and Michael barricades himself and Doug inside the small house. Now, I usually don’t have story problems with this show but I have to mention something here. I had a slight problem with suspension of disbelief during this particular scene. Why didn’t Evelyn rush the house and take Michael out with hand-to-hand combat? She’s got the upper hand here because she’s got the only working gun. That being said, it was cool when Michael turned that propane container into an exploding bomb. It’s always a pleasure to watch him work.

With Doug as Michael’s new client, we get a new story. It turns out Doug is a controller at a company using fronts. The FBI threatens Doug into turning state's evidence but not before Doug’s wife dies in a mysterious accident. Doug wants to do what’s right but he’s afraid for his son’s life. Sam, Fi and Michael decide to turn Doug over to the state attorney’s office the next day.

Evelyn’s there waiting, but Michael discovers her just as she’s about to take the shot. Michael wants to take Evelyn in but she throws herself off the building before he can. I have to say, that was a spectacular way to go. I liked seeing Evelyn try to talk Michael out of taking her in. It was surprising but not unexpected when she decided to kill herself instead of being turned over to the authorities. Lucy Lawless loves playing complex characters. And I love her for it. Sorry, I’ll stop the lovefest now.

There were some really great emotional undercurrents in this episode as well. Michael asks his mom if she ever thought about leaving his father. As they go through Michael’s "memory box" she looks at his old report cards and awards and reminisces. Michael doesn’t let that go on for too long. He had some great stuff with Fi, too. It’s nice (maybe reassuring is a better word) to see him so freaked out about Fi’s safety. Michael tries so hard to be all about the job, but he can’t shut himself off completely, and I like that. Maybe it doesn’t make him the best spy, but it makes him a better person.

A few great lines:
Fi: "You’re getting a fake identity, Michael. I can’t get fake shoes?"

Michael: "The more truth to your lie the easier it is to remember."

Mama Westen: "So. You want a beer?"
Sam: "You kidding?"

Doug: "Are these bullet holes?"
Sam: "Yeah. I broke it in for you."

I almost forgot the most important part of the episode! Michael won’t need to take that trip to D.C. after all because the man who burned him is coming to see Michael in Miami. I can’t wait.

As always, please feel free to share your favorite lines or scenes. If you need something to tide you over until next week's two-hour season finale, check out this Q&A and our Online Video Guide.

I don't know about you, but I was very excited when I saw Michael and Fi holding hands at the beginning of the episode. I thought maybe Michael finally realized Fi's the girl (sorry, woman) for him or that he was just so tired of fighting her on it that he's giving it a chance. I wasn't too disappointed to find out their coupledom was only a cover. I think part of the fun, maybe the charm, of their relationship is seeing them apart. And at least they don't have relationship issues like Nick and his fiancée Dawn.

So Dawn's been kidnapped by Reyes. I had to back my DVR up when I saw that Reyes is none other then Steven Bauer. I love me some Steven Bauer. So anyway, he's the lead bad guy. He has his man Lucio scout targets to kidnap. Once they have their victim in the hideout, they demand a ransom. He's made a lot of money from this endeavor and only one target was killed, and that was unintentional. Michael presents himself as the hostage negotiator — and gets a massage and a gun in his face for his trouble — but also manages to find out where Reyes is keeping Dawn so Sam and Fi can break her out. Mission accomplished. And what's Michael's reward? He gets a discounted price on a gun Fi was eyeing at Nick's employer's house for her birthday. That melted my heart a little.

In other developments, Michael is trying to set up a meeting with Perry Clark. Perry Clark might be able to get Michael off the black list. After a series of tests, Perry gets an invite to Michael's place when he's done with the Nick job. Everything seems to be going well until Perry tries to strangle Michael. I thought Michael would get out of this pickle much faster and I was really starting to worry until Michael went for his gun. But now that Perry Clark — real identity to be determined later — is dead, how will Michael and gang find out who wants him out of the picture permanently? And who has Michael pissed off so much that they now want him dead? I would assume all this links back to Philip Cowan (the voice of Richard Schiff). Thanks for your thoughts on that. It was driving me crazy.

So many great lines, so little time. Here are some of my faves:

"Bureaucrats live for respect. East of the Balkans that means a bribe. In the West it's more about showing you know they're in charge."

"Halliburton? I don't know him."

"Go ahead. Unlock it first."

"Seriously stop... talking. Stop moaning, now. The moaning. It's the moaning. Nick, stop moaning."

"The art of turning someone into a double agent is delicate. The target has to be put into a fragile psychological state. Fortunately, fragile psychological states are a specialty of Fiona's."

"Yellow pages? Dude, I have a computer."

Also, I love the theories you have on who burned Michael; I think the father angle is interesting. Let me know if you have any other thoughts on that. I'm not sure who I like for it yet.

Still no Mama Westen? They've got some explaining to do.

In the meantime, Burn Notice will be taking a break until Sept. 13 to make room for the US Open. If you need a fix before then, check out our Online Video Guide.

Things are a little different this week. Michael and Fi have had their romantic encounter and Fi’s looking to play house. Michael has more interest in his dossier than her and Fi isn’t about to put up with it. When she asks Michael for help with a bounty, she turns that situation to her advantage. Fi doesn’t want to turn this guy, Thomas McKee, over to the cops. He says he’s innocent and she believes him. But more importantly, he’s attractive and maybe she can use him to make Michael jealous. In the meantime, they have to keep Thomas away from the other bounty hunter on the case, Wayne Ray. That is one big dude and he doesn’t play around.

Let’s get back to the case. Thomas is being framed for the theft of a $2-million brooch. He had access to it and all circumstantial evidence makes him look guilty. The real thief, Lawrence Henderson, owns the hotel the brooch was stolen from. He’s been cleared by the police but he’s got a slightly shady past.

Michael and Sam’s friend Barry, a money launderer (I was hoping we’d see him again), introduces them to Cristo, a fence. Through Cristo, Michael and Sam can pose as buyers and get Lawrence out in the open with the brooch. They just have to make sure the cops catch him with the piece on him. In order to make sure Cristo doesn’t blow Michael’s cover, he takes some collateral — a very attractive and expensive diamond bracelet.

In the meantime Michael’s trying to find out more about Philip Cowan, the guy who burned him. All Sam could get from his buddies is that Philip is in counterintelligence. They have no way to contact him and no way to get a message to him, unless Michael does it in a way that makes things uncomfortable for Philip. He asks Fi to set up a meeting with one of her many black-market contacts, a Libyan named Anwar. Michael gives him some intel that his country’s been after, and in return Anwar sends Philip a fruit basket. That riles Philip so much that he calls Michael. Did anyone recognize the voice? I couldn't quite place it, but I know I've heard it before.

Sam and Fi have larger roles to play in this scheme, and I enjoyed getting more face time with them. Fi is no joke when it comes to making her man jealous. Yikes. She does everything big, doesn’t she? And I really enjoyed Sam’s cover identity, mostly because he wasn’t allowed to drink. He’s constantly offered quality alcohol and is constantly turning it down. If I didn’t enjoy Bruce Campbell’s performance before this, I do now. And let me clarify that I love Bruce Campbell; I watched every episode of Adventures of Brisco County Jr. — when it originally aired in the '90s.

Some great dialogue:
• "It’s not every day you get to read a fictional account of your whole life."
• Barry: "Name’s Cristo. Like Madonna with the whole one-name thing."
Sam: "Like Charo."
Barry: "Sting."
Sam: "Fergie."
Barry: "Pelé."
Sam: "Spiderman."
Barry: "Liberace."
Sam: "Crap, I can’t think of any more."
• "Selling stolen goods is all about discretion. You’ve got to be the kind of person who can keep your mouth shut."
• "Mike, need some advice? Ladies like attention. They don’t want to be second to a dossier. Not even a big one."
• "I’ve been accused of being a major security risk. It’s time I started acting like one."
• Wayne: "Where’d they go?"
Michael: "I can’t tell you if you keep choking me."
• "Thanks, but I’m not a drinker."
• "I thought you’d be taller."
• "Clandestine meetings are never fun to arrange."
• "Torture’s unpredictable, as you know."
• "I haven’t done this sort of thing since there was an East Germany."
• "Fiona likes to test relationships with the emotional equivalent of artillery fire."
• "Next time, Lawrence, go limp. It’s really hard to drag a human shield."
• "You’re a money launderer for Christ's sake. Why do I have to buy lunch?"
• "The security services in my country aren’t known for being gentle."
• "You know who I did this for, Fi."

We’ve finally learned the name of Sam’s special lady friend. It’s Veronica. And to replace her smashed snow globe, Michael gets Fi a Miami one.

This makes two episodes in a row with no mama Westen. I think she’s great and I definitely want to see more of her. Hopefully she’ll be in next week’s show.

Thanks for all the great feedback. I’m just happy there are others out there enjoying this show as much as I am.

Check out our Online Video Guide for more on Burn Notice.

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?

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