(S01E01) The first thing that struck me about Burn Notice was how the show appealed to my senses. While watching the show, I could almost feel the heat of the sun, smell the salt water and taste the Pina Coladas.
I really appreciated the lack of explanation in the pilot. Most of us have already gotten the premise from the ads for the show, so once the action kicked in, right at the beginning, I was hooked. Generally, I don't like voice-overs but it was a great way to give details that make the show very interesting. I'm sure I'm not the only one who was getting MacGyver flashbacks when Michael was explaining how to make a listening device out of two cell phones.
I've always been a fan of Bruce Campbell but I never thought he was ever given the right role on television...until now. Bruce is perfect as the boozed-out ex-spy and he's only a part of this extraordinary cast. Gabrielle Anwar and Sharon Gless are a welcome sight in addition to being perfectly cast.
The best cast member, however, had to be the city of Miami. Unlike CSI: Miami, this show was clearly shot on location and it showed. The art deco architecture and the beautiful women gave the most accurate portrayal of Miami in any show I've ever seen.
Lastly, I was really struck by the dichotomies that filled the first episode. The show took place during the holidays with Christmas trees in all the houses but the sun was shining in every scene. Michael Westen is a spy through and through but he has no allegiances. The show is about life and death situations but makes me laugh with physical comedy. Michael is clearly consumed with his own interests and yet, he cares deeply about helping other people.
The premise of Michael taking PI cases in Miami while trying to solve the mystery of his burn notice is a good enough premise to keep me watching, the rest of the show is just gravy and I love gravy.















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
6-29-2007 @ 12:38PM
Mona said...
I think I'm in love with this show. Seriously. It had me en gripped from the minute I started watching until the end credits rolled. It was full of some great elements - from some action adventure to out and out belly laughs. Some of the best moments were the interaction between Michael and his mother. Who doesn't have or know a mother who acts just like that?
I'll definitely be tuning in.
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6-29-2007 @ 1:03PM
YouFaceTheTick said...
They hooked me with the dry humor and smart approaches to handling situations. From the studs in the drywall to the mirrors for blinding.
His style of combat for one is far more what I've wanted to see in action flicks - no stupid Alias things where they punch each other for 10 minutes. Guy like that wants to do max damage fast and get away without an injury.
Voice-over was spot on. Seriously, many of the laughs come from the cocky, yet just plain smart viewpoint of the main character. Finally, I loved many of his reaction shots.
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6-29-2007 @ 1:04PM
iamhoff said...
I am totally hooked on this show! Your review is spot on, especially the thing about the voice-overs actually being a good way to provide info without having to work it into the plot of the ep. And the scenes with his mother in the "borrowed" car were hysterical! This one's a keeper.
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6-29-2007 @ 1:14PM
Bob Sassone said...
This show is just flat-out fun, unlike a lot of action dramas you see on TV these days. A real throw back to private eye/action shows from the 80s, but with great style and smarts. Very well done (though Paul I have to disagree with you about Campbell. He's perfect here, but don't forget about Brisco County!)
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6-29-2007 @ 3:56PM
Seth said...
you people have to be kidding me - I just turned it off after 10 minutes it was so horrible!
I was feeling pain and embarrassment for the lead during every voiceover it was so lame!
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6-29-2007 @ 1:41PM
MacGuffin said...
The first 10 minutes underwhelmed me, but I decided to stick with it and ended up REALLY liking the show. Really smart and fun.
It was a strong pilot--not great--but lots of potential. Jeffrey Donovan plays the main role perfectly. And Gabrielle Anwar still looks sexy in a kind of soap and water way after all these years. The casting was perfect and I'm looking forward to the next episode.
Too bad they can't do this kind of show on broadcast TV. Instead they appeal to the lowest common denominator.
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6-29-2007 @ 2:52PM
Tele-Toby said...
Campbell was great - the new millennium's version of those rummy best buddies like Walter Brennan in 'To Have And Have Not' and David Hemmings in 'Islands In The Stream'. And since he's not carrying the show, he's still free enough to accept other jobs.
I'm intrigued by who actually "burned" him and is keeping him under surveillance (if they're one and the same). And I have a weird idea on that already....
His Dad.
All of that collateral stuff about his father kicked off my alarms - when you're told more than you need to know about something that doesn't really have much to do with the main storyline, there's a reason.
I just have this idea Pa Westen is still alive....
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6-29-2007 @ 3:11PM
Dave T. said...
I thought it was good for the most part and most of us from South Florida don't notice anything strange about sunshine and christmas trees. Dec. 25 is frequently 80+.
However, south beach isn't really all of Miami and probably wouldn't be a smart place for a spy to be since it is over a large bridge from the mainland. And I don't think it is like Spring break at all time.
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6-29-2007 @ 3:55PM
Manda said...
I loved this show. It's smart and hilarious. I hope they stay this consistent after the pilot.
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6-29-2007 @ 4:12PM
YouFaceTheTick said...
Seth, to each his own. People liked the Sopranos and yet every time I watched it I felt like I'd seen it already. Shrug. Weeds gets kudos yet it's unbelievably boring. Big Love gets nods but I've yet to see anything beyond kitsch in the 7 or 8 episodes I've sat through.
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6-29-2007 @ 5:10PM
Tess Capra said...
I've always been vocal about my love for Bruce Campbell, but now I find I must add a qualifier: I love CLOTHED Bruce Campbell. Given the locale, however, I fear we'll be seeing him shirtless again in the future.
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6-29-2007 @ 6:52PM
David said...
I thought the show, in the previews, looked like a serious version of Psych. It's so much better! There is an overall storyline, somethnig that seems like a lot of other USA shows, like Psych, seem to forget.
Very good, I'll be watching.
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6-29-2007 @ 6:54PM
lorilei13 said...
I'll watch it for the Bruce Campbell factor alone. "Brisco County" is STILL in my top 5 all-time favorite shows.
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6-29-2007 @ 11:04PM
Kaydee said...
Like MacGuffin and many of the rest of you, I enjoyed this show, though it didn't capture my attention in the first 10 minutes or so. In fact, I was playing on my computer, then eventually found my way to the sofa, my exclusive attention on the set. Seth, you should have stayed with it!
The Miami sets were a dream - I've seen nothing like it since Mann and Yerkovich's '80's drama "Miami Vice" - and Anwar, Gless, and Campbell are perfect foils for the impeccable Jeffrey Donovan. His droll, frustrated but pragmatic portrayal of Michael Western was a treat. It was his reluctant heroism that sets the tone for a comedic drama sure to appeal if given the chance.
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6-30-2007 @ 1:44AM
az1324 said...
I'm with #9 I did not like it at all.... well besides when Gabrielle kicked that guys ass.
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6-30-2007 @ 5:00PM
David said...
I'm adding this show to my list...it's just really entertaining, it's not too over-the-top, and all of the characters are believable and (with the exception of mom) likeable.
On a side note, I'm really impressed with the original series that USA Network has put out recently: The Dead Zone, The 4400, and Monk have all been well-made for a couple of years now. Then last year they added Psych (which is silly but fun), and now this. Who needs HBO? Thank you USA Network!
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6-30-2007 @ 8:56PM
vacelts said...
My favorite voice-over was the one about being tailed with his mother in the car.
http://redlightnaps.wordpress.com/2007/06/30/burn-notice-pilot/
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6-30-2007 @ 10:31PM
JLM said...
I was pleasantly surprised to a show on USA that actually has some clever dialogue (not just "kooky" characters, which seems to be what most of new shows rely on). Since pilot episodes are usually difficult to write well, I was impressed with the production. It will be interesting to see if they can keep up the momentum.
I looked at the credits of Matt Nix (the show's EP/writer) to see what else he had done. Check out the short film he did a few years ago (be patient, it's short and there is an unexpected ending). Link is below
http://www.atomfilms.com/film/me_big_guy.jsp
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7-01-2007 @ 2:55AM
La-di-dah said...
Love this show too. I had a smile on my face through the whole thing. Don't know if he's the most probable spy in the world, but he's the funniest and most enjoyable. Definitely loved how they drew the character and his little insights (e.g. broken home = perfect spy, etc). My second favorite character was the kid who "wanted him to really kill somebody," but everyone (girlfriend, buddy, mother) was fantastic and spot-on.
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7-01-2007 @ 1:27PM
Chris said...
Just got to it on the Tivo. Very, very promising show - I always love shows that show clever approaches to difficult situations. The tone and some of the themes of the show reminded me of "Spies" from ABC, which I found as appealing. It was disappointing that the show was canceled, though I'm thinking Burn Notice's USA parentage means it'll have far lower expectations. I never really enjoyed Psych (too silly and unrealistic), but I'm looking forward to a good run for Burn Notice.
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