In recent years it’s been harder and harder to find a quality television show that you can become attached to. With the recent departure of LOST and 24 from the airwaves, the void has become even bigger, and with ‘reality’ television constantly bringing in big numbers, other quality scripted programs usually find themselves being canceled before they even learn to walk.
Luckily, Burn Notice has persevered through all of this, as it’s one hell of a show that deserves the numbers and the advertising that some of the lesser quality shows out there receive. This is a review of the third season of the show, so if you’ve yet to see season one or two, do yourself a favor and pick them up, as the mix of story, humor, action and drama in a season of Burn Notice rivals various shows that focus on just one of those genres.
The show stars Jeffrey Donovan as Michael Westen, an American spy who was burned (all ties severed) by his agency, and left to fend for himself in Miami. Each episode follows roughly the same format, with Michael and his friends, on-again-off-again ex-girlfriend, Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar) and retired Navy SEAL Sam (Bruce Campbell) getting pulled in to a job by a client in need. Then, to solve said issue, they each use their strengths: Michael’s espionage knowledge and tricks of the spy trade, Fiona’s knowledge of explosives and weaponry, and Sam’s connections and undeniable charm. It may sound like the show would get redundant, but this is where the brilliant writing comes into play.
While each episode all follow the same format, it’s extremely rare to find yourself saying, “Aw, they’ve done that before,” and know exactly what’s going to happen. The writers keep things fresh, and seem to have an endless supply of scenarios where Michael can use MacGyver-like homemade tactics in order to solve a problem. The voice-over narration of Michael explaining what he’s doing, and why, just adds to the perfect flow of the show, and really brings things together.
Like most shows of this type, there’s an ongoing story-arch that pushes forward bit by bit each episode while the gang is working on the client’s problem. Sometimes it seems insane that Michael would help someone who’s being scammed while he also have to worry about an assassin who‘s out to kill him, or the likes, but he does, and it makes the show that much more exciting, and takes away any of the mundane.
The third season picks up exactly where season two leaves off, with Michael swimming to shore after declining a job offer from “Management,” the people who caused him to be burned in the first place, and jumping from their helicopter into the ocean. Now, with protection from Management lifted, and no agency to shelter him, Michael is back on the radar of the police, as well as any enemies who may be looking for him.
Season three focuses on change for Michael Westen, both in his new found freedom, and his overall perspective on where his life is now, and where he sees it in the future. He soon decides that the path he must choose is to get back in the good graces of the CIA in order to get his old job, rationalizing that it’s to keep those he loves safe, and not him looking out for his own interests once again. Upon starting down this road, Michael meets new acquaintances, as well as new/old enemies, while also losing perspective on what it is that truly does matter to him most.
The writing has been touched on, but let’s talk about the actors. This show is one of the few shows that sees the entire cast mesh together as though they’re actually the characters they’re playing. Donovan couldn’t be better as Michael Westen, and has quickly become one of my favorite television characters ever. He’s got the perfect style and charisma to play the part, and really makes the show what it is. Anwar is great as Fiona, and really has the acting chops to make the emotional scenes believable, while continuing to look fantastic each and every season. While Donovan has his own comedic timing down, it’s Bruce Campbell that really brings out the laughs in the show. He’s famous for his roles in Evil Dead and other B-films, but Campbell’s work as Sam Axe is just perfection, and couldn’t be done by anyone else. Michael’s mother Madeline, played by Sharon Gless, is also wonderful, as her role becomes bigger this season, and Gless shows she’s up to the task.
Season three is another fantastic season of the show, and just when you think you’re being taken on a one-way trip, the writers spin things around and you find yourself headed in another direction completely. With season four already started, and the show having been picked up for season five and six already, now is the perfect time to jump on board and support one of the best shows on the air today.
The video is shown in a 1.78:1 widescreen presentation, with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, and it does not disappoint. The vibrant colors of Miami, both in the day and during the nightlife really stand out. The shots are crisp and clean, and as good as one could hope to see on a DVD transfer. The sound is also terrific, as there’s no need to constantly change the volume due to loud music, followed by softly spoken dialogue.
The extras aren’t as strong this time around, and to some that won’t matter, but to those who find extras entertaining, you may be wishing there were more. Most notable is the lack of any commentary tracks on any of the discs. Unlike the previous seasons, where they could be found throughout the episodes, this time around they chose to omit them for some unknown reason.
Smash, Crash, Boom: Inside the Burn Notice Stunt Unit – This featurette comes in at just under 10 minutes and introduces us to the stunt team of Burn Notice. It’s quite interesting just how far they go to make it so you feel as though you’re part of each and every chase, while also making them unique in their own way. Focusing on a scene from the finale, complete with Donovan voice-overs, fans will enjoy this one as well.
2009 San Diego Comic-Con International – This featurette comes in at 10 minutes, and could be called a Bruce Campbell stand-up special. While the panel lacks Donovan and Anwar, Campbell takes the reigns, and show creator/writer Matt Nix, as well as a couple of other writers and supporting actors round things out. It’s a fun, fast watch for fans of the show.
In an age where reality TV has all but caused the early demise of great television shows, Burn Notice remains strong, and is a series that shouldn’t be missed. If you’re already up to season three, then you already know this, and if you’re not, don’t feel as though it’s impossible to catch up, go get started now. Overall, season three continues to push the show ahead with no evidence of the strong pacing slowing down.
20th Century Fox presents Burn Notice. Starring: Jeffrey Donovan, Bruce Campbell, Gabrielle Anwar, Sharon Gless. Running time: 704 minutes. Rating: NR. Released on DVD: June 1, 2010.
