Burn Notice came back with a fine third-season opener written by creator Matt Nix entitled “Family and Friends.” When a TV series gets back to its basics, when the people working on it say to themselves, in effect, “Hey, you know that stuff we did the first season? That worked, and we’ve gotten away from that” — that’s when you get some satisfying TV. Burn Notice did exactly that. There was a lot of BN trademark stuff: Jeffrey Donovan’s Michael Weston making disguises and weapons out of ordinary stuff at hand (love that briefcase tricked out with a knife); Michael goofing around with Fiona and Sam while obsessively scarfing down yogurt, Michael throwing a lot of elbows and bashing bad guys in well-choreographed fight scenes. (Tim Matheson, whom BN fans remember as playing Larry, directed this episode.) Call me a simple man, but I’ll take that over the fancy shimmying on So You Think You Can Dance or new crap like The Listener any day.
At first, it seemed as though Michael Weston was back at square one: “You’re as burned as ever,” as Sam put it. Yes, he’d rid himself of the “Management” group that had been bedevilling him last season (and which became too intrusive and action-slowing, for my taste). But he’s still taking on clients; he’s still being betrayed regularly. (I was glad that guy Harlan doesn’t look as though he’ll become a regular; I like that actor, Brian Van Holt, but I want my core characters. As Michael’s mom said, “You three need to stick together.”)
It was a little odd that the episode’s main villain, the big bad rich guy with the most to lose, was overshadowed by his henchman, but when that henchman is played by the fantastic character actor Jeff Kober, just about anyone in the frame is going to be upstaged.
Next week, we meet Michael’s new ongoing nemesis, a Miami cop, Det. Paxson, but I’m not giving anything else away.
No, I want to know what you thought: Did you watch the Burn Notice season premiere? Did you like it? Does it seem like an improvement on last season? Let me know; thanks.
It all seemed a bit stale. The chemistry between Michal and Fi was underplayed and it seemed to lack that trademark offbeat humor I like in Burn Notice
I’d like to know: is it necessary to have SEEN Season 2 to start watching the new season? Are there any huge cliffhangers I need to worry about?
I’ve been catching up on this great show on DVD, and unfortunately the Season 2 DVD doesn’t come out for a couple more weeks.
I realize this isn’t Lost, but still…
Ha ha … I DVR’d both Burn Notice and SYTYCD. I’m just that kind of girl. But I have to agree with McGR … it all seemed a little *too* familiar. I did notice they tweaked the credits, so instead of saying “Until you figure out who burned you …” Michael now says “Once you’re burned …”. I guess I keep waiting for progress. And there isn’t any. I don’t feel they really paid off last season’s dramatic finale.
Ha ha … I DVR’d both Burn Notice and SYTYCD. I’m just that kind of girl. But I have to agree with McGR … it all seemed a little *too* familiar. I did notice they tweaked the credits, so instead of saying “Until you figure out who burned you …” Michael now says “Once you’re burned …”. I guess I keep waiting for progress. And there isn’t any. I don’t feel they really paid off last season’s dramatic finale.
I was disappointed. The chemistry wasn’t really there tonight–like everybody was trying too hard. I hope they are not bringing in another tough talking “broad”–I am so sick of that type of character. I wish that they had allowed a bit more of the scene between Michael and Fi when he first got back–they interrupted it too soon.
Have to say that I was disappointed. It didn’t seem to have the “spark” that I felt last season. It just felt kind of stale…..
I’ve seen the first three eps and agree with you in some ways [jettisoning the conspiracy stuff and having Michael leave "Management" to fly away in the helicopter] and disagree with others – the first three eps are built around some of the first season basics, but having the conspiracy stuff be a double-edged sword, and putting an incoruptible, unplayable cop on Michael’s tail… that’s a pretty cool change.
It all works well enough to qualify as a minor reinvention of the series – and a change at exactly the right moment to rejuvenate the more familiar elements of the show.
Some of the best stuff: Sam and Maddy. I’ll say no more.
I’m a huge fan of Burn Notice too, but why must you even compare it to SYTYCD? I watched Burn Notice after I watched the amazing SYTYCD. Not that you’d ever appreciate it, but those dancers could’ve done just fine in a choreographed fight scene too.
I’m a huge fan of Burn Notice too, but why must you even compare it to SYTYCD? I watched Burn Notice after I watched the amazing SYTYCD. Not that you’d ever appreciate it, but those dancers could’ve done just fine in a choreographed fight scene too.
@DavidJ – I think you can easily jump into the series with this episode and not be lost having skipped S2. Michael is back to square one, or maybe square one on a parallel track … or something. LOVED the sequences at the railroad museum. I was afraid Fi would blow up a coach, or a locomotive; it would have taken me a while to forgive her.
Love Love Love Brian Van Holt!
Thanks burn notice for casting him.
Glad the show is back in full HOT form.
A great kickoff to my favorite Summer show!
-TL
http://grittywriter.wordpress.com/
I liked it. It was a little bit more like the first season, but Season 2 wasn’t bad…it just had a slightly different “vibe” to it because of Carla and Management. This one should have a slightly different “vibe” to it too with the new character of the cop on his tail. As long as they keep the “core” dynamics working, anything new or different should be fine.
What a great kickoff to the new season. Burn Notice is may favorite show on television, now that Life has been cancelled.
I loved it!! It was good to see the Trio back at work and I love that Sam and Fi always have Michael’s back.