We got, as far as I’m concerned, the best new Burn Notice of the season this week… with one exception that I’ll get to in a minute. First, the good stuff. There was the return of Michael’s brother Nate, who’s always welcome for the scams he has going and the grief he invariably causes Michael.
This time around, Nate was unwittingly doing business with an old enemy of Michael’s, Brennen, an arms dealer we’ve seen before, played with withering wonderfulness by the excellent Jay Karnes (aka Dutch on the late, great Shield). Where Dutch was a sarcastic weasel, Brennen is a sarcastic tough-guy: Karnes has a whole range of tones to his sardonic dialogue-delivery.
Add some superb Burn Notice moments of Michael making listening devices from office supplies and generic-brand Pringles cans, and, as I said, this was one fast-paced, clever episode…
…except for the one bit of disappointment. This is now the second week in a row that Moon Bloodgood’s police detective Paxson has sauntered in a scene to threaten Michael with her ongoing investigation of him, and this subplot is increasingly looking like a repetitive drag. There’s nothing wrong with Bloodgood’s performance, it’s just that she’s obliged to do the same thing every week: walk up to Michael, smile knowingly (about what?), say she’s going to catch him doing bad stuff, and then exit, without making good on her promise. Come on, Burn Notice, do something with this character or drop her, willya?
Did you watch Burn Notice last night? Did you enjoy seeing Nate and Brennen again? Am I wrong or right about Det. Paxson?
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Why do they think it necessary to introduce another tough talking woman to follow Michael around? Don’t they realize that all of these other women are bores when compared to Fi? The strength of the show is in the relationships between the regular characters–every time they introduce one of these women, it breaks up the rhythm of the show and cuts the time for the regulars. They should cut it out and stop ruining one of the best shows on tv.
I watch this show because my husband likes it and it’s okay.
One thing that irritated me tonight, tho, and maybe it happens all the time on every show, but the guy opened his steal door without knowing who was on the other side. It was his brother, but, for some spy guy who takes all precautions, I think opening your door to God-knows-who makes him seem like a real amateur.
This guy has a steal door, people want to kill him, and he opens up the door without knowing who’s on the other side.
Bogus.
Sam23 it’s STEEL door. To STEAL a door would be theft.
Anywho, yep, best episode so far. And yep, the detective keeps doing the same thing over and over looking for a different result. Isn’t that one of the definitions of insanity?
I’m sorry; I hate to do this, but that bugged me. It’s “steel,” with two “e”s. “Steel.”
She’ll catch Michael at something soon enough, so it doesn’t bother me that she hasn’t yet. Now that her partner got fired, she has extra motivation. So I think this story arc will go somewhere new in the immediate future.
Moon has only been in two eps so far.
If there’s one thing I can never stand about most cop dramas/thrillers/action-adventure shows it’s that every one of them, at some point, feels the need to introduce an antagonistic bureacrat or official that’s been sent in to investigate them, leading on to a tedious subplot that drags on for weeks without ever going anywhere or introducing any genuine conflict or tension into the script. And yet no show has ever thought ‘maybe this storyline is getting a bit old hat. Let’s not bother.’
No offence to Ms. Bloodgood but her character is a real dud so far. I hope they come up with a better story line for her soon. And I’m sure I’m in the minority but I find Michael’s brother annoying.
A fun idea would be for Michael to play off the detective’s obvious flirtation. Sort of go deep undercover (if you know what I mean), seduce her, seal the deal (in the name of business only, Fi,) and get out of whatever legal entanglement he has found himself in.
“Who’s the guy with the purse?” and a wicked evil Brennan made for great TV. Keeping Praxon at a minimum with lots of Sam and Fi is the winning formula for BN. The dialogue had just enough CAMP for me …great show, good writing, believable acting…I was beginning to worry, but last night’s show redeemed Donovan.
Get rid of the new lady detective. Boring.
Ken, it looks like next week’s episode is going to be Paxson-heavy. Seems you’ll get your wish about them doing something with the character …
Don’t know who Moon Bloodgood is, and quite frankly, don’t care. The character is a dud and she just isn’t hot enough to rival Fi. Not sure if that’s supposed to be the point or not, but casting the role as someone who sort of caught Michael’s eye would have at least amped up the Michael-Fi tension. Otherwise I’m just not getting the point of this subplot at all. If they just want to add another foe, why not keep Brennen around for the whole season? That guy is terrific. Loved the return of Nate – this was a five start episode all around.
I’m so happy they brought Nate back! My favorite part of Burn Notice is Michael’s interaction with his family. More Nate please.
I liked Moon Bloodgood in “Eight Below Zero”. She was very appealing. In Burn Notice so far she is just annoying, but there is still some hope. Frankly, I expected Michael to deliver Brennan to her on a plate. She could become an interesting, if unwilling, ally. Maybe later.
What I always enjoy are the subtitles — they way they introduce characters. Like last night — when Brennen first came on, it said something like “Brennen, irritated arms dealer.” Great!
Agreed: new detective lady is a snoozer. don’t care if she’s hot.
Great show! The captions alone are hilarious. The only misstep BN continues to make is introducing bossy, unappealling female characters to antagonize Michael, and then having the whole subplot go nowhere. He needs an intelligent, professional nemesis that he also finds himself attracted to, and who has respect for Michael as a man. Otherwise, I wish they’d just skip it entirely. Loved Madeline looking forward to the “hair product party”.
Sorry to her & her fans, but Moon is AWFUL!!! Have to agree w/ my hubby who wonders who she musta slept w/ to get this part!? No chemistry seen between her & Michael.
Moon Bloodbad continues to be unnecessary and horrid, reciting her lines like a pretty girl in a high school play. But the rest of the show lived up to my desire to watch with an adult beverage — mojito, of course! — in hand. That is, no silly lost-little-kid storylines; good characters and a grown-up plot.
So … when are we going to start getting an actual recap? With the respond-and-reply comments format? And more than a quarter page synopsis?
Cannot stand the new detective subplot. Ugh. She’s bad, the plot’s going nowhere. She sucks the energy out of all her scenes. Don’t know how much is the actress and how much is the writing. But, please make it stop. After such a great season ender, this is so frustrating.
true, the new detective subplot has not taken off yet. do something with it or let it go is my opinion.
but the rest of the episode was great. i love how they use both Barry and Seymore on the show, they add a nice touch of comedy. so it was good to see Barry again last night.
all and all, last nights episode was definitely worth watching.
I just watched my first episode and she came in at the beginning and then at the end mentioned some other cop getting his badge taken away from him. Huh? Talk about your lame threats. You know, I’d like her to leave once and then get herself kidnapped where no one knows where she went because all she does is drag the show down. They don’t need her, the writers don’t know what to do with her and I couldn’t care less if she is sucessful or not. Really, why don’t she go over to another show on USA and bother someone else. She’s a waste of time.
I thought there were 3 welcome faces -must include Barry. The thought of Barry and Madeline becoming buds gives me a happy. I’m glad they brought Brennen back – liked him much better in this episode than in last season’s.
Ken hit the nail on the head regarding Paxson. The only positive I noted from Det. Paxson last night was that she seemed less smug. She looked angry and frustrated at the end. I still love this show and have faith in it so maybe this storyline will amount to something after all.
“don Fri, Jun 19, 2009 at 01:54 AM EST
She’ll catch Michael at something soon enough, so it doesn’t bother me that she hasn’t yet. Now that her partner got fired, she has extra motivation. So I think this story arc will go somewhere new in the immediate future.”
Thx Don…..I couldn’t said it better myself. A true fan would be patient and allow the story arc to unfold. I have faith in Matt Nix’s creative mind.
I liked the first season better. The cop has got to go.
Love having “Nate” back. Do not like the addition of policewoman scenario. Burn Notice has enough going on without that particular subplot. “Michael” has enough enemies in his past to keep show going forever…thant goodness!!!!!! Ensemble cast needs no more help.
Really liked Season 1, refreshing and different. I found episodes piling up on my DVR during season 2…just started to get too “cute” with the Mom and Fiona. Don’t watch anymore.