Burn Notice: Reels You in Hook, Line and Sinker

When Burn Notice premiered last year, I took note of the constant commercials. The show piqued my interest, but it conflicted with my schedule. I simply never found a time to sit down and watch it, so I never got into it.

That changed when I caught a re-run of an episode last week. It immediately drew me in, and I went to the website to see if they had streaming episodes. Bingo! I sat down and watched all 11 episodes in Season One in anticipation of the Season Two premier this week.

The show is top notch. Each episode is packed with enough action, wit, and skin to pull the viewer in. For the long term there is constant development of the story arc and the main characters.

Clearly Defined and Constantly Developing Story

From the get go, Burn Notice has a clearly defined story arc. Michael was a kind of spy - a contractor working with various covert agencies.

In the middle of a job, he got "burned." The government revoked his authorization to work with them, and he was blacklisted with all of his former contacts.

What's a secret agent to do? Track down the person responsible for putting him out of work.

Each episode, Michael comes just a bit closer to solving the mystery. He might get a hold of a classified document or arrange a meeting with someone higher up on the food chain.

This constant development gives the show longevity - you want to come back each week and see what Michael learns. Moreover, the story doesn't end with Season One. The intrigue will continue in the seasons to come.

Great Cast and Characterization

The show sports a terrific cast, and each of actors does a great job of portraying his or her character. The three main characters - Michael, Fiona, and Sam - are fleshed out by the supporting characters.

At face value, Michael is your typical secret agent. He knows how to fight, shoot a gun, and get into places he doesn't belong. He's also quick to think on his feet and make due with sub-par equipment. He has a Macguyver-esque quality when he builds complex contraptions out of bits from the local hardware store.

Yet he's more complex than Macguyver or James Bond. He's constantly at odds with his love interest, Fiona. He seems awkward interacting with his mother, and his childhood problems with his father color his view of the present. Despite some masterful skills, he is at times inadequate and he needs his friends to help him succeed.

Fiona is a perfect foil for Michael. She is feisty, while Michael is more calm and collected. Her background is in the IRA, and she is quick to choose violence as a means to an end. She also brings a more human side to the group - she is in touch with her emotions and constantly nags Michael to treat his mother better.

Sam brings the comic relief to the show. His is a quintessential Bruce Campbell role - goofy, out of shape, constantly drinking, and generally washed up. Still he is good at what he does, and he provides useful skills and contacts for Michael's jobs time and again.

Action, Wit, and Skin

Aside from the plot development and the three dimensional characters, Burn Notice is just an enjoyable show. It provides a good balance of action, wit, and skin.

There is always some kind of action - explosions, car chases, gun fights. Michael's line of work is dangerous, and leads to exciting television.

There's also wit and humor. Sam brings a lot of humor to the show, but Michael and Fiona have their moments. It's also always interesting to see how Michael wraps up loose ends. He tries to avoid going out and simply killing the "bad guys" - usually he finds some way to get them jailed or driven out of town.

Finally, the show is set in Miami. There's skin, and lots of it. Fiona is gorgeous, and it's rare that 10 minutes goes by without a handful of bikini clad women walking by.

Tune In and Catch Up

Burn Notice is a great show. I have few complaints, and I love every aspect of the show - the plot development, the action, the characterization.

If you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favor and catch up. Go out and grab Season One on DVD, and start watching the new episodes. Chances are, you'll quickly find yourself reeled in like I did.