Burn Notice, Season One (2007)

Our rating: 3 out of 5

Rated: TV14

reviewed by Rissi C.
 

Regardless of this airing on a cable network, Burn Notice is probably one of the most enjoyable shows presently benefitting from ratings today…

Spies don’t get fired, they get burned.

Michael Westen (Jeffery Donovan) is likely the best spy in the business. Right now, he’s in Africa about to complete a job that usually would go down without a hitch, just like the others, only when he makes his call, the operator informs him that he has been blacklisted, so basically from now on he no longer exists. Time is running short before his African gun-running captors realize he is no longer worth anything to them, so limping and bruised, Michael escapes their custody, and barely makes the next flight out of the country, only to be dropped (by those who want to keep an eye on him) on the sandy beaches of Miami.

He is expected to stay there but all his personal records have been erased or confiscated (he no longer has a bank account, any type of credit or identity), forcing him to “trust” anyone still willing to talk to him, which for Michael means his “trigger-happy” ex, Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar) and buddy, Sam (Bruce Campball), who’s informing on him to the FBI. And if he’s really desperate, family. Mom Madeline (Sharon Gless) is the last person Michael wants to deal with just now, especially considering she thinks she has a disease that the doctors just haven’t diagnosed. She wants him to make peace with his brother (Seth Peterson). To top it off, Michael is determined to find out just who issued a burn notice… In the meantime, a burglary suspect needs help clearing his name and Michael finds he has a knack for using his skills to do something good: help people.

I’ll admit seeing this was a bit of a stretch considering I knew next-to-nothing about the context or how the show would portray itself (would it be running rampant with raunchy content or would it instead be entertaining as mainstream blurbs said?). I wound up LOVING it for its cleverness and witty characters. The approach is very unique compared to other shows of its variety; Burn Notice really stands out. For the most part this is thanks to the characters, who have rapidly become some of the cleverest and most likable on television today. From the opening titles, they had me hooked. There has never quite been another character like Michael (to my knowledge); his noble mission to help those in need of some, shall we say, intimidating intimidation, makes him one-of-a-kind. Creators took a very unique tactic when writing his persona (especially in his escapades and comical quirks, like when he “steals” cars or makes his own “gadgets” with everyday items). All around, he’s just a genuinely good guy (this is a refreshing change from the norm) no matter what, and as is the case with any caring human being, his one weakness is his family and friends. As for Fiona, she is a bit of a flirt who constantly attempts to get Michael to open up and discuss their past, but somehow Gabrielle makes her entertaining. Going against what her appearance would suggest and her snappy responses, beneath the tough shell is a vulnerability. And that is what makes these individuals so appealing; the actors found a niche that created fantastic personas that bring audiences back each time; one minute they’re fighting (literally) and the next they seem “human.”

Being set in Miami sets the tone for some cool filming. The shots often take on a quick succession pattern that sometimes will briefly pause as a black-and-white still capture. Each episode has a voice-over by Michael which lays out the cases and players. Likewise, outdoor scenes are standard, providing some gorgeous cinematography -- palm trees, sweeping architectural structures, sidewalk restaurants, and the beach. This is also a bit of a downfall; the camera often finds scantily clad women in bikinis or beachwear while filming. From there, various episodes feature questionable material that is problematic. “Old Friends” deals with an 18-year-old unknowingly entering into a prostitution ring (nothing is seen, just implied); restraining from anything overly intimate (apart from a kiss or two), Fiona and Michael finally sleep together near the end of “Broken Rules” (implied; they wake up together, she has a sheet carefully placed, but still reveals a lot of leg and bare back). Profanity and crude terms are scattered about; “Jesus” is used in wrong context as well as other abuses of deity (“Christ!”). Violence ranges from a lead getting shot in the shoulder to hand-to-hand combat, the latter being the main offender. Characters are hit with the butt of a gun, punched, kicked, threatened in general and sometimes shot; explosions are a normal part of the show; suicide is once implied. Drinking is prevalent; Sam is said to be a ladies man, who is only motivated when he finds a rich woman to “take care” of him. Conversation revolves around Fiona and Michael’s former relationship; one episode implies Madeline slept with a client of Michael’s. It’s said that Michael’s father was a drunk and was abusive at times. Fiona frequently wears inappropriate clothing; a lot of scenes also take place in clubs.

Where this show stumbles, it more than compensates through superior ideas and all things considering is reasonably clean. Believe me, this cool, lazy, spy caper just makes you smile. It’s clever and witty with characters that in spite of their flaws you just cannot help but love, while at the same time features serious intrigue in relation to Michael’s quest for answers. Only be prepared, the end leaves you hanging…