Friday, June 27, 2008
Sharon Gless Interview
TV Squad has an interview with Sharon Gless, where she talks about her character (Madeline Westen) and her relationship with her son on camera, as well as her relationship with Jeffery Donovan off camera.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
TV Squad Behind the Scenes
TV Squad got a chance to go behind the scenes as Burn Notice prepares to go full swing into Season 2.
The article focuses mainly on how it gets done, how they find their shots and have the actors know the spy trade. As usual, the article is careful to not reveal any spoilers.
The article focuses mainly on how it gets done, how they find their shots and have the actors know the spy trade. As usual, the article is careful to not reveal any spoilers.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Burn Notice in Entertainment Weekly
There is an article in Entertainment Weekly about the second season of Burn Notice, it's very positive.
See it for yourself in this album:
See it for yourself in this album:
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| Burn Notice - Entertainm |
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Carla
Carla (played by Tricia Helfer) is the first new recurring character in Season 2.
For now, not much is known about the character except for some brief descriptions.
Helfer will play Carla, Michael's sleek, sexy and lethal "handler," who often comes across as unaffected and slightly amused by him.
Phillip Cowan
Phillip Cowan (played by Richard Schift) was the man who's name was on the Dossier that burned Michael. However, Cowan quickly revealed that he was just a small pawn in a greater game. Cowan never got a chance to tell Michael more, as he was killed right in front of Michael's eyes.
Veronica
Veronica (played by Audery Landers) is the girlfriend of Sam Axe. She has provided Sam with a place to stay and occasionally some cool cars.
She doesn't appear to know much about Sam's job or his past, she simply knows he was a spy.
Tricia Helfer of "Battlestar Galactica" coming to Burn Notice
TV Guide reports that Tricia Helfer, who recently finished up the final season of "Battlestar Galactica" on the SciFi Network.
"To protect the people he loves, Michael is forced to work for Carla — his only link to the people behind his burn notice." ~ Matt Nix
In the episode summaries that have already been provided, Carla has only been mentioned in the 6th episode, so we don't know when she's introduced or how many of Michael's episodes will revolve around her. None the less, she sounds like an important new character to figuring out who burned Michael. Is she the woman who was on the phone with Michael? We'll find out in one month.
Helfer will play Carla, Michael's sleek, sexy and lethal "handler," who often comes across as unaffected and slightly amused by him.
"To protect the people he loves, Michael is forced to work for Carla — his only link to the people behind his burn notice." ~ Matt Nix
In the episode summaries that have already been provided, Carla has only been mentioned in the 6th episode, so we don't know when she's introduced or how many of Michael's episodes will revolve around her. None the less, she sounds like an important new character to figuring out who burned Michael. Is she the woman who was on the phone with Michael? We'll find out in one month.
Season 2 split in Two
Like many USA series, it appears that the second season of Burn Notice will be split up into two parts.
Entertainment Weekly reports that the original 12 episodes that was ordered for season 2 was expanded to 16 episodes. The first 9 episodes will be aired during the summer, with the last 7 airing in early 2009.
In my personal opinion, I don't like this. While series like Psych and Monk can handle the split better because each episode is stand alone, Burn Notice (at least for season 1) has much more of an overarching story which could be hurt by interrupting it.
None the less, more episodes is never a bad thing
Entertainment Weekly reports that the original 12 episodes that was ordered for season 2 was expanded to 16 episodes. The first 9 episodes will be aired during the summer, with the last 7 airing in early 2009.
In my personal opinion, I don't like this. While series like Psych and Monk can handle the split better because each episode is stand alone, Burn Notice (at least for season 1) has much more of an overarching story which could be hurt by interrupting it.
None the less, more episodes is never a bad thing
Season 2 Preview Summaries
Here are some of the names and summaries of future episodes of Burn Notice
Season 2 starts July 10th.
1. Breaking and Entering
Michael helps a computer tech named Jimmy whose wife and daughter were kidnapped.
2. Turn and Burn
At Sam's request, Michael helps a waitress named Sophia who is being stalked. However, Sam and Michael later learn that Sophia is not who she claims to be.
3. Trust Me
Andy, a cell-phone salesman, was conned into investing in a fake Cuban nightclub. Michael helps Andy when the people he borrowed the money from (loan sharks) come knocking.
4. Comrades
Introduced by Nate, Michael helps a Russian woman, Katya, whose sister was smuggled into the U.S. by gangsters; however, Katya cannot afford their extortionate demands and her sister is being held captive.
5. Scatter Point
Michael is hired by Trevor, a former "wheelman" who's gone straight. However, Trevor is being pressured into working an upcoming jewel heist by his old boss, Timo, and fears for his family's safety.
6. Bad Blood
One of Carla's men, Victor, recruits Michael to participate in a hijacking. Michael, however, is oblivious as to what he's hijacking.
Season 2 starts July 10th.
1. Breaking and Entering
Michael helps a computer tech named Jimmy whose wife and daughter were kidnapped.
2. Turn and Burn
At Sam's request, Michael helps a waitress named Sophia who is being stalked. However, Sam and Michael later learn that Sophia is not who she claims to be.
3. Trust Me
Andy, a cell-phone salesman, was conned into investing in a fake Cuban nightclub. Michael helps Andy when the people he borrowed the money from (loan sharks) come knocking.
4. Comrades
Introduced by Nate, Michael helps a Russian woman, Katya, whose sister was smuggled into the U.S. by gangsters; however, Katya cannot afford their extortionate demands and her sister is being held captive.
5. Scatter Point
Michael is hired by Trevor, a former "wheelman" who's gone straight. However, Trevor is being pressured into working an upcoming jewel heist by his old boss, Timo, and fears for his family's safety.
6. Bad Blood
One of Carla's men, Victor, recruits Michael to participate in a hijacking. Michael, however, is oblivious as to what he's hijacking.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Dan the Handler
Dan is Michael's Handler, in the spy business, this means that Dan is responsible for Michael. Or he was, until Michael got burned. Michael tried to contact Dan after his burn to get more information but Dan was quite vague. He only left the hint that there were, "some that still support you [Michael]".
Dan appears willing to help Michael, but at the same time doesn't want to get involved.
Lucy
Lucy (played by China Chow) is an old contact of Michael, and apparently, was trained by Michael. While she is quite vague about her current job, it appears that she is using her spy skill set in a legitimate business. Lucy has helped Michael get job leads multiple times, and is always there to help.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Burn Notice DVD June 15th
The Burn Notice Season 1 DVD will be releasing on June 15th (just in time to promote the 2nd season). As usual, it will include Special Commentary and Deleted Scenes
False Flag
Episode 10: False Flag
Production Number: BN109
Director: Paul Shapiro
Writer: Matt Nix & Ben Watkins
Click the Picture to go to the False Flag Gallery
Full Summary
Personal Commentary
Writer's Blog
Quick Summary:
Michael takes on the case of a mother whose son was kidnapped by her abusive husband. The case takes on a personal measure for Michael, and he let's his guard down. The woman he was hired by turns out to be an assassin.
Full Summary
The episode opens with Michael taking Fiona shopping. Michael isn't shopping for shoes, however, he's looking at getting a fake identity (or False Flag). Michael goes to a local copy center. Michael strikes a deal for a fake Driver's License and Passport, however, the copy center owner pulls a gun on him and shows Michael a wanted poster. Michael ends up handcuffed while the copy center owner calls a contact at the FBI about Michael. Fiona sees him in danger and provides a distraction till they can both run away.
Back at Michael's apartment, Michael is searching for his lock pick set so he can remove the handcuffs. We learn that Michael needed to the new ID so he could travel to Washington DC and confront Phillip Conrad. Fiona eventually produces a lock pick from her hair, and tells him that he will need back up. Michael is reluctant to admit he needs any help.
Sam feels that looking into anyone else for fake IDs would be foolish, as they've probably all been tipped off. However, Sam suggests Lucy, the security consultant, and mentions a job that she needs help with. Michael meets with Lucy and agrees to take a job, if Lucy will provide a fake identity.
Evelyn, the client had her son, Jasper, kidnapped by her estranged and abusive husband Doug. Michael sees himself in this situation, and takes pity on Evelyn.
"I'm going to find him" ~ Michael
Michael returns to his mother's home after weeks of being absent, but is only concerned about finding his birth certificate and medical records so he can help Lucy fake his identification. While there, Michael and his mom talk, and he gets his mom to admit that she only stayed with Michael's father to keep the family together.
"I'm going on a trip" ~ Michael
"The last time you said that you left for 10 years, Michael" ~ Madeline
Michael talks with Sam and Fiona, and decides to go question Evelyn again, without back up. Fiona pushes Sam to tell her more about Evelyn, however, Sam says he has to go pick up Mike's yogurt. When Michael meets with Evelyn he assures her that she's doing the right thing. Michael admits his attraction to Evelyn, but does his best to stay focused on the mission.
With Michael, Sam picks the lock on Doug's house. As they search through the house, two men with guns pull up to the front and two more in the back. Sam and Mike kick out the in-wall AC unit to escape the house. Fiona and Michael meet with Evelyn again, she got attacked by two men outside of her custody hearing for Jasper. Michael comforts Evelyn Afterwards, Michael and Fiona have a fight, and Michael continues to say he can handle this case on his own, causing Fiona to walk away.
Sam, inspired by the outdoor magazines he found in Doug's house, tracked down his license plate number to a lodge in the woods. Michael drives Evelyn to the lodge. When he arrives he sees Doug, pulls out his gun, and asks where Jasper is. Doug tells Michael to leave his son out of this, since they had already killed his wife. Michael realizes this was a trap, and turns the gun on Evelyn, who is now holding a gun of her own. When Michael tries to fire, he finds that Evelyn disabled his gun. Michael and Doug duck into the lodge while Evelyn, the assassin, opens fire.
Michael uses a screw driver and the lock pick he got from Fiona to fix his gun for one more shot, then he takes a propane tank, and duct tapes an aerosol can to it with an open flame. Meanwhile, Evelyn has given up shooting and decides instead to simply ram Michael's car into the lodge. Michael and Doug jump out of the lodge, and Michael throws the propane and open flame at his car. He shoots the propane tank, thus releasing the gas, which is ignited by the open flame. The explosion doesn't harm Evelyn who jumps out of the way, but disables Michael's car and provides enough distraction for Michael and Doug to jump into Doug's car and drive away.
Michael, Sam, Fiona, and Doug all regroup. Michael asks Fiona to take Doug somewhere safe, while Sam and Michael plan to check on Lucy, who may have been fooled by Evelyn's crying mother trick. Outside of Lucy's office building, Michael gets a call from Evelyn Michael had apparently once chased Evelyn, but never caught up to her. Evelyn mentions how cheap the labor is in Miami, she says she can pay any kid off the street a grand to do a hit. Evelyn then points out a car is about to run over Lucy, who just walked out of her office. Michael runs and pulls Lucy out of the way of the car just in time to save her life.
Back in her office, Lucy berates herself for failing to see through Evelyn's disguise. Evelyn calls Michael, and threatens Sam, Fiona, and even Madeline if Michael doesn't give up Doug. Michael decides that Sam should call the Attorney General so they can turn Doug into witness protection. They also have Sam stay at Madeline's place to provide protection. Michael and Fiona spend the night preparing for a fight.
In the morning, they have Doug put on one of Sam's old bullet proof vests, which smells of Old Spice. Sam drives Doug to the Attorney General's office, with Fiona behind in an SUV. Evelyn is on a rooftop near the office, ready to take her shot when Doug steps out of the car. However, Michael uses his experience of Evelyn's ways to predict her moves and stop her. When Michael tries to bring her in, Evelyn chooses to jump to her death instead.
Lucy meets with Michael, and reports that Jasper and Doug are safely in witness protection. She also gives Michael his new identity. However, Sam comes up and tells Michael that might not be necessary. Sam has heard through his contacts that the man who burned Michael is coming to Miami.
Personal Commentary
Man, am I glad that Burn Notice is back from their little Wimbeldon Open vacation. Now, back to the action. It appears that the assassination attempt on Michael gave him a good scare, he wants to get away from his loved ones and attack his Burn Notice directly in Washington DC. Whatever progress Michael made in trusting his friends, he appears to lose it in this episode, when he doesn't want any back up. Or perhaps he simply doesn't want to admit that this mission got very personal very quick.
Note that when Michael first talked to Evelyn, he said that he WOULD find her child. Michael has always kept distance, only saying, "I'll see what I can do". This is the first time he has instantly accepted the case and even confirmed he would succeed.
Madeline Westen was gone for a while wasn't she. And as always, Michael is trying to come and go without even acknowledging how long he was gone. It appears though, that now even Madeline is admitting how abusive Michael's father was.
The big twist in the middle of this episode was very nicely done. I should have known the situation was too perfect for Michael, but Lucy Lawless played her character to perfection. I'm also glad that Michael respected physics and logic when he pulled the exploding propane trick.
Finally, Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell)'s bullet proof vest smells like Old Spice? Where could they have gotten that idea?
Production Number: BN109
Director: Paul Shapiro
Writer: Matt Nix & Ben Watkins
Click the Picture to go to the False Flag Gallery
Full Summary
Personal Commentary
Writer's Blog
Quick Summary:
Michael takes on the case of a mother whose son was kidnapped by her abusive husband. The case takes on a personal measure for Michael, and he let's his guard down. The woman he was hired by turns out to be an assassin.
Full Summary
The episode opens with Michael taking Fiona shopping. Michael isn't shopping for shoes, however, he's looking at getting a fake identity (or False Flag). Michael goes to a local copy center. Michael strikes a deal for a fake Driver's License and Passport, however, the copy center owner pulls a gun on him and shows Michael a wanted poster. Michael ends up handcuffed while the copy center owner calls a contact at the FBI about Michael. Fiona sees him in danger and provides a distraction till they can both run away.
Back at Michael's apartment, Michael is searching for his lock pick set so he can remove the handcuffs. We learn that Michael needed to the new ID so he could travel to Washington DC and confront Phillip Conrad. Fiona eventually produces a lock pick from her hair, and tells him that he will need back up. Michael is reluctant to admit he needs any help.
Sam feels that looking into anyone else for fake IDs would be foolish, as they've probably all been tipped off. However, Sam suggests Lucy, the security consultant, and mentions a job that she needs help with. Michael meets with Lucy and agrees to take a job, if Lucy will provide a fake identity.
Evelyn, the client had her son, Jasper, kidnapped by her estranged and abusive husband Doug. Michael sees himself in this situation, and takes pity on Evelyn.
"I'm going to find him" ~ Michael
Michael returns to his mother's home after weeks of being absent, but is only concerned about finding his birth certificate and medical records so he can help Lucy fake his identification. While there, Michael and his mom talk, and he gets his mom to admit that she only stayed with Michael's father to keep the family together.
"I'm going on a trip" ~ Michael
"The last time you said that you left for 10 years, Michael" ~ Madeline
Michael talks with Sam and Fiona, and decides to go question Evelyn again, without back up. Fiona pushes Sam to tell her more about Evelyn, however, Sam says he has to go pick up Mike's yogurt. When Michael meets with Evelyn he assures her that she's doing the right thing. Michael admits his attraction to Evelyn, but does his best to stay focused on the mission.
With Michael, Sam picks the lock on Doug's house. As they search through the house, two men with guns pull up to the front and two more in the back. Sam and Mike kick out the in-wall AC unit to escape the house. Fiona and Michael meet with Evelyn again, she got attacked by two men outside of her custody hearing for Jasper. Michael comforts Evelyn Afterwards, Michael and Fiona have a fight, and Michael continues to say he can handle this case on his own, causing Fiona to walk away.
Sam, inspired by the outdoor magazines he found in Doug's house, tracked down his license plate number to a lodge in the woods. Michael drives Evelyn to the lodge. When he arrives he sees Doug, pulls out his gun, and asks where Jasper is. Doug tells Michael to leave his son out of this, since they had already killed his wife. Michael realizes this was a trap, and turns the gun on Evelyn, who is now holding a gun of her own. When Michael tries to fire, he finds that Evelyn disabled his gun. Michael and Doug duck into the lodge while Evelyn, the assassin, opens fire.
Michael uses a screw driver and the lock pick he got from Fiona to fix his gun for one more shot, then he takes a propane tank, and duct tapes an aerosol can to it with an open flame. Meanwhile, Evelyn has given up shooting and decides instead to simply ram Michael's car into the lodge. Michael and Doug jump out of the lodge, and Michael throws the propane and open flame at his car. He shoots the propane tank, thus releasing the gas, which is ignited by the open flame. The explosion doesn't harm Evelyn who jumps out of the way, but disables Michael's car and provides enough distraction for Michael and Doug to jump into Doug's car and drive away.
Michael, Sam, Fiona, and Doug all regroup. Michael asks Fiona to take Doug somewhere safe, while Sam and Michael plan to check on Lucy, who may have been fooled by Evelyn's crying mother trick. Outside of Lucy's office building, Michael gets a call from Evelyn Michael had apparently once chased Evelyn, but never caught up to her. Evelyn mentions how cheap the labor is in Miami, she says she can pay any kid off the street a grand to do a hit. Evelyn then points out a car is about to run over Lucy, who just walked out of her office. Michael runs and pulls Lucy out of the way of the car just in time to save her life.
Back in her office, Lucy berates herself for failing to see through Evelyn's disguise. Evelyn calls Michael, and threatens Sam, Fiona, and even Madeline if Michael doesn't give up Doug. Michael decides that Sam should call the Attorney General so they can turn Doug into witness protection. They also have Sam stay at Madeline's place to provide protection. Michael and Fiona spend the night preparing for a fight.
In the morning, they have Doug put on one of Sam's old bullet proof vests, which smells of Old Spice. Sam drives Doug to the Attorney General's office, with Fiona behind in an SUV. Evelyn is on a rooftop near the office, ready to take her shot when Doug steps out of the car. However, Michael uses his experience of Evelyn's ways to predict her moves and stop her. When Michael tries to bring her in, Evelyn chooses to jump to her death instead.
Lucy meets with Michael, and reports that Jasper and Doug are safely in witness protection. She also gives Michael his new identity. However, Sam comes up and tells Michael that might not be necessary. Sam has heard through his contacts that the man who burned Michael is coming to Miami.
Personal Commentary
Man, am I glad that Burn Notice is back from their little Wimbeldon Open vacation. Now, back to the action. It appears that the assassination attempt on Michael gave him a good scare, he wants to get away from his loved ones and attack his Burn Notice directly in Washington DC. Whatever progress Michael made in trusting his friends, he appears to lose it in this episode, when he doesn't want any back up. Or perhaps he simply doesn't want to admit that this mission got very personal very quick.
Note that when Michael first talked to Evelyn, he said that he WOULD find her child. Michael has always kept distance, only saying, "I'll see what I can do". This is the first time he has instantly accepted the case and even confirmed he would succeed.
Madeline Westen was gone for a while wasn't she. And as always, Michael is trying to come and go without even acknowledging how long he was gone. It appears though, that now even Madeline is admitting how abusive Michael's father was.
The big twist in the middle of this episode was very nicely done. I should have known the situation was too perfect for Michael, but Lucy Lawless played her character to perfection. I'm also glad that Michael respected physics and logic when he pulled the exploding propane trick.
Finally, Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell)'s bullet proof vest smells like Old Spice? Where could they have gotten that idea?
Loose Ends
Episode 12: Loose Ends
Production Number: BN111
Director: Stephen Surjik
Writer: Matt Nix & Alfredo Barrios Jr.
Click the Picture to go to the Loose Ends Gallery
Full Summary
Personal Commentary
Writer's Blog
Quick Summary:
In an action packed two hour finale, Michael finally meets the man who burned him, only to watch him get assassinated right in front of him. Now Michael is on the run, trying to keep his family and friends safe.
Full Summary:
Nate drives Mike towards the warehouse district where Fiona is hiding. Michael tries to tell Nate to leave but Nate insists on helping. In the warehouse district, Michael sees a piece of red fabric outside a window, and knows Fiona is in the building. Michael uses Nate's truck to slam his way into the warehouse. Fiona runs towards Nate's truck, Michael tosses her a gun and she provides cover fire as Nate and Mike get out of the truck. Nate takes Fiona's place, keeping the henchmen at bay while Fiona and Michael prepare an explosive surprise. While Michael, Fiona, and Nate escape through a window, Nate's truck slowly backs up towards the henchmen with no driver. When the men approach the truck, they see the explosives in the bed and have to duck for cover.
Michael, Fiona, and Nate go to Nate's place which is actually a foreclosure. Nate leaves to pick up Madeline and keep her safe. Meanwhile, Sam is getting beat up and questioned in the hold of a ship. The heroin importer, Harrich, and his muscle-bound assistant try to figure out why Sam was taking pictures of Kent and Melissa. Sam first claims to be DEA, then CIA, FBI, and even a boy scout. The entire time, Sam tries to turn Harrich and his guard against each other. Harrich, who is an ex-Green Beret, tells Sam he won't be killed until they can find the girl (Fiona). The best lead they have is Sam's cell phone, and the numbers he called last.
Fiona comes back to Nate's "house" with an arsenal she had hidden under an overpass. Harrich (the heroin importer) calls Michael and asks about Sam. Michael claims to be a fellow heroin dealer who simply was checking out his competition. Michael tells Harrich that he wants Sam back, but won't pay for "damaged goods". Harrich sends Michael an email with a picture of Sam for proof of life. When Sam has his picture taken, he does a specific pose. Michael and Fiona break into Sam's storage place to look through photos till Michael finds a match. It's the same pose that Sam used when he was with a hostage rescue team that fell into a trap. Sam lost most of his team that day, it's his way of telling Michael that he won't be getting out of this alive.
Nate bring Madeline to the house, but not after spending hours losing the multiple government agents trying to trail him. Nate goes out again, this time to pick up some disposable cell phones. Michael wants to know more about those who are following him, so he makes a call to Dan, his handler, from a public phone. Within minutes a pair of government agents are staring at the public phone while Michael and Fiona watch from a distance. However, those agents are just a distraction, Michael and Fiona flee into an alley way only to be confronted by an armored car. Michael has to use another car as a barrier just to get away. Meanwhile, Sam is trying to convince Harrich to just kill him, so Michael and Fiona won't get killed in the rescue attempt.
Michael receives another call from Harrich, he wants Michael and Fiona in one place in order to talk terms for Sam's safe return. Michael claims that he needs time to find Fiona. Michael then goes to Barry, the money launderer, to help him track down the second biggest heroin dealer.
"This is not a favor, I'm not asking. You're either my friend or my enemy" ~ Michael
Barry gives up the name, Carmello who hangs out in the VIP room of club Vidos. Barry gets a call on his cell phone, but it's for Michael. A female voice is on the line saying that she needs to talk to Michael. Michael hangs up, and Barry doesn't even want the phone back so he throws it away.
Michael, Fiona, and Nate are making explosives in Nate's kitchen. Madeline comes by with her cigarette and asks if she can help. Michael tells her that he's afraid for her life, and asks her to leave town with Nate. After an argument, Madeline agrees to go.
Fiona and Michael are at club Vidos, planting the explosives they made. Fiona leaves and Mike stumbles into the VIP room where Carmello is. Michael pulls a gun on Carmello, but his guards have Michael surrounded with guns of their own.
"Do you have a death wish?" ~ Carmello
Michael reveals the C4 explosives through out the club and also pulls out a dead man switch. If he's shot, the entire club will be leveled. Michael wants the name of the biggest heroin dealer, he'll give Carmello some time to think about it. Carmello asks who Michael is...
"I'm Michael Westen, and I used to be a spy" ~ Michael
Carmello calls Michael, and tells him the name and location of the biggest heroin dealer, and thus, where Sam is located. Carmello threatens Michael to never show his face again. Michael and Fiona stake out the location, and see that the multiple guards will be a problem. Michael calls Harrich to set up a meeting time to discuss terms for Sam's surrender, Michael will use this as a distraction to get as many guards off the boat as possible, thus making the rescue operation easier. To make sure Sam isn't killed early, Michael insists on hearing Sam's voice before the meeting.
Michael, Nate, and Madeline pack into the repaired charger. Michael tells his mother that he'll drive them around to the edge of Miami and lose any tails. Then he'll "borrow" another car so Nate can drive them to safety. Madeline reminisces of the first time Michael stole a car. Nate needed to go to the hospital and Michael's father was nowhere to be found. Madeline was angry, but proud of him. Before they leave, Madeline uses the safe phone Michael gave her to check her messages. By calling her tapped phone, the government agents were able to track her, thus Michael is instantly followed. Michael, out of options, stops the car and gets out with a gun and the tapped cell phone. Nate drives Madeline away. Michael talks into the phone and tells whoever is listening that if he doesn't get a call soon, he will kill himself. Michael puts the gun to his head. The government agents tailing Michael have stopped their car and pulled out their guns. Michael finally gets a call, it's the female voice. Michael asks for twelve hours to finish rescuing Sam, then he'll voluntarily come in. The female voice agrees, and the government agents almost instantly back off.
Fiona asks Michael why he will turn himself in voluntarily, why not just lie to the female? Michael tells her he's tired of running, and wants answers at any price. Michael and Fiona share one last kiss before heading off to rescue Sam. Michael and Fiona arrive at the boat where Sam is held. Fiona sets up on a roof top with a rifle, while Michael puts on scuba gear. Once the guards leave to have their "meeting" with Michael, Michael dives into the water and attaches a home made sticky bomb to the plank that connects the boat to the dock. Michael then uses a hook and rope to climb onto the boat when the guards aren't looking. He changes out of the scuba gear and heads down below to find Sam.
Harrich approaches Sam, ready to make the call to Michael so Sam can talk and therefore prove he's still alive. When Harrich makes the call, the hear the ringing of a phone inside the boat. Harrich opens the door of the hold to find Michael's cell phone on the ground, this is enough of a distraction so Michael can attack Harrich. After a lengthy exchange of blows, with Michael taking the worst of it, Michael is able to grab the spare gun out of Harrich's ankle, and shoot him in the gut. Michael tells him, depending on the type of bullet, he either has 30 minutes to get to a hospital, or he doesn't have a chance. Michael unties Sam and they climb to the top.
The guards on the boat heard the gun shot within the boat. When the begin to race towards the hold, Fiona uses the rifle to distract them and force them to duck. Michael and Sam come running out from within the boat. They run down the plank and across the dock. The guards try to give chase, but Fiona detonates the sticky bomb on the plank, thus giving Michael and Sam enough time to hop into Sam's Cadillac and drive off.
Sam thanks Michael for saving his life, but the beep of the On Star interrupts them. The voice specifically says Michael's name, and downloads directions. Michael tells Sam that this concerns his burn notice, and asks to borrow the Cadillac. Sam agrees, and gives Michael one last handshake. Sam is left on the side of the street as Michael drives off.
Michael arrives at the location specified by the On Star, it's the middle of a bridge with a semi-truck and ramp inviting Michael to drive up. Michael gets a call from the mysterious female.
"Michael, we're so looking forward to meeting you." ~ Female Voice
Michael drives into the semi-truck, looking for the truth.
Personal Commentary
Good lord, what a season finale. It's clear they wanted to go out with a bang.
I suppose I should try to cover just this episode first, but man there is a lot to go over.
First of all, we open with a much more paranoid Michael than we've ever seen, you can tell the assassination attempts have gotten to him. We also get yet another jab at yogurt, Michael must love that stuff. When Sam started that job on his own and used the phrase, "I'll see what I can do", it practically made me giddy.
The theme of the first hour of this episode instantly comes to light, it's trust. Michael and Cowan don't trust each other, Michael has to constantly ask for trust from his family but can never trust them in return. And Fiona has to ask Gillian to trust that the team would take care of her problems.
In fact, trust has been an issue for Michael for this entire season. He is a spy after all, it's practically his job to be paranoid and trust no one. It's been a struggle for him to let go with his friends, even a bigger one with his family. He trusted Nate in this episode, more than any other, and Nate came through. The "fur on his face" is gone, and maybe Nate can become a more reliable part of Michael's team.
I'm very happy Fiona confronted Michael over the risks he takes trying to find out more about his Burn Notice. Michael is truly proud of what he's done as a spy, so why can't he be happy with what he does in Miami?
That fireball, when Kent's car was blown up. It was beautiful. I will find or make a gif of that just so I can watch over and over again.
Finally, the meeting between Cowan and Michael. We learn that Cowan himself is just a small part in a very large plan. It's clear that whatever Michael is involved in, is a very long and intricate plan, and Michael's resistance is causing serious problems. I think one of the scariest thing in this episode was Cowan dying and Michael's bloody clothes and face. Think about it, considering how paranoid Cowan was, he still got killed.
The frantic call by Fiona was a great drama builder. For a woman that usually has such control, she was scared.
Another theme makes it mark, silent communication. Cowan's multiple messages to Michael were more direct, but Michael's little John 3:16 code was cute, Fiona's red fabric in the warehouse, and Sam's pose. All members of the team knew how to do it just right.
I'm glad Barry got into the finale, he's become an important tool in Michael's belt. However, Michael pushed him harder that he's ever had to. Along with this, the way Michael managed to get Carmello's help, and how he told Carmello his full name is proof of how desperate Michael had become. Especially with Sam's life on the line. Michael was leaving everything behind.
As this episode winded down, we had each character get a chance to say good-bye to Michael. Madeline got to reminisce about Michael's first stolen car, Fiona got a good bye kiss, and Sam got to give Michael one last handshake.
That final fight Michael had with Harrich was intense. That had to be the longest fight in Burn Notice history, and it looked like Michael took the worst of it.
And finally, the final explosion. Be sure to look at the multiple screenshots I took of it. Michael looks like a professional running, and Sam looks like a goofball. It's hilarious.
So, we leave Michael stuck in a semi-truck, unsure of his destiny....
---
Now, how about a look at this series as a whole. I want to congratulate the writers. Not only did each episode give us a fun capsule to enjoy, but they kept the Burn Notice over-arcing plot going. Most shows like to push it to the side, only occasionally throwing fans a bone. However, Burn Notice is different, they kept the plot moving. Each episode showed a different part of progress, it would be very difficult to shuffle these episodes in a different order without having discontinuity. On top of that they kept Michael's personality moving. As I mentioned, Michael was constantly learning to increase his trust of his friends, and even his family. I can honestly say that the Michael Westen we see at the end of the season is much different from when we first see him.
I also find it interesting what plot lines were dropped from the pilot to the rest of the season. For instance, Sam informing on Michael to the FBI was dropped within five episodes of Burn Notice. Fiona dropped her Irish accent, and Madeline's constant worrying about diseases was also dropped. In fact, Madeline was dropped from about 4 or 5 episodes all together. I think the writer's quickly found it easier to focus on the action and the main plot. However, Madeline was always needed, especially in this finale, to give Michael and anchor. He occasionally needed to have a reminder that there were people who cared about him, Madeline the most.
Anyway, I'm rambling. It was a kick ass season, and I can't wait till season two. (Seriously, I can't wait, how the hell am I supposed to sit around till next SUMMER!?)
Production Number: BN111
Director: Stephen Surjik
Writer: Matt Nix & Alfredo Barrios Jr.
Click the Picture to go to the Loose Ends Gallery
Full Summary
Personal Commentary
Writer's Blog
Quick Summary:
In an action packed two hour finale, Michael finally meets the man who burned him, only to watch him get assassinated right in front of him. Now Michael is on the run, trying to keep his family and friends safe.
Full Summary:
Nate drives Mike towards the warehouse district where Fiona is hiding. Michael tries to tell Nate to leave but Nate insists on helping. In the warehouse district, Michael sees a piece of red fabric outside a window, and knows Fiona is in the building. Michael uses Nate's truck to slam his way into the warehouse. Fiona runs towards Nate's truck, Michael tosses her a gun and she provides cover fire as Nate and Mike get out of the truck. Nate takes Fiona's place, keeping the henchmen at bay while Fiona and Michael prepare an explosive surprise. While Michael, Fiona, and Nate escape through a window, Nate's truck slowly backs up towards the henchmen with no driver. When the men approach the truck, they see the explosives in the bed and have to duck for cover.
Michael, Fiona, and Nate go to Nate's place which is actually a foreclosure. Nate leaves to pick up Madeline and keep her safe. Meanwhile, Sam is getting beat up and questioned in the hold of a ship. The heroin importer, Harrich, and his muscle-bound assistant try to figure out why Sam was taking pictures of Kent and Melissa. Sam first claims to be DEA, then CIA, FBI, and even a boy scout. The entire time, Sam tries to turn Harrich and his guard against each other. Harrich, who is an ex-Green Beret, tells Sam he won't be killed until they can find the girl (Fiona). The best lead they have is Sam's cell phone, and the numbers he called last.
Fiona comes back to Nate's "house" with an arsenal she had hidden under an overpass. Harrich (the heroin importer) calls Michael and asks about Sam. Michael claims to be a fellow heroin dealer who simply was checking out his competition. Michael tells Harrich that he wants Sam back, but won't pay for "damaged goods". Harrich sends Michael an email with a picture of Sam for proof of life. When Sam has his picture taken, he does a specific pose. Michael and Fiona break into Sam's storage place to look through photos till Michael finds a match. It's the same pose that Sam used when he was with a hostage rescue team that fell into a trap. Sam lost most of his team that day, it's his way of telling Michael that he won't be getting out of this alive.
Nate bring Madeline to the house, but not after spending hours losing the multiple government agents trying to trail him. Nate goes out again, this time to pick up some disposable cell phones. Michael wants to know more about those who are following him, so he makes a call to Dan, his handler, from a public phone. Within minutes a pair of government agents are staring at the public phone while Michael and Fiona watch from a distance. However, those agents are just a distraction, Michael and Fiona flee into an alley way only to be confronted by an armored car. Michael has to use another car as a barrier just to get away. Meanwhile, Sam is trying to convince Harrich to just kill him, so Michael and Fiona won't get killed in the rescue attempt.
Michael receives another call from Harrich, he wants Michael and Fiona in one place in order to talk terms for Sam's safe return. Michael claims that he needs time to find Fiona. Michael then goes to Barry, the money launderer, to help him track down the second biggest heroin dealer.
"This is not a favor, I'm not asking. You're either my friend or my enemy" ~ Michael
Barry gives up the name, Carmello who hangs out in the VIP room of club Vidos. Barry gets a call on his cell phone, but it's for Michael. A female voice is on the line saying that she needs to talk to Michael. Michael hangs up, and Barry doesn't even want the phone back so he throws it away.
Michael, Fiona, and Nate are making explosives in Nate's kitchen. Madeline comes by with her cigarette and asks if she can help. Michael tells her that he's afraid for her life, and asks her to leave town with Nate. After an argument, Madeline agrees to go.
Fiona and Michael are at club Vidos, planting the explosives they made. Fiona leaves and Mike stumbles into the VIP room where Carmello is. Michael pulls a gun on Carmello, but his guards have Michael surrounded with guns of their own.
"Do you have a death wish?" ~ Carmello
Michael reveals the C4 explosives through out the club and also pulls out a dead man switch. If he's shot, the entire club will be leveled. Michael wants the name of the biggest heroin dealer, he'll give Carmello some time to think about it. Carmello asks who Michael is...
"I'm Michael Westen, and I used to be a spy" ~ Michael
Carmello calls Michael, and tells him the name and location of the biggest heroin dealer, and thus, where Sam is located. Carmello threatens Michael to never show his face again. Michael and Fiona stake out the location, and see that the multiple guards will be a problem. Michael calls Harrich to set up a meeting time to discuss terms for Sam's surrender, Michael will use this as a distraction to get as many guards off the boat as possible, thus making the rescue operation easier. To make sure Sam isn't killed early, Michael insists on hearing Sam's voice before the meeting.
Michael, Nate, and Madeline pack into the repaired charger. Michael tells his mother that he'll drive them around to the edge of Miami and lose any tails. Then he'll "borrow" another car so Nate can drive them to safety. Madeline reminisces of the first time Michael stole a car. Nate needed to go to the hospital and Michael's father was nowhere to be found. Madeline was angry, but proud of him. Before they leave, Madeline uses the safe phone Michael gave her to check her messages. By calling her tapped phone, the government agents were able to track her, thus Michael is instantly followed. Michael, out of options, stops the car and gets out with a gun and the tapped cell phone. Nate drives Madeline away. Michael talks into the phone and tells whoever is listening that if he doesn't get a call soon, he will kill himself. Michael puts the gun to his head. The government agents tailing Michael have stopped their car and pulled out their guns. Michael finally gets a call, it's the female voice. Michael asks for twelve hours to finish rescuing Sam, then he'll voluntarily come in. The female voice agrees, and the government agents almost instantly back off.
Fiona asks Michael why he will turn himself in voluntarily, why not just lie to the female? Michael tells her he's tired of running, and wants answers at any price. Michael and Fiona share one last kiss before heading off to rescue Sam. Michael and Fiona arrive at the boat where Sam is held. Fiona sets up on a roof top with a rifle, while Michael puts on scuba gear. Once the guards leave to have their "meeting" with Michael, Michael dives into the water and attaches a home made sticky bomb to the plank that connects the boat to the dock. Michael then uses a hook and rope to climb onto the boat when the guards aren't looking. He changes out of the scuba gear and heads down below to find Sam.
Harrich approaches Sam, ready to make the call to Michael so Sam can talk and therefore prove he's still alive. When Harrich makes the call, the hear the ringing of a phone inside the boat. Harrich opens the door of the hold to find Michael's cell phone on the ground, this is enough of a distraction so Michael can attack Harrich. After a lengthy exchange of blows, with Michael taking the worst of it, Michael is able to grab the spare gun out of Harrich's ankle, and shoot him in the gut. Michael tells him, depending on the type of bullet, he either has 30 minutes to get to a hospital, or he doesn't have a chance. Michael unties Sam and they climb to the top.
The guards on the boat heard the gun shot within the boat. When the begin to race towards the hold, Fiona uses the rifle to distract them and force them to duck. Michael and Sam come running out from within the boat. They run down the plank and across the dock. The guards try to give chase, but Fiona detonates the sticky bomb on the plank, thus giving Michael and Sam enough time to hop into Sam's Cadillac and drive off.
Sam thanks Michael for saving his life, but the beep of the On Star interrupts them. The voice specifically says Michael's name, and downloads directions. Michael tells Sam that this concerns his burn notice, and asks to borrow the Cadillac. Sam agrees, and gives Michael one last handshake. Sam is left on the side of the street as Michael drives off.
Michael arrives at the location specified by the On Star, it's the middle of a bridge with a semi-truck and ramp inviting Michael to drive up. Michael gets a call from the mysterious female.
"Michael, we're so looking forward to meeting you." ~ Female Voice
Michael drives into the semi-truck, looking for the truth.
Personal Commentary
Good lord, what a season finale. It's clear they wanted to go out with a bang.
I suppose I should try to cover just this episode first, but man there is a lot to go over.
First of all, we open with a much more paranoid Michael than we've ever seen, you can tell the assassination attempts have gotten to him. We also get yet another jab at yogurt, Michael must love that stuff. When Sam started that job on his own and used the phrase, "I'll see what I can do", it practically made me giddy.
The theme of the first hour of this episode instantly comes to light, it's trust. Michael and Cowan don't trust each other, Michael has to constantly ask for trust from his family but can never trust them in return. And Fiona has to ask Gillian to trust that the team would take care of her problems.
In fact, trust has been an issue for Michael for this entire season. He is a spy after all, it's practically his job to be paranoid and trust no one. It's been a struggle for him to let go with his friends, even a bigger one with his family. He trusted Nate in this episode, more than any other, and Nate came through. The "fur on his face" is gone, and maybe Nate can become a more reliable part of Michael's team.
I'm very happy Fiona confronted Michael over the risks he takes trying to find out more about his Burn Notice. Michael is truly proud of what he's done as a spy, so why can't he be happy with what he does in Miami?
That fireball, when Kent's car was blown up. It was beautiful. I will find or make a gif of that just so I can watch over and over again.
Finally, the meeting between Cowan and Michael. We learn that Cowan himself is just a small part in a very large plan. It's clear that whatever Michael is involved in, is a very long and intricate plan, and Michael's resistance is causing serious problems. I think one of the scariest thing in this episode was Cowan dying and Michael's bloody clothes and face. Think about it, considering how paranoid Cowan was, he still got killed.
The frantic call by Fiona was a great drama builder. For a woman that usually has such control, she was scared.
Another theme makes it mark, silent communication. Cowan's multiple messages to Michael were more direct, but Michael's little John 3:16 code was cute, Fiona's red fabric in the warehouse, and Sam's pose. All members of the team knew how to do it just right.
I'm glad Barry got into the finale, he's become an important tool in Michael's belt. However, Michael pushed him harder that he's ever had to. Along with this, the way Michael managed to get Carmello's help, and how he told Carmello his full name is proof of how desperate Michael had become. Especially with Sam's life on the line. Michael was leaving everything behind.
As this episode winded down, we had each character get a chance to say good-bye to Michael. Madeline got to reminisce about Michael's first stolen car, Fiona got a good bye kiss, and Sam got to give Michael one last handshake.
That final fight Michael had with Harrich was intense. That had to be the longest fight in Burn Notice history, and it looked like Michael took the worst of it.
And finally, the final explosion. Be sure to look at the multiple screenshots I took of it. Michael looks like a professional running, and Sam looks like a goofball. It's hilarious.
So, we leave Michael stuck in a semi-truck, unsure of his destiny....
---
Now, how about a look at this series as a whole. I want to congratulate the writers. Not only did each episode give us a fun capsule to enjoy, but they kept the Burn Notice over-arcing plot going. Most shows like to push it to the side, only occasionally throwing fans a bone. However, Burn Notice is different, they kept the plot moving. Each episode showed a different part of progress, it would be very difficult to shuffle these episodes in a different order without having discontinuity. On top of that they kept Michael's personality moving. As I mentioned, Michael was constantly learning to increase his trust of his friends, and even his family. I can honestly say that the Michael Westen we see at the end of the season is much different from when we first see him.
I also find it interesting what plot lines were dropped from the pilot to the rest of the season. For instance, Sam informing on Michael to the FBI was dropped within five episodes of Burn Notice. Fiona dropped her Irish accent, and Madeline's constant worrying about diseases was also dropped. In fact, Madeline was dropped from about 4 or 5 episodes all together. I think the writer's quickly found it easier to focus on the action and the main plot. However, Madeline was always needed, especially in this finale, to give Michael and anchor. He occasionally needed to have a reminder that there were people who cared about him, Madeline the most.
Anyway, I'm rambling. It was a kick ass season, and I can't wait till season two. (Seriously, I can't wait, how the hell am I supposed to sit around till next SUMMER!?)
Nate Westen
Nate Westen (played by Seth Peterson) is Michael's gambling brother, who has a history of stealing and manipulating to be able to gamble just a bit more. What, did you think Michael would have a normal brother on this family tree?
Now that Nate knows Michael is back in town and has a job, he can't wait... to try to make money from it to pay back gambling debts. Although he has skills at reading the faces of others to predict what they'll do, he is also impulsive and poor at planning ahead.
Dead Drop
Episode 11: Dead Drop
Production Number: BN110
Director: Jeremiah Chechik
Writers: Craig O'Neill & Jason Tracey
Click the Picture to go to the Dead Drop Gallery
Full Summary
Personal Commentary
Writer's Blog (Warning: May contain spoilers for the season ending episode, Loose Ends)
Quick Summary:
In an action packed two hour finale, Michael finally meets the man who burned him, only to watch him get assassinated right in front of him. Now Michael is on the run, trying to keep his family and friends safe.
Full Summary
We open with Michael doing inclined sit ups on a board in his apartment. When the door opens Michael immediately pulls a gun out and aims, only to find Sam holding a bucket of fried chicken. Michael drops the gun and chides Sam for eating something so unhealthy. Michael goes to the fridge to eats some yogurt. Sam tells Michael that he has a potential job, but Michael is more focused on his Burn Notice. Michael gets a text message, telling him to go to the park at 1pm. Michael knows its from Phillip Cowan. Michael goes to meet with him, Sam and his bucket of fried chicken provide back up. When Michael gets there, he sees a good perch in a parking garage. He runs up to find a greeting card and a clipped article referencing a previous job Michael did as a spy. Michael looks down to the street to see Cowan. Cowan points out Sam, wags his finger at Michael, and drives away.
Michael tells Fiona that a face to face meeting with Cowan is far away because he doesn't trust Michael, and Michael doesn't trust him. Sam leave Michael to interpret Cowan's message so he can meet with his new client, Gillian. She works security for a company, and is being blackmailed by a friend's boyfriend. The friend, Melissa, asked Gillian to help get her and her boyfriend (Dave) into a secure building. There, Dave took pictures and is using those pictures of Gillian failing to do her job to blackmail her. Dave is forcing Gillian and Melissa to smuggle heroin from Turkey into the U.S.
"I'll see what I can do" ~ Sam
Melissa, Gillian's friend and the other client, doesn't want anything to do with Sam. Before they can talk more Melissa's abusive husband arrives home, Sam and Gillian are forced to leave quickly.
Michael rushes home, Madeline called him because she got a weird call. Someone simply called her, said Van Buren street and immediately hung up. Michael tries to reassure her that it's nothing, but when there is a rustle at the window Michael immediately pulls his mother to his side and pulls out his gun. However, it's just Nate, who lost his key. Madeline called both of them, and demands Michael tells her who this "friend" is. Michael dodges the question but gives Nate his gun and asks him to protect their mother.
Michael walks up and down Van Buren street, before noticing a man reading a travel guide for Madison, Wisconsin (Michael Westen). It is a "cut-out" Michael has used multiple times. Cowan invites Michael to meet him on Thursday, and provides another clipped article of Michael's activities.
Sam needs to bring Fiona in on the job as a wingman, but her fees are pretty steep. Sam tracks down the credit card charges of Melissa's boyfriend to a gay bar.
"I think the balls are in your court" ~ Fiona to Sam
Sam finds out that Dave's real name is Ray Wagoner, he's a pickpocket and a hustler. Sam and Fiona go to Ray's house. When Sam goes around to the side, Ray tries to attack him from behind, but Sam dodges and puts him down with one punch. Fiona and Sam tell Ray to stop blackmailing Melissa and Gillian, however he says he knows nothing of any blackmail or heroin, he simply says that Melissa took him to some building to take pictures. Sam and Fiona figure out that Melissa has been double-blackmailing Gillian to make her do her bidding. Fiona had a "hunch".
Sam swings by Michael's apartment where he's finished work on the charger. Sam brought Gillian to try to guilt him into taking on the job. Michael grudgingly agrees. Mike poses as an ex-Green Beret and meets up with Kent trying to encourage him to expand his business. Kent is immediately suspicious and tells Michael to go away. Meanwhile, Sam and Fiona switch out Kent's cell phone with a bugged one, and switch the memory cards so no one can tell the difference.
While Michael is listening to the bugged cell phone, Madeline busts into Michael's apartment after she found that Mike had given Nate a gun. Madeline finally demands the truth and asks Michael to finally trust his family.
"Trust is something you work on" ~ Madeline
Madeline finally tells Michael that he was the one that left the family. This cuts Michael deeply, he then asks Madeline and Nate to trust him, and has to leave to meet with Kent. Sam provides back up during the meeting with a rifle, however, Kent and Michael move behind a mound of gravel. Kent pulls a gun on Michael, but Michael is able to break the gun out of his hands and make a get away, though not before Kent shoots the windshield of the Charger.
Listening in to the bugged cell phone, Michael confirms that Kent is now planning to kill Gillian in order to cover his tracks. Michael wants to use the next shipment of heroin to catch Kent and Melissa in the act. Melissa is uneasy at first, but Fiona assure her.
"You need to trust us" ~ Fiona
Sam will watch Gillian's car and the pick up of heroin, however, the area he's in has a cell phone blocker, so he gets no signal. Meanwhile, Fiona is listening in to the bug in Kent's phone and Michael is waiting to meet with Phillip Cowan. Fiona hears that Kent has planted a bomb in Gillian's phone, but she can't call Sam due to the blocked phone signal. So she calls Michael, and he's forced to leave. Before he does, he leaves a message for Cowan, "John 3:16". Kent and Melissa show up in a white van, Melissa loads up the heroin and Kent drives the van to the side of the parking lot so they can watch Gillian's car blow up. Michael and Fiona show up and fill Sam in on the situation. Sam and Fiona distract the guard, while Michael uses Sam's floor mat to get over the barbed wire fence of the parking lot. Michael goes under Gillian's car while she's walking out to the parking lot. He's able to disconnect the C4 just before she starts the ignition, thus saving her life.
Michael, Fiona, and Sam meet up with Gillian to show her she almost died. They suggest that she takes a vacation while they sort this out. Michael's plan is still to frame Kent and Melissa with the heroin. Michael is once again about to leave to meet with Cowan, however, Fiona stops him. She asks why Michael is so determined to go back into a business that caused him so much trouble. Michael wants to clear his name, and he wants to be proud of all the good work he's already done. However, Fiona points out that Michael is doing good right here in Miami.
Sam and Fiona position themselves to monitor the deal that Kent and Melissa are about to make. Sam is in a car with a telephoto camera and Fiona is using a long distance listening device on a bridge. However, Kent & Melissa's buyer doesn't show up. When they get back into the car a missile blows them up. Sam is immediately surrounded by men with machine guns and taken away. More men chase Fiona, but she's able to jump off the bridge into the water.
Meanwhile, Michael is outside St. John's church at 3:16, Cowan calls on the pay phone telling him that he has to meet him at the parking garage over a mile away in 10 minutes. Michael has no choice but to run it. Michael barely makes it. When Cowan finally shows up, he has Michael lift his jacket to prove that Michael doesn't have a gun. Michael asks why Cowan burned him.
"You think this is about me" ~ Cowan.
Cowan admits to trying to have Michael killed.
"The people I work for have plans for you" ~ Cowan
"You're making everyone nervous" ~ Cowan
These are the last words Phillip Cowan says, he is shot, by an unseen sniper. Blood is sprayed on Michael's shirt and face. Cop sirens can be immediately heard in the distance. Michael calls Nate and tells him to bring his truck and come pick him up. While driving away in Nate's truck, Michael gets a frantic call from Fiona. He finds out that Sam has been captured and Fiona is still running away from men with guns. Fiona can't finish talking before more men come and she has to run.
.... to be continued, in Episode 12: Loose Ends.
Personal Commentary:
Because this is a two part episode, the Personal Commentary is done for the whole thing. Go to Episode 12: Loose Ends to find the personal commentary
Production Number: BN110
Director: Jeremiah Chechik
Writers: Craig O'Neill & Jason Tracey
Click the Picture to go to the Dead Drop Gallery
Full Summary
Personal Commentary
Writer's Blog (Warning: May contain spoilers for the season ending episode, Loose Ends)
Quick Summary:
In an action packed two hour finale, Michael finally meets the man who burned him, only to watch him get assassinated right in front of him. Now Michael is on the run, trying to keep his family and friends safe.
Full Summary
We open with Michael doing inclined sit ups on a board in his apartment. When the door opens Michael immediately pulls a gun out and aims, only to find Sam holding a bucket of fried chicken. Michael drops the gun and chides Sam for eating something so unhealthy. Michael goes to the fridge to eats some yogurt. Sam tells Michael that he has a potential job, but Michael is more focused on his Burn Notice. Michael gets a text message, telling him to go to the park at 1pm. Michael knows its from Phillip Cowan. Michael goes to meet with him, Sam and his bucket of fried chicken provide back up. When Michael gets there, he sees a good perch in a parking garage. He runs up to find a greeting card and a clipped article referencing a previous job Michael did as a spy. Michael looks down to the street to see Cowan. Cowan points out Sam, wags his finger at Michael, and drives away.
Michael tells Fiona that a face to face meeting with Cowan is far away because he doesn't trust Michael, and Michael doesn't trust him. Sam leave Michael to interpret Cowan's message so he can meet with his new client, Gillian. She works security for a company, and is being blackmailed by a friend's boyfriend. The friend, Melissa, asked Gillian to help get her and her boyfriend (Dave) into a secure building. There, Dave took pictures and is using those pictures of Gillian failing to do her job to blackmail her. Dave is forcing Gillian and Melissa to smuggle heroin from Turkey into the U.S.
"I'll see what I can do" ~ Sam
Melissa, Gillian's friend and the other client, doesn't want anything to do with Sam. Before they can talk more Melissa's abusive husband arrives home, Sam and Gillian are forced to leave quickly.
Michael rushes home, Madeline called him because she got a weird call. Someone simply called her, said Van Buren street and immediately hung up. Michael tries to reassure her that it's nothing, but when there is a rustle at the window Michael immediately pulls his mother to his side and pulls out his gun. However, it's just Nate, who lost his key. Madeline called both of them, and demands Michael tells her who this "friend" is. Michael dodges the question but gives Nate his gun and asks him to protect their mother.
Michael walks up and down Van Buren street, before noticing a man reading a travel guide for Madison, Wisconsin (Michael Westen). It is a "cut-out" Michael has used multiple times. Cowan invites Michael to meet him on Thursday, and provides another clipped article of Michael's activities.
Sam needs to bring Fiona in on the job as a wingman, but her fees are pretty steep. Sam tracks down the credit card charges of Melissa's boyfriend to a gay bar.
"I think the balls are in your court" ~ Fiona to Sam
Sam finds out that Dave's real name is Ray Wagoner, he's a pickpocket and a hustler. Sam and Fiona go to Ray's house. When Sam goes around to the side, Ray tries to attack him from behind, but Sam dodges and puts him down with one punch. Fiona and Sam tell Ray to stop blackmailing Melissa and Gillian, however he says he knows nothing of any blackmail or heroin, he simply says that Melissa took him to some building to take pictures. Sam and Fiona figure out that Melissa has been double-blackmailing Gillian to make her do her bidding. Fiona had a "hunch".
Sam swings by Michael's apartment where he's finished work on the charger. Sam brought Gillian to try to guilt him into taking on the job. Michael grudgingly agrees. Mike poses as an ex-Green Beret and meets up with Kent trying to encourage him to expand his business. Kent is immediately suspicious and tells Michael to go away. Meanwhile, Sam and Fiona switch out Kent's cell phone with a bugged one, and switch the memory cards so no one can tell the difference.
While Michael is listening to the bugged cell phone, Madeline busts into Michael's apartment after she found that Mike had given Nate a gun. Madeline finally demands the truth and asks Michael to finally trust his family.
"Trust is something you work on" ~ Madeline
Madeline finally tells Michael that he was the one that left the family. This cuts Michael deeply, he then asks Madeline and Nate to trust him, and has to leave to meet with Kent. Sam provides back up during the meeting with a rifle, however, Kent and Michael move behind a mound of gravel. Kent pulls a gun on Michael, but Michael is able to break the gun out of his hands and make a get away, though not before Kent shoots the windshield of the Charger.
Listening in to the bugged cell phone, Michael confirms that Kent is now planning to kill Gillian in order to cover his tracks. Michael wants to use the next shipment of heroin to catch Kent and Melissa in the act. Melissa is uneasy at first, but Fiona assure her.
"You need to trust us" ~ Fiona
Sam will watch Gillian's car and the pick up of heroin, however, the area he's in has a cell phone blocker, so he gets no signal. Meanwhile, Fiona is listening in to the bug in Kent's phone and Michael is waiting to meet with Phillip Cowan. Fiona hears that Kent has planted a bomb in Gillian's phone, but she can't call Sam due to the blocked phone signal. So she calls Michael, and he's forced to leave. Before he does, he leaves a message for Cowan, "John 3:16". Kent and Melissa show up in a white van, Melissa loads up the heroin and Kent drives the van to the side of the parking lot so they can watch Gillian's car blow up. Michael and Fiona show up and fill Sam in on the situation. Sam and Fiona distract the guard, while Michael uses Sam's floor mat to get over the barbed wire fence of the parking lot. Michael goes under Gillian's car while she's walking out to the parking lot. He's able to disconnect the C4 just before she starts the ignition, thus saving her life.
Michael, Fiona, and Sam meet up with Gillian to show her she almost died. They suggest that she takes a vacation while they sort this out. Michael's plan is still to frame Kent and Melissa with the heroin. Michael is once again about to leave to meet with Cowan, however, Fiona stops him. She asks why Michael is so determined to go back into a business that caused him so much trouble. Michael wants to clear his name, and he wants to be proud of all the good work he's already done. However, Fiona points out that Michael is doing good right here in Miami.
Sam and Fiona position themselves to monitor the deal that Kent and Melissa are about to make. Sam is in a car with a telephoto camera and Fiona is using a long distance listening device on a bridge. However, Kent & Melissa's buyer doesn't show up. When they get back into the car a missile blows them up. Sam is immediately surrounded by men with machine guns and taken away. More men chase Fiona, but she's able to jump off the bridge into the water.
Meanwhile, Michael is outside St. John's church at 3:16, Cowan calls on the pay phone telling him that he has to meet him at the parking garage over a mile away in 10 minutes. Michael has no choice but to run it. Michael barely makes it. When Cowan finally shows up, he has Michael lift his jacket to prove that Michael doesn't have a gun. Michael asks why Cowan burned him.
"You think this is about me" ~ Cowan.
Cowan admits to trying to have Michael killed.
"The people I work for have plans for you" ~ Cowan
"You're making everyone nervous" ~ Cowan
These are the last words Phillip Cowan says, he is shot, by an unseen sniper. Blood is sprayed on Michael's shirt and face. Cop sirens can be immediately heard in the distance. Michael calls Nate and tells him to bring his truck and come pick him up. While driving away in Nate's truck, Michael gets a frantic call from Fiona. He finds out that Sam has been captured and Fiona is still running away from men with guns. Fiona can't finish talking before more men come and she has to run.
.... to be continued, in Episode 12: Loose Ends.
Personal Commentary:
Because this is a two part episode, the Personal Commentary is done for the whole thing. Go to Episode 12: Loose Ends to find the personal commentary
Mr. Westen
Michael's father died 8 year ago, thus he's only known through anecdotes from Michael and Madeline.
According to Madeline, Michael and his father are a lot a like, however, Michael would often agitate his father.
According to Michael, his father was abusive, and simply hated him. Michael also says that he had a tendency to not finish his work, and leave his son to complete the project.
His gravestone says he was a beloved father, a description that Michael disagrees with.
According to Madeline, Michael and his father are a lot a like, however, Michael would often agitate his father.
According to Michael, his father was abusive, and simply hated him. Michael also says that he had a tendency to not finish his work, and leave his son to complete the project.
His gravestone says he was a beloved father, a description that Michael disagrees with.
Hard Bargain
Episode 9: Hard Bargain
Production Number: BN108
Director: John Kretchmer
Writer: Alfredo Barrios, Jr.
Click the Picture to go to the Hard Bargain Gallery
Full Summary
Personal Commentary
Writer's Blog
Quick Summary:
Fiona's birthday is coming up, and she tries to get Michael to tell her what her birthday present will be. Michael was supposed to meet a bureaucrat from the CSS named Perry Clark, however, Michael wants to be careful. So he calls the police on Perry, just to watch to see how he reacts. Perry reacts just like a bureaucrat would, maybe he can be trusted...
Full Summary:
Sam needs a favor, now! Nick Lam is a "dude with a problem". He's a house sitter for uxorious mansions, and he's been known to lie about whether or not he owns those mansions. His fiancee, Dawn, who also believes he's rich was kidnapped. They're asking for 5 million dollars, 5 million he doesn't have. They are calling Nick in one hour.
Michael helps Nick through the call, gets Nick to demand to see a video of Don alive & well, in two hours. Nick needs to make the pick up in a public mall. Fiona suggests gifts that Michael should buy her as they walk around waiting for Nick to get the call. When Nick finally gets the call and picks up the video, he makes a great mistake and looks towards Michael. Lucio Velasquez, the man sent to keep an eye on Nick, sees Michael and gives chase. Michael runs away, and Fiona gives a distraction by showing Lucio her gun. Lucio, realizing he's outnumbered, tries to run himself. Lucio tries to call the kidnapping boss and tell him to kill Dawn, but Michael tackles him in time. After a struggle, Lucio pulls a gun on Michael, but Fiona makes the save with a tazer.
Nick is nervous after viewing the video, and Lucio is tied up with Fiona using her tazer to soften him up. Michael takes a photograph of Lucio with Sam hugging and smiling, thus making it look like Lucio betrayed his boss. Michael also plans to print up a false confession and use Sam's FBI buddies to make it look like Lucio is about to testify against his boss. They will use all of this to force Lucio to help them find Dawn. Reyes, the head kidnapper, has kept everyone in the dark though. Lucio just finds the targets, he doesn't know where the kidnapped are kept. Lucio tells them that he's already late on reporting in. So Fiona gives him a broken foot as an excuse.
In order to use Lucio to find Dawn, Michael will need to make an appealing target for Reyes. So he sets up Lucio with a new target. Fiona will play a rich, spoiled wife and Sam will play the disgruntled bodyguard. In order to stall Reyes longer till Sam can find where the hostages are kept, Michael, as Andrew Chambers, will act as a hostage negotiator for Nick.
When Andrew Chambers (Michael) first calls Reyes, he gets a sniper rifle pointed towards him just incase Michael is a cop. However, Michael points out that cops don't wear the fine clothing he does, so Reyes let's him into his car. Michael is stripped just incase he's wearing a wire, however, he also gets a massage while negotiating. A nice perk. Michael negotiates the price down to 3 million, and gets a 48 hour delay.
Meanwhile, Sam gets a small GPS device secret put in his shoe, and then goes to Reyes as the disgruntled bodyguard and demands to see where the hostages are kept. After some pushing, Sam gets his wish. Michael now knows where Dawn is. However, Reyes has gotten impatient, and demands the money from Nick and Michael in 2 hours or Dawn dies.
Michael prepares Thermite and make shift flash grenades so Sam and Fiona can rescue Dawn. Fiona blows the door off the warehouse where Dawn is kept, and Sam throws in a flash grenade. Fiona & Sam are able to save Dawn and take out the two guards without firing a shot.
Michael as Andrew the hostage negotiator stalls with Reyes by saying the family can't withdraw that much money at once. Once Michael gets the call that Dawn is okay, Michael tells Reyes that the family won't pay. Reyes yells at Michael and tells him to get out. Michael escapes before Reyes can figure out that he lost his hostage. When Reyes arrives at the warehouse, he finds his guards tied up, and police arrive just in time to arrest him.
Dawn finally gets to see Nick, however, now that she knows he was lying about being wealthy, Dawn simply slaps him and walks away.
Perry, the bureaucrat, finally gets to meet with Michael in Michael's apartment. Michael turns his back to make some coffee, and Perry pulls out a wire to try to choke Michael from behind. Michael is able to get his fist between the wire and his neck. After a struggle, Michael and Perry are on the floor. With his last ounce of strength, Michael punches through a cabinet to grab a hidden gun, and shoots Perry square in the stomach. Perry runs away and Michael is left gasping for air on the floor.
After Sam does some research, he finds that Perry was found dead in an alleyway by police, with no identification on him. Michael & Sam theorize that someone was impersonating the real bureaucrat Perry Clark to try to get close enough to Michael to kill him. Fiona is helping Michael repair the cabinet when Michael pulls out Fiona's birthday gift. A special gun that she had seen at Nick's house. Fiona is pleased.
Personal Commentary:
I loved this episode, heavier on the comedy than any episode before, thanks to Nick and his surfer ways. It definitely made any scene with Nick more enjoyable. Michael's Burn Notice took a bit of a back seat in this episode, it was mainly only covered at the begining and the end of the episode. We also, once again, got zero interaction from Madeline Westen. She's probably so worried about her son who never calls. We've got a new reccuring joke too, what does Sam Axe do to those women, and do we really want to know.
This episode marks the first time we've seen Michael be directly responsible for someone's death. For some, it couldn't come soon enough. After all, he's supposed to be a major security risk. For me, it shows that Michael has actually lost a step. He got sloppy, careless, I thought he'd at least have Fiona or Sam hiding somewhere as back up.
This episode also might mark a big change in the overall burn notice plot. Has the man who burned Michael gotten fed up with his plan, is he ready to kill Michael? Or is there someone else at work, someone who's opposed to the plans for Michael?
Production Number: BN108
Director: John Kretchmer
Writer: Alfredo Barrios, Jr.
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Full Summary
Personal Commentary
Writer's Blog
Quick Summary:
Fiona's birthday is coming up, and she tries to get Michael to tell her what her birthday present will be. Michael was supposed to meet a bureaucrat from the CSS named Perry Clark, however, Michael wants to be careful. So he calls the police on Perry, just to watch to see how he reacts. Perry reacts just like a bureaucrat would, maybe he can be trusted...
Full Summary:
Sam needs a favor, now! Nick Lam is a "dude with a problem". He's a house sitter for uxorious mansions, and he's been known to lie about whether or not he owns those mansions. His fiancee, Dawn, who also believes he's rich was kidnapped. They're asking for 5 million dollars, 5 million he doesn't have. They are calling Nick in one hour.
Michael helps Nick through the call, gets Nick to demand to see a video of Don alive & well, in two hours. Nick needs to make the pick up in a public mall. Fiona suggests gifts that Michael should buy her as they walk around waiting for Nick to get the call. When Nick finally gets the call and picks up the video, he makes a great mistake and looks towards Michael. Lucio Velasquez, the man sent to keep an eye on Nick, sees Michael and gives chase. Michael runs away, and Fiona gives a distraction by showing Lucio her gun. Lucio, realizing he's outnumbered, tries to run himself. Lucio tries to call the kidnapping boss and tell him to kill Dawn, but Michael tackles him in time. After a struggle, Lucio pulls a gun on Michael, but Fiona makes the save with a tazer.
Nick is nervous after viewing the video, and Lucio is tied up with Fiona using her tazer to soften him up. Michael takes a photograph of Lucio with Sam hugging and smiling, thus making it look like Lucio betrayed his boss. Michael also plans to print up a false confession and use Sam's FBI buddies to make it look like Lucio is about to testify against his boss. They will use all of this to force Lucio to help them find Dawn. Reyes, the head kidnapper, has kept everyone in the dark though. Lucio just finds the targets, he doesn't know where the kidnapped are kept. Lucio tells them that he's already late on reporting in. So Fiona gives him a broken foot as an excuse.
In order to use Lucio to find Dawn, Michael will need to make an appealing target for Reyes. So he sets up Lucio with a new target. Fiona will play a rich, spoiled wife and Sam will play the disgruntled bodyguard. In order to stall Reyes longer till Sam can find where the hostages are kept, Michael, as Andrew Chambers, will act as a hostage negotiator for Nick.
When Andrew Chambers (Michael) first calls Reyes, he gets a sniper rifle pointed towards him just incase Michael is a cop. However, Michael points out that cops don't wear the fine clothing he does, so Reyes let's him into his car. Michael is stripped just incase he's wearing a wire, however, he also gets a massage while negotiating. A nice perk. Michael negotiates the price down to 3 million, and gets a 48 hour delay.
Meanwhile, Sam gets a small GPS device secret put in his shoe, and then goes to Reyes as the disgruntled bodyguard and demands to see where the hostages are kept. After some pushing, Sam gets his wish. Michael now knows where Dawn is. However, Reyes has gotten impatient, and demands the money from Nick and Michael in 2 hours or Dawn dies.
Michael prepares Thermite and make shift flash grenades so Sam and Fiona can rescue Dawn. Fiona blows the door off the warehouse where Dawn is kept, and Sam throws in a flash grenade. Fiona & Sam are able to save Dawn and take out the two guards without firing a shot.
Michael as Andrew the hostage negotiator stalls with Reyes by saying the family can't withdraw that much money at once. Once Michael gets the call that Dawn is okay, Michael tells Reyes that the family won't pay. Reyes yells at Michael and tells him to get out. Michael escapes before Reyes can figure out that he lost his hostage. When Reyes arrives at the warehouse, he finds his guards tied up, and police arrive just in time to arrest him.
Dawn finally gets to see Nick, however, now that she knows he was lying about being wealthy, Dawn simply slaps him and walks away.
Perry, the bureaucrat, finally gets to meet with Michael in Michael's apartment. Michael turns his back to make some coffee, and Perry pulls out a wire to try to choke Michael from behind. Michael is able to get his fist between the wire and his neck. After a struggle, Michael and Perry are on the floor. With his last ounce of strength, Michael punches through a cabinet to grab a hidden gun, and shoots Perry square in the stomach. Perry runs away and Michael is left gasping for air on the floor.
After Sam does some research, he finds that Perry was found dead in an alleyway by police, with no identification on him. Michael & Sam theorize that someone was impersonating the real bureaucrat Perry Clark to try to get close enough to Michael to kill him. Fiona is helping Michael repair the cabinet when Michael pulls out Fiona's birthday gift. A special gun that she had seen at Nick's house. Fiona is pleased.
Personal Commentary:
I loved this episode, heavier on the comedy than any episode before, thanks to Nick and his surfer ways. It definitely made any scene with Nick more enjoyable. Michael's Burn Notice took a bit of a back seat in this episode, it was mainly only covered at the begining and the end of the episode. We also, once again, got zero interaction from Madeline Westen. She's probably so worried about her son who never calls. We've got a new reccuring joke too, what does Sam Axe do to those women, and do we really want to know.
This episode marks the first time we've seen Michael be directly responsible for someone's death. For some, it couldn't come soon enough. After all, he's supposed to be a major security risk. For me, it shows that Michael has actually lost a step. He got sloppy, careless, I thought he'd at least have Fiona or Sam hiding somewhere as back up.
This episode also might mark a big change in the overall burn notice plot. Has the man who burned Michael gotten fed up with his plan, is he ready to kill Michael? Or is there someone else at work, someone who's opposed to the plans for Michael?
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