The Burn Notice Dossier: What you need to know if you've never seen the show before.

Our guest blogger Christine is back this week to introduce you to the world of Burn Notice. Whether you've never seen the show before or you just want to refresh your memory about what happened last season, go ahead and catch up before Burn Notice premieres Thursday night!

Where has Michael Westen been? What’s going on? I need some answers soon! Otherwise, I’ll be forced to come to Miami and investigate your whereabouts and then attempt to rescue you myself, Michael. And that would be bad, mostly because it would clearly result in my death in about two seconds. Lucky for me, however, Burn Notice is back! And as the promos say “not a moment too soon.” And I have enough faith in Michael (and in the fact that USA has renewed this show for two more years and will not kill off its main character) to believe that he has somehow once again survived and will thrill us with another season full of spies, explosions, and bad - no, good - no, bad guys.

So spy/crime/action shows aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. I get that, and I’m usually skeptic number one when it comes to “but you’ve never seen anything like this…blah, etc.” people. But seriously. You’ve never seen anything like this. It is the best spy/CIA/crime show ever made, in my (and many others’) opinion. And that’s probably because it’s not like the others. It’s fresh, snarky, filmed in a gorgeous locale (Miami), full of likable AND interesting characters who have shady backgrounds but (usually?) pure motives. It runs the perfect balance between a weekly procedural (new week, new case, i.e. CSI: anything) and a character-driven drama with an overarching mystery and story line that continually unfolds.

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But first thing’s first: What is this show about (besides some vague spy thing)? And what in the world is a “burn notice?” Yes, well, cue succinct intro from the show, please, to explain:

My name is Michael Westen. I used to be a spy - until…

[phone ringing – anonymous voice] “We got a burn notice on you. You’re blacklisted.”

When you’re burned, you’ve got nothing – no cash, no credit, no job history. You’re stuck in whatever city they decide to dump you in. [Michael] “Where am I?”

[Fiona] “Miami.”

You do whatever work comes your way [montage of gunshots, explosions]. You rely on anyone who’s still talking to you. A trigger-happy ex-girlfriend,

[Fiona] “Should we shoot them?”

An old friend who used to inform on you to the FBI,

[Sam] “You know spies – a bunch of bitchy little girls.”

Family too…

[Phone ringing - Sam] “Hey, is that your mom again?”

…if you’re desperate.

[Madeline] “Someone needs your help, Michael.”

Bottom line – As long as you’re burned, you’re not going anywhere.

The thing with Burn Notice is that, unlike a lot of other case-based criminal procedures or CIA-type shows, the episodes are actually pretty easy to follow, anyone can jump in, and the show doesn’t get dragged down in boring details with characters droning on and on. Michael explains the reasons for what he’s doing and how he does it via well-written voice-overs in each episode. That being said, no one on the show has any idea what’s going on half the time. While Michael’s ultimate goal is to find out who burned him, getting that information seems at times impossible. In the meantime, to keep busy, and because, let’s face it, he needs the cash, Michael recruits Fiona and Sam into helping him take “cases” for people who are in need and can’t go to the police. 
Using his skills gleaned from covert training, he manages to help the client, run the bad guys out of town, and use his spy talents (impersonation, weapons training, surveillance, car handling, etc) all at once while getting out of often extremely dangerous and sometimes ridiculous situations. Still, Michael never stops tracking down leads as to who burned him and has progressed beyond several handlers at this point to actually be in contact with people at the CIA again…for now. This could all change in an instant, and no one knows that better than Michael.

Characters: 

(l-r) Madeline, Michael, Fiona, and Sam

Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan) – joined the military when he was 17 to escape his life and eventually became a spy. Now that he’s been burned and relieved of all his assets and resources, he finds himself in the one place he swore he would never return to: his hometown of Miami. He needs to find out who destroyed his career while avoiding old and new enemies, staying alive, and sometimes reluctantly relying on the help of friends and family.

Fiona Glenanne (Gabrielle Anwar) – Michael’s ex-IRA ex-girlfriend. Although her relationship with Michael is complicated, Fi is loyal, and knows more than a thing or two about cover stories, explosives, and firearms – often much to Michael’s chagrin.

Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell) – Michael’s best friend and a former navy SEAL and retired military intelligence operative. He also has, it seems, innumerable contacts with “buddies” that are always willing to help him with a favor. Sam also has a penchant for mojitos and sugarmommas, but that only makes him more lovable. And so what if he initially informed on Michael for the FBI? They both know it’s all part of the game.

Madeline Westen (Sharon Gless) – determined to build a relationship with her oldest son, Michael, now that he has returned after his wreck of a childhood with a drunken, abusive father. Sure, she often has “problems” that he needs to help her with, but she also lets Michael and his friends use her house and will support her son however she can.

Nate Westen (Seth Peterson) – Michael’s younger brother and a recurring character. Although he’s had gambling problems in the past and issues with his brother abandoning the family, both brothers care about each other and their mother. Recently Nate started a limo business in Las Vegas and married a blackjack dealer named Ruth after knowing her about a month. Nate has helped out on more than one operation and Michael has also bailed Nate out of trouble in the past – some of which Michael was responsible for in the first place, but hey – that’s having a brother as a burned spy.

When we last saw our hero...Michael had to deal with Simon, a spy who had committed atrocious acts that were attributed to Michael and the reason he was burned. However, Simon is a bit rogue, to say the least (another term is sociopath). He escaped (with help) from prison and planned on killing half of Miami, Michael, and CIA “Management” who had finally consented to meeting with Michael to discuss his burn notice. Michael had to make a choice, and he chose to save the very people in the CIA who burned him by defeating his evil counterpart Simon in an epic battle of brains and brawn, but Simon warns Michael that “you’re just like me.” In the end, Michael is secreted away in handcuffs and with a bag over his head and opens his eyes to find himself…in a very nice living room that could belong in any elegant house.

Key food: Yogurt. Much like the pineapple in Psych, yogurt is a recurring food theme in Burn Notice. It’s apparently good spy food, a lovely gift, and possibly the only food Michael actually buys. So now, when it comes up, you too can join in the “Yogurt! Ha, Burn Notice inside joke” revelry.

Were you aware…? 
Burn Notice is based on a true story. No, really! There really WAS a “Michael Westen”, a spy who got burned. And a Fiona, Sam, and Madeline, too. Michael Wilson, who now works as a consulting producer (but whom the cast and crew have never met….ooh, spy mysteries) was a former CIA operative who lived through being burned. He approached series creator Matt Nix about a series based on his life (and I’m SO glad he did), and voila, Burn Notice was born. Although let’s hope that there’s been a little creative license taken. I’m not sure the real Miami could stand so many explosions and car chases which end in horrific crashes in such a short amount of time.

Exciting Casting News!
Burt Reynolds will  be making a guest appearance, and sometimes-series director Tim Matheson will be bringing his character Larry back, as well. Also, Coby Bell is becoming a regular as (another?!?) too-hot-to-handle agent.

So what has Michael been up to? Where has he been? Who’s he working for/with now? What’s the real motive behind his actions? And how are Fi, Sam, and Madeline doing? We’re just going to have to tune in June 3 to find out. And, let’s face it, even then we won’t know exactly what’s happening. But neither will Michael, and that’s half the fun.

The Burn Notice season 4 premiere is Thursday, June 3 at 9/8c, followed by Royal Pains.

Make sure to follow the official twitter feed BurnNotice_USA. There will be lots of links to sites holding contests in the next few days!

Also, the 3rd season is currently available on DVD. If you want to catch up, there will be a marathon all day Thursday starting at 6am eastern and running right into the premiere.

We're all looking forward to the premieres tomorrow. Will you be watching Burn Notice? What about Royal Pains? 

-Christine


edited by Jenna

PS: In case you missed it, here's the Royal Pains Guide!