On Burn Notice

Michael Westen: "When you're burned, you've got nothing. No cash, no credit, no job history. You're stuck in whatever city they decide to dump you in. You do whatever work comes your way. You rely on anyone who's still talking to you. A trigger-happy ex-girlfriend, an old friend who used to inform on you to the FBI, family too, if your desperate. Bottom line? Until you figure out who burned you, you're not going anywhere."

Staring: Jeffrey Donovan, Gabrielle Anwar and yes Mr. Evil Dead himself Bruce Campbell

Now truthfully I'm not too big a fan of television. On occasion, however, a show will get my attention and hook me. Burn Notice is one of those shows. It pretty much made me an instant fan. Jeffrey Donovan stars as an ex government spy, Michael Westen, who is blacklisted (the announcement of termination within the intelligence field due to unreliability is called a "burn notice.") in the middle of an operation in Nigeria and barely escapes with his life. He ends up in his old hometown of Miami, Florida, and finds his life pretty much erased. Though he contacts a few old friends, and his dysfunctional family, Michael is penniless an is under constant surveillance, by those who have apparently had him blacklisted for one reason or another. Trouble is you don't know why he is black listed from the spy game and neither does he. So to pass the time and to make a few bucks, he hires himself out, at reasonable prices for a spy, to help people with various problems. One persons sister may have been kidnapped by the russian mob, or somebody may be being tormented by a lone shark. It is for those in these kind of situations where Michael offers his expertise.

He is joined of an ex Navy SEAL, Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell), and Fiona Glenanne (Gabrielle Anwar) a former operative with the IRA, who also just happens to be his ex-girlfriend. We also meet other shady characters, which Michael uses on occasion for information, including Barry the Money Launder.

There are several things that make this a great TV show. Imagine a mix between MacGyver, Knight Rider, and James Bond and you have Burn Notice. It is clever and loaded with action of a caliber you just don't really see on television. Not only that, but you may end up learning some cool martial arts move, how to scan for bugs in your house, or why your homemade flash bang just doesn't seem to be working.

Also, despite the violence and gunplay, the show contains a lot of heart and focuses frequently on Michael and his relationships with his family and his efforts to mend those relationships between him, his mother, and brother (the dad having been abusive and having passed away). With every subsequent episode you, not only see progress he is making within his family, but also in using his spy know how to come to the bottom of why exactly he was terminated. Each episode gives you just a little bit more of the puzzle, making you want to tune in the following week so that just a little bit more of the mystery may be revealed.

Furthermore, there is witty narration, giving the viewer insight into the workings of Michaels mind, and often dropping hits on how to outrun the cops, how to create the best diversions, and the best techniques on how to lie and not get caught. In addition, the special effects, music and acting compliment the show perfectly, giving it an air that is unlike anything else on TV. The only potential trouble that I can really see about the show, concerns how exactly Michael comes across the jobs he takes. The problem with it is this: Michael gets all his work and jobs through word of mouth. The show only being in its second season, can sustain it for now, but not for very much longer. The writers need to get together and figure out how they can have jobs come unto the main characters, so that it is, not only believable, but also never get monotonous.


All and all though, for my money, this is by far the coolest show on TV. It still has a lot of potential and I really hope that USA sticks with it for a while, because it sure beats the hell out of Monk and Psych. Plus, it has Bruce Campbell in it. You can't beat that. I give it 4 out of 4 of the most versatile spy tool around...yes, the paperclip.