“I want you people out of my life!” yelled Jeffrey Donovan’s Michael in last night’s season finale of Burn Notice. Isn’t that what he’s been saying pretty much all season? In previous episodes, it was sometimes tempting to think he was saying the same thing to the show’s writers. But last night, all was redeemed, as far as I was concerned. If you don’t want to know the finale details yet, consider this your SPOILER WARNING and scram now.
In an earlier post I’d complained about how the Carla/Victor stuff was getting in the way of Burn Notice’s momentum — snipping the satisfying snap of Michael’s voiceovers, as he described tricks of the spy trade while we watch him craft weapons or execute bone-snapping punches and kicks. But last night, everything clicked into place. In an hour written by creator Matt Nix and directed by Tim Matheson (yes, the actor who must be weary of being credited as Animal House’s Otter, and a darn good TV director), Michael united with his nemesis Victor (Michael Shanks) against his handler-against-his-will Carla (Tricia Helfer). We got some backstory — Carla killed Victor’s family, which is why he hates Carla — but most of the time, we got the action we craved.
Not only did Michael do a lot of shooting, car-crashing, and fighting, but Bruce Campbell’s Sam, tasked with guarding Sharon Gless’ Madeline, also dropped the jokes and did their own share of shooting and blowing things up. We were told by Michael how to make a “pepper [spray] grenade” and that one of the best ways to shoot at a car you’re chasing is to aim the bullets at the under-carriage, so the bullets come up through the enemy’s floorboards. This is the kind of stuff we Burn fans eat up, isn’t it?
And how sweet the moment was when Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar) shot Carla; Fi’s muttered, “Finally!” was echoed among TV-watchers all across America. More jolting was Michael’s mercy-killing of Victor. The final scene, with Michael meeting with John Mahoney as “Management,” sets up a great next season, I think. Bravo.
So what did you think of the finale? Satisfied? Not?
In an earlier post I’d complained about how the Carla/Victor stuff was getting in the way of Burn Notice’s momentum — snipping the satisfying snap of Michael’s voiceovers, as he described tricks of the spy trade while we watch him craft weapons or execute bone-snapping punches and kicks. But last night, everything clicked into place. In an hour written by creator Matt Nix and directed by Tim Matheson (yes, the actor who must be weary of being credited as Animal House’s Otter, and a darn good TV director), Michael united with his nemesis Victor (Michael Shanks) against his handler-against-his-will Carla (Tricia Helfer). We got some backstory — Carla killed Victor’s family, which is why he hates Carla — but most of the time, we got the action we craved.
Not only did Michael do a lot of shooting, car-crashing, and fighting, but Bruce Campbell’s Sam, tasked with guarding Sharon Gless’ Madeline, also dropped the jokes and did their own share of shooting and blowing things up. We were told by Michael how to make a "pepper [spray] grenade" and that one of the best ways to shoot at a car you’re chasing is to aim the bullets at the under-carriage, so the bullets come up through the enemy’s floorboards. This is the kind of stuff we Burn fans eat up, isn’t it?
And how sweet the moment was when Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar) shot Carla; Fi’s muttered, "Finally!" was echoed among TV-watchers all across America. More jolting was Michael’s mercy-killing of Victor. The final scene, with Michael meeting with John Mahoney as "Management," sets up a great next season, I think. Bravo.
So what did you think of the finale? Satisfied? Not?
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The Burn Notice finale was awesome! Loved every second of it.
there are few memorable season finales in television history (season 2 finale of “buffy” is one of them, for example), but i think tonight’s “burn notice” may join the ranks. that was just an excellent hour of tv. and i so did not see fiona shooting carla, but hot damn! that was good. i’m bummed about victor – was actually beginning to like him as a possible addition to mike’s team. can’t wait for next season!
it was great best Ive seen in a while. And you don’t have long to wait for the next season.
WAAAAAAAAAAA I want Victor back!!! Totally unfair. Michael Shanks needs the work!!! WAAAAAAAAAAAAA
I loved it! The kiss and the slap and Michael’s reaction to both were the best summation of the Michael-Fi relationship saga anyone could want. Can’t wait for next season.
Great eps and got to say wish we could have seen Victor in more episodes Michael Shanks did a great job on the show. Love Bruce Campbell and Jeffrey Donovan in fact the whole cast of Burn Notice do a great job brining the show to life week after week. Now wait til June when the show is back.
Loved it! Can’t wait till June!
A most excellent finale – seat grabbing stuff! Writing was tight, performances from all were excellent. My only disappointment… as much as it was a great moment, it means no more Victor! I so so *so* wanted Victor to live. :: sniff ::
The episode was so fast-paced Sharon Gless didn’t have time to take even a tiny drag on a Marlboro.
Now that Frazier’s dad has been revealed as the bad guy in charge, when can we expect the “Very Special Episode” featuring Kelsey Grammar and David Hyde Pierce?
I’m getting more and more impressed with the cast. All of the main actors were equally adept at carrying emotional heft and being playful. I feel bad for Tricia Helfer. She seems like she has the potential to be a good actress, but she was saddled with crappy dialogue no actress could pull off. I hated being so relieved that her character was killed off.
Damn that was good! I loved it and can’t wait until June!!
That season finale was AWESOME! I have nothing but praise for everyone involved with this show. It’s nice not to have to go to the movie theaters to watch some awesome action. Great job to the cast and crew and I can NOT wait until June!
Great show and absolutely fantastic finale! Can’t wait for next season.
I dont think there is a bad thing you can say about the finale…AWESOME!!!
Also: Loved that John Mahoney was in there. I’ve been looking forward to seeing him since Ausiello mentioned he had been cast.
And can we PLEASE get a recapper for next season’s Burn Notice. And Psych and Chuck and Big Love…
I would definitely do it if you don’t mind someone who didn’t graduate with a BA in journalism or creative writing. I may be just a graphic designer but I love TV and would gladly write up a recap if it meant these shows got one.
burn notice and 24 are the only shows on TV that are worth a filp
does anyone know the song in the very end?i surrender….etc?please!love the show, need the song
Wow! Great show,could have been two hours long, but will settle for one.Can’t believe that mike would leave his trade-mark,rosemary sunglasses in the chopper? Now what is he going to do? Well done guy’s….great show!
That was one of the best hour of TV in a long while. Congrats to the cast and crew of Burn Notice on one hell of finale. I too was wishing Victor could have stuck around. Jeffrey Donovan acted the hell out of the part of mourning the passing of Victor.
That was one of the best hour of TV in a long while. Congrats to the cast and crew of Burn Notice on one hell of finale. I too was wishing Victor could have stuck around. Jeffrey Donovan acted the hell out of the part of mourning the passing of Victor.
Love, love, loved this episode. Refreshing to see Sam in action. Will miss Victor. Love Fi shooting Carla. Love this show. One big wish: a change in Sharon Gless’ one-note character: drop the cigs and the whining and give her something to do/say once in a while. Please.
FINALLY! A season that ends with a deep wantinting to see the next season! What a great show that is so precise in it’s enticement of our emotional and underlying “bad guy/girl” want’s of weaponary destruction of the bad people in this world while happening upon the intermittent individuals that are in need of special help. I am a true fan now and I am sooooo happy that ‘Fi’ got to kill Carla! How great an ending and how great a beginning for June. I can’t wait!
Hey Kait! Try Celine Dion- I surrender
I was concerned about Burn Notice there for a while because the introductions to each episodic plot were rather wishy-washy, but now they are adding in new plot lines that seem to be remedying it and I hope they continue with the trend they are on, for the show just keeps getting better and better. A lot of unexpected things in the season finale leads me to give it an A!
we’ll all be watching when the new season begins to see who picks Michael out of the sea.
Michael Shanks is really a wonderful actor, equally good with comedy and intensely emotional scenes. I found the final scene on the boat so moving that I barely managed the rest of the show. He and Jeffrey Donovan worked beautifully together. Remarkable work.
The suits at the USA Network need to read these posts, get a clue, and give Michael Shanks his own show as soon as possible. I don’t care what it’s about, I trust them to make it incredibly amazing.
This Season Finale has to go down as one of the best EVER on television. Could this cast be any more stellar? Each and every one of them pulls his or her weight in gold. The character development has never rung false to me and that is a very hard thing to pull off. I seriously love this show!
Does anybody know the exact date the Summer Season will start? I need to write it down in my calendar!
Does anyone know the artist of the song at the end, it was such a perfect closer. However I am going bonkers trying to discover the artist.
The Song at the end was ‘Time Bomb’ by Jessy Greene.
http://www.jessygreene.com/
Add Carla to the list of characters I’m glad are gone from their respective shows: Officer Tritter (House), Vogler (House again), and now Carla. Talk about a royal bee sting pain in the..umm. elbow. Glad that Fi did it, too — probably gave her a boom of satisfaction. It’ll be interesting to see who comes out of the woodwork to come after Michael next season. We’ll get to learn a little more about his past — and I don’t think for a minute that John Mahoney et al. are just going to walk away from him either.