Michael Westen is confused. After all, he's always been a credit to his profession. Handsome, charming and skilled enough to use a rolled-up magazine to disable four gun-wielding thugs, Michael seemed to have it all. But one day, someone burned him with the government - and he ended up in his hometown of Miami, broke, beaten and unemployed.
Although Michael's first priority is to get his old job back, he has to make a living in the meantime. With the aid of his semi-loyal friend Sam, his cigarette-smoking, self-indulgent mother Madeline, and his ferocious ex-girlfriend Fiona, he manages to use his tradecraft to earn a living and help those in need.
Stellar Performances
"Burn Notice" is, quite simply, a knockout. Original, sophisticated and funny, the fast-paced series allows the performers to show off an amazing array of talents, including a hilarious cavalcade of fake accents and identities. Jeffrey Donovan is perfect as the emotionally distant, but vulnerable Michael, with a smile he wields both as a weapon and a shield against anyone who gets too close, personally or professionally. Gabrielle Anwar, lean, sexy and vicious as a praying mantis, is all too believable as Fiona. Her frustrated yearning for Michael is touching and painful to behold. Bruce Campbell is a delight as the hedonistic double-agent Sam. Still being paid for reporting on Michael's every move to the FBI, he manages to keep his true loyalties crystal-clear. And who knew Sharon Gless, formerly of "Cagney & Lacey," could be such a broad as Michael's mother? (Well, sometimes a little too broad, but enjoyable nonetheless.)
A new addition to the cast is enigmatic Carla (Tricia Helfer), who claims to be the one that burned him. Scarily self-possessed and intimidatingly gorgeous, Carla is a fitting adversary for Michael.
A Different Look and Feel
The show takes place in Miami, but not the color-saturated city showcased in "CSI: Miami." Instead, the look of "Burn Notice" is faded, yellowish, as if scorched by a tropical sun. You can feel the actors sweating. The cinematography is a subtle and successful way to show viewers how a spy would see his surroundings: as slightly alien, and possibly hostile.
An Uncomplicated Backstory
Happily, the plot of "Burn Notice" is easy to follow, even for first-time viewers. The backstory is quickly introduced before each episode begins. This approach is a refreshing change from other series spy thrillers such as Alias, which began with great promise, but eventually collapsed under the weight of its own unwieldy mythology.
Appealing Characters"Burn Notice" has a sly sense of humor. Unlike "Alias," which never seemed to know when it was being ridiculous, the spies in this series know how to laugh at themselves. In last week's episode, Sam, who's unashamedly paunchy, borrowed one of Michael's shirts. Grumbling about the rather tight fit, Sam quipped, "Who do they make these shirts for? Dolls?"
Satisfying Summer Fun
"Burn Notice" is stylish, sexy fun for adults. Snuggle up to your significant other and enjoy it. This summer, unlike Michael Westen, you won't mind getting burned.
