Carstairs Considers....: TV Show Review: Burn Notice

Thursday, May 23, 2013

TV Show Review: Burn Notice - Season 3

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: 16 high octane episodes that will keep you on the edge of your seat

Cons: None

The Bottom Line:

Action with some laughs

Characters grow this season

Burn Notice brings it

"If Something Seems Too Good to be True, Best to Shoot It Just in Case."

It's described as the hottest show of the summer in the TV ads, and I've got to say I have a hard time arguing with that. What show? Burn Notice, of course. If you want action and adventure with lots of explosions, you've come to the right place, and season three continues to keep the burning going.

The show revolves around Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan). Michael was a spy, and a very good one, until he got "burned." Someone set him up with fake documents that made the US government not trust him any more. They dumped him in Miami, his childhood home, which means he has to interact with mom Madeline (Sharon Gless). Miami also happens to be the home of his on again off again girlfriend Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar), an arms dealer, and Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell) a buddy who has retired from the FBI. Michael supports himself by taking on jobs for people who are having problems the law can't deal with while also trying to clear his name from the burn list so he can go back to being a spy.

This season picks up exactly where season 2 ended. Michael has just come face to face with the man who is responsible for having him burned. In response to a job offer to work for him or deal with increasing pressure, Michael jumps from the helicopter where they are meeting and swims to shore.

Arriving back in Miami, he finds himself continuing to take the odd job to make money. He helps capture a man stealing land in Venezuela. He works hard to find a kidnapped boy. He attempts to stop the leak of covert operative's names with only the word of a mentally disturbed man to go on. He even takes on insurance scammers.

Unfortunately, he finds that this mysterious organization really has been protecting him. Suddenly, he finds the police are asking way too many questions about all the explosions that seem to happen around him. He's audited by the IRS. And he makes contact with someone still working for the CIA who might help clear his name. But all his efforts to clear his name cause friction in his relationships with Fi and Sam. Will the three be able to continue working together?

This show works on two levels. Each week features an A story that is resolved from start to finish in that episode. But there is also the ongoing B story that continues from week to week about Michael's attempts to get his burn notice reversed. As with last season, there are really two arcs to the B story, each lasting half the season and leaving you with a cliffhanger to get you to watch the next bit of the story. Yes, some stuff from the B stories will get spoiled if you jump in here or watch a random episode, but you will have no problem following the A story.

I find both stories are worth tuning in to see every week. I can never see how our heroes will get out of their predicaments alive, and yet they manage to at the last minute. And they always manage to do it with lots of explosions and gun shots. Really, this is the best action show on TV at the moment with lots of chases and gun play to keep any guy entertained.

Because of the conflict Michael, Fi, and Sam had over Michael's actions for most of the season, I felt the characters really grew. And Michael's mom continues to develop, too. I no longer see her as extraneous like I did in season 1 but very much a part of the show. The character development did make the show felt more serious at times, but it was worth it for the rich characters.

Not that they don't include some humor in the mix like always. Michael's voice over narration continue to provide some great lines as well as information on how to operate and build crazy gadgets (not that I'd try any of them myself). And the wise cracks coming from the main characters continue as well.

Because of the added character development, the actors really had to step up this season, and they delivered. Even the guest stars seemed to be up to the challenge. This is a believably acted show on every level.

Season 3 consisted of 16 episodes, which are presented here in wide screen and full surround on four discs. The final disc has a couple of extras, including the comic con panel for the show and a look behind the scenes at the stunts of the show.

If you haven't seen this show, you don't know what you are missing. Whether you start with season three or go back to season 1, now is the best time to get into Burn Notice.

Season 3 Episodes:

1. Friends and Family

2. Question and Answer

3. End Run

4. Fearless Leader

5. Signals and Codes

6. The Hunter

7. Shot in the Dark

8. Friends Like These

9. Long Way Back

10. A Dark Road

11. Friendly Fire