Get Burned: 10 Reasons To Watch Burn Notice, The Ultimate Spy Masterpiece.
The USA Network was unstoppable during their Blue Sky era in the 2000’s. Perhaps the most successful and popular show of all of their amazing shows that include Monk, Psych, White Collar, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs etc., was Burn Notice that constantly ranked number one in its timeslot on Thursday nights at 10 and went on to get a few award nominations and critcial acclaim. The show is everything one could want in a spy\adventure\action show: exciting, thrilling, mysterious, witty and funny as all get out. It’s been a favorite of mine for years and here are ten solid reasons why it should become one of yours if it’s not already. “My name is Michael Westen. I used to be a spy.”
10. Welcome to Miami.
The city of Miami has been repped quite well over the years, the 1980s classic Miami Vice particularly comes to mind, but Burn Notice had its own fun and unique way of giving Miami its due. If you don’t live in Miami, Michael Westen and co make you want to move there, or at least visit… with plenty of guns and C4 as back up, of course.
9. The Baddies: A rogue’s gallery of the best of Miami’s worst.
Burn Notice had its share of nefarious yet oh so fun evil doers that made Michael and company’s lives hell but made the show so much more exciting and fun to watch. Whether it was Larry, Brennan, Vaughn, Anson etc. The bad guys gave Michael and the gang plenty of challenges and heartbreak over the seasons that gave the show the intenisity and danger it needed to get us invested in the story being told.
8. The Voice Overs.
Many shows have used the voice over gimmick but Burn Notice’s use of it had a unique and iconic approach. These voice overs are far more tactical and as if Michael is teaching a course at spy school rather than his inner thoughts. Lots of helpful tips have come from Michael’s spy lessons including how to use a public bathroom to win a fight or how to use duck tape for any and everything.
7. Jesse Porter: A black George Clooney and burned spy who specializes in wisecracks.
It’s never easy bringing a new character into such an established show but the addition of Colby Bell’s Jesse Porter is one of those rare times when a new addition not only works out but exceeds all expectations and makes you forget that there was ever a time when they weren’t there. Colby Bell’s Jesse brought a lot more fun to the show and to the team in particular, and Jesse’s inclusion into the family was especially interesting considering that it was Michael who accidentally burned him. It got tense after Jesse found out the secret they were all keeping from him, but it somehow ended up making Jesse officially a teammate and family member who the gang couldn’t live without.
6. The Burn Notice Family.
The team of Michael, Fi, Sam, Jesse, and unofficially but just as crucial, Madeline “Maddie” Westen, were a cohesive and fiercely loyal unit that would kill for each other, die for each other, and happily and constantly put their lives in endless peril for each other while cracking wisecracks and busting each other’s chops. Family isn’t always about blood as it isn’t always about happy beginnings. At one point every team member has betrayed each other: When Michael met Fiona it was under a fake identity and he left her after she found out, Sam snitched on Fi when she was running arms deals, Sam informed on Michael to the FBI and Michael burned Jesse and the whole team helped him lie about it and keep it secret from Jesse. But born out of such messy history was a family that were tighter and more devoted to each other than actual blood tied families. Michael had his born into family with his mom and his kid brother Nate and the family that he built with Sam, Fi and Jesse, and he couldn’t be luckier.
5. Humor, Action and Yogurt.
Burn Notice was a show that had a hodge podge of everything from humor to action to yogurt. The show like doing a little movie every week and somehow managed to balance out different tones expertly. Whether you love straight action, or romance, or overarching mysteries, or constantly witty banter Burn Notice had it all for you.
4. Sam Axe: The ultimate ladies man and washed up booze hound.
Michael’s good buddy\sidekick Sam Axe is everybody’s favorite womanizing booze hound. Sam is the kinda guy that other guys want to grab a beer (or Sammy’s favorite: a Mojito) with and that women can’t resist due to his goofy yet smooth in a cheesy kinda way charm. Sam was also the moral compass for the group and always had his best friend Michael Westen’s back. Bruce Campbell brought all the greatness that is Bruce Campbell to the role.
3. Fiona Glenanne: Trigger happy ex girlfriend\girlfriend with a whole lot of a sexy and crazy in a tiny little body.
Sexy, volatile and a fan of explosions, guns and designer shoes, Fiona was the perfect woman for Michael Westen and the perfect woman in general in my eyes. Gabrielle Anwar was the only woman on earth who ever could brought Fi to life and make her so lovable and badass. If I need back up in any dangerous situation or a fight I would want Fi somewhere pointing her sniper rifle ready to shoot when I give her the signal.
2. Michael & Fiona: His brains and her brawn form a wonderfully lethal combination.
There have been many iconic couples in the history of fiction, but rarely does any pairing ever match or exceed Michael and Fiona. Theirs was a love that went far beyond the typical romance. Theirs was a love full of excitement, danger and action yet also devotion, loyalty, trust and plenty of heat between the sheets: Gun fights were foreplay for these two. The chemistry between Jeffrey Donovan and Gabrielle Anwar was so special and believable, and it gave the show its heart and its soul. If you ain’t down with Mike and Fiona then Idk if you know what true love is.
- Michael Westen: He Used To Be a Spy.
There’s MacGyver, James Bond, Jason Bourne, Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, and then there’s Michael Westen. When it comes to badass spies who kick butt and take names with a snarky sense of humor and a obsession with guns, bombs and yogurt, Michael Westen is the top dog. Played to perfection by Jeffrey Donovan, Michael has become an iconic hero whose unique way of solving problems makes Burn Notice the legendary show it is.
It’s been a little while since Burn Notice officially went off the air but DVD, streaming services and great Youtube videos has kept it living and I predict will continue to keep it living for many years to come. Till next time folks! Get Burned! BOOM!
