Burn Notice and Royal Pains returned with new seasons last night. Shown back-to-back, they tend to get lumped together as light summer fare, “characters welcome” — you know the hype. The thing is, they’re very different shows, as their new-season premieres proved.
This season’s Burn Notice has already taken a dark turn, and for the better, I think. The frayed emotions displayed by Jeffrey Donovan’s Michael Westen last night befit a man who’s grown somewhat bitter and weary over that never-ending burn notice.
In last night’s resolution to last season’s cliffhanger, we saw that Michael had been snatched up by Vaughn (Robert Wisdom), a CIA man who now wants to persuade our hero to work with him in a reinstated spook role to help the very agency that burned Michael. Now, Michael’s possible reentry into his old profession — canceling the “burn notice” that gave the series its reason for being — seems within his grasp. The result of all this? A changed Michael, a man who actually cried with his mom (Sharon Gless) over his past, and who, in something of a shocker in the first episode, ended up burning an agent himself.
Even the action scenes with Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar) and Sam (Bruce Campbell) had an edgier edge than usual. I know that Burn Notice will never stray entirely away from its more frolicsome aspects, and no one wants it to: All those light-comedy scenes and wry, informative spy-Michael voice-overs are a big part of the series’ charm. At the same time, I liked the new intensity, and hope the series can continue to juggle both tones adroitly.
Meanwhile, Royal Pains was back for a second season that’s been fine-tuned just enough to remind you why you liked these characters while adding enough new problems to prevent this souffle-light show from disappearing.
Pains, created by Andrew Lenchewski and John P. Rogers, has pleasingly unusual rhythms for what looks, on paper (on laptop screen?), like just another quirky medical show. It’s most interested in the relationships between its main characters, in their conversations and their emotional temperatures. It sidles into its weekly plots in the most casual, offhand manner possible. If you were describing last night’s hour to a friend, I doubt you’d start off with, “Well, Hank had to solve the medical problems of this infomercial celebrity who kept injuring himself,” even though that was indeed what the primary medical crisis was.
Instead, the hour spent a lot of time establishing just how much Hank dislikes his estranged father (Henry Winkler, a series regular this season and very welcome indeed, as soon as his character recovers from being clocked on the kisser by Hank in the closing seconds of this episode). And also how much Hank’s brother Evan (Paulo Costanzo) wants to maintain contact with Dad. And there was also the fact that HankMed is in financial trouble. And Divya (Reshna Shetty) had to discuss with Evan why she got engaged at the end of last season. And Jill (Jill Flint) had to face down a mean surgeon (Marcia Gay Harden, another welcome new addition) determined to oust her. And I don’t even know how Royal Pains even had time to reestablish the mysterious medical condition of one of Hank’s first patients, Boris (Campbell Scott, looking a lot more hale and hearty than his character in Damages, thank goodness), but the producers managed to work in some nice brief scenes of dialogue between Hank and Boris, too.
As I said: There’s more to Royal Pains than sunny skies and light patter. Like Burn Notice, it gives USA’s “characters welcome” slogan some weight.
Did you watch either of these shows? What did you think?
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Watched the Royal Pains marathon over the weekend and the premiere last night… This show is always fantastic and the storyline changes with every episode so it keeps you interested. I love seeing all the different remedies and ideas Hank comes up with and I love the interplay between Divya and Evan. I’m so glad it’s back1
I loved the return of Royal Pains. The show always brightens my day. They should run it after Psych when it returns. I am missing new episodes of Monk already!
yeah I don’t know why they didn’t do that…Psych/RP are much more similar in tone. Instead White Collar/Covert Affairs are paired up on Tuesdays, Psych is by its lonesome on Wednesdays, and then BN/RP paired up on Thursdays.
Love everything about Royal Pains except the relationship between Hank & Jill. No chemistry whatsoever.
In Plain Sight might have its break and return to coincide with Psych, couldn’t it?
I hadn’t seen Royal Pains until the marathon this weekend (and I missed a few of those episodes) but hadn’t been able to find anything else to watch, so I left it on USA just to run as background noise. I was surprised by how quickly I found myself really enjoying the show. It’s a night combination of light drama and good, well-created (and -acted) characters. I’m really looking forward to the rest of season 2.
I watched both shows and enjoyed both premieres. I will stick around. At least there is some new programming for the summer. Can’t wait for True Blood though!!!
Burn Notice was awesome! Loved the intensity. I’ve always liked this show but I think it’s getting even better over time!
I also enjoy “Royal Pains”, but it still needs some maturing to find its ground. Evan was fairly annoying in the first season – hopefully he will develop into a character instead of a caricature. I’ll keep watching.
Glad someone mentioned how annoying Evan was first season. I too felt more sympathy for him last night. He seemed more manipulated (by Dad) than manipulative, a welcomed change!
I adore Evan; I love that he came to Hank’s rescue and dragged him off the Hamptons, and his enthusiasm for getting HankMed going; not because Evan is greedy but the subtext that Evan worships Hank and when Hank was in danger of going off the deep end Evan was the one who nagged him into getting the new business up and running. Plus Evan’s Italian explanation of how to administer a TB shot (Lo amo, lo amo, lo amo. Capito?) was a total kicker.
Burn Notice was fantastic last night. I enjoyed how vulnerable they made Michael at times, and how there is some deep emotion going on with him and his crew. So happy its back
I am so glad Burn Notice is back. I turned off my phone from 9-10 last night. Although I think I preferred this show at 10pm. I do like Royal Pains but I do think they could do a better pairing. I’d like to see more of Tucker on Royal Pains also. Love that character.
Loved the Burn Notice premieres and the tone the show took. Loved the scenes with the 2 women in Michael’s life–GREAT!!! The scene between Michael and his mother brought tears to my eyes. Glad it is back. And I have to agree–the show just keeps getting better over time.
I really enjoyed Burn Notice. Was it just me or did the episode seem to be directed or shot differently as well? New cameras or something? Whatever it was, I really liked the way the episode looked (if that makes sense).
Vulnerable Michael was a pleasant surprise; I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about that when Ken Tucker first mentioned it in his article last week. Hopefully this will open the door to learning more about Michael’s past especially concerning his father. Or at least I hope so.
I just finished watching it-DVR and not having to watch the annoying commercials. I love my fav show is back.
I noticed the editing was different
Watched Burn Notice intently, but had Royal Pains on in the background.
I’ve always enjoyed Burn Notice, but I hope that they continue to keep the majority of the focus on the ‘client’ at hand, rather than on the season-long issue, this year apparently the fact that Michael burned Jesse Porter. (Helloooo Coby Bell!)
I thought the Burn Notice premiere was great. I also noticed that the directing/editing had a different tone and pace. I just hope that the show keeps it’s focus on being an action comedy, instead of trying to become another gritty drama. Mind you, I love the trend in TV toward realism and hard edges, but what makes Burn Notice great is that it is so different from anything else out there. It’s a like a parody of the action thriller/spy movie genre, and it’s just tremendously fun to watch. As a plot-driven drama, it’s pretty mediocre. The characters aren’t that complex or interesting (other than Michael himself) and backstory is pretty run-of-the-mill. Burn Notice is at its best when it sticks to being a light-hearted, witty, “popcorn” show. That’s what makes it different and interesting.
Love Royal Pains. It’s a light show that always keeps me entertained and always makes me laugh. The main cast is fantastic.
Ack! I forgot they were on! I have to find out when they rerun them!
“Burn Notice” was fantastic. The scene with him and Sharon Gless that ended with Jeffrey Donavan in tears was one of the best they’ve had. This show was missed. “Royal Pains”, well as fans of “Arrested Development” know, everything is funnier with Henry Winkler in a scene. Fanstastic cast additions. Even Campbell Scott’s dreadful German accent doesn’t hurt this show. Both shows are welcome back.
Burn Notice gets better every season. The depths of the characters and the way they show their love and respect for each while at the same time still allows them to each keep their edge is what makes this show so good.
Very few shows on TV can pull this off as well as Burn Notice seems to be able to.
As a side note, re-watching the season finale last night reminded me just why I like Garret Dillahunt so much. Has the man ever had a bad role? 4400, Deadwood, Sarah Connor Chronicles, etc…
Very happy to see Royal Pains back also. Yes, it’s a silly show sometimes, and the medical situations are unlikely, bordering on ridiculous. But the interactions between Hank and Evan, Evan and Dyvia, Hank and Dyvia, Hank and Boris (loved him in Damages, BTW), etc.. are excellent, and that’s really why we watch it, isn’t it? If we want good medical stuff, we can get that on other shows.
Bottom line, both shows add a lot to summer TV fare.
Psyched for Psych on July 14th!!!
Royal Pains was ok last might. Relationships were great but the medical subject was a little weak. Great new characters though.
Jack Bauer he’s not, but it’s great to have Michael Weston back! “Burn Notice” is a really good ensemble drama. And I’m psyched about the “darker” turn; there’s been way too much of Michael and co. running around doing “good deeds” for random people like some kind of heavily armed Scout troop. (Though of course there was an element of that again last night.)
Get rid of Evan on Royal Pains, because he is just a pain but are they going to have Jill be the new assistant and Divya go to London? Say it ain’t so! Divya’ great. Also how about Sharon Gless quit smoking, not attractive.
Having Michael’s mom be a chain smoker is part of her character that makes her unique.. While you may not like smoking, you certainly can’t smell it through the TV … Believe it or not out there, 20-25% of adults are still smokers but they are out of sight mostly because of smoking bans etc.. But she’s smoking in her own house and not bothering anybody except her family who let her along…
How about Jesse on Breaking Bad??? Lots of smoking on that show but I guess it’s OK there since he’s supposed to be a Meth-Head (former)…
Au contraire, I think Evan’s character showed depth in the premiere that he didn’t have last season. If they keep that up and don’t just make him the comic relief, I think that will a good show even better. Maybe it was just because I have 3 siblings, but he’s been good about keeping his bitterness about his dad’s preference for his brother away from Hank.
Loved Burn Notice! The show has been consistently good since the beginning, and is just the best on tv.
Royal Pains – I have it on when there’s nothing else to do and I’m not sleepy – I sincerely wish they would write off Jill – she is about as far as possible from being a believable character as I can imagine and I wish Hank had better taste. And I don’t dislike Evan, but do they really have to set up romantic tension with Divya? She is so bright and articulate and beautiful – and deserves much better than a mouthy imbecile who can’t even manage all the money. I doubt all watch it much this summer because of Jill’s existence and this other storyline.
Glad to see I’m not alone RE: Jill. But I’ll watch in spite of her.