Burn Notice

Burn Notice was such a great and underrated show. Most shows get old or repetitive after it's been on a while but not this one, it's absolutely terrific right up until the last episode. It tells the story of burnt spy Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan) as he's stuck in his hometown of Miami after being framed. He will do anything to find out who did it. I'm the meantime he helps helpless people who really need his expertise to help them. He has the help of his ex/current girlfriend in ex IRA spy Fiona Glenanne (Gabrielle Awar), his best friend and former spy Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell) and new friend and ex spy he accidentally burnt himself Jesse Porter (Coby Bell). He also has to deal with overbearing mother and sometimes loser brother. Obviously some of it is ridiculous unbelievable but it's a thrilling show that has action, comedy, drama, etc., all in one series! I just started watching it for a 2nd time during this lockdown and forgot just how entertaining this show really was. I really do miss it!

Which is a comment you will seldom find in my reviews.

First of all, the concept. The whole idea of a "burn notice" forcing a spy to take roots in a community is very clever. Really.

And the casting. I call this "Leprechaun Casting" because Donovan's career both before and even after the show was unspectacular. But in this part, in a successful series which ran for years, he was nothing less than brilliant. Almost as though elves pulled him out nowhere just for this role, and then disappeared into the forest with him after.

The setting is also clever, relying on an old Hollywood adage which says, to improve your odds, cast in a city that people wish they lived in. Check.

Even the voice-over works and works well. Voice-over seems like an easy thing to pull off, but in fact it isn't. Which is why it dropped out of favor in the 1940s and has been used very sparingly ever since.

Estrogen content? Check. Gabrielle Anwar, in a part which really is more a sidekick than a love interest, manages to "sashay" between scenes (yet another word I do not use often) and also manages to give the impression that she is on "slow simmer" even when all she is doing is mixing explosives or hot-wiring a car. (If you are a male reader, you will get that.)

Supporting cast? Bruce Campbell plays his role like he was already happily retired and the casting director begged him to come out of retirement just for this part, and then gave him permission to sit down and drink while delivering his lines. (Which may be the way it actually happened, I don't know).

I will confess it took about three episodes for me to get hooked. Like I said off the top, this is a one of a kind. But it is a fun ride.

Without question, "Burn Notice" is the coolest show on TV since the first episodes of Alias. I was totally engaged the moment Michael got his burn notice when he called to make the wire transfer--seeing the wheels turn for that beat before smiling and turning to the Russian mobster was sublime. This show has edge and attitude to burn, no pun intended, and I hope it keeps it--the only thing that could dull it would be any hint of silliness (Bruce Campbell's character needs to demonstrate some ass-kicking spy mojo somewhere along the line). Matt Nix: You've done a fantastic job on the writing, great casting (Jeff Donovan is a "Where'd he come from?" find), locations, etc. Keep the edge. The first two shows were great, can't wait to see what's next.

I watched this show when it first came out and now i'm doing a full on binge-watch 14 years later.

If you like clever, well written, and spy stuff, you're probably gonna like this show a lot.

The narration style really gives Burn Notice that extra edge. So good.

I recently finished Burn Notice and I to say that I ended up absolutely loving it. I watched it here and there when it was on but never really had the time to commit to watching it. I finally watched it all the way through and I couldn't binge it fast enough. I watched all 7 seasons in record time. I'm actually mad at myself for waiting for so long to watch this. I just had no idea it was as good as it was. It's definitely far fetched and not believable but if you can just turn your brain off you'll have a great time watching this. The main cast of Jeffery Donovan, Gabrielle Awar and Bruce Campbell (and Coby Bell starting in season 4) all do an incredible job. The all have such great chemistry between the 4 of them. If you're looking for a fun show to binge then give this a try...you won't be disappointed.