When I say that the Burn Notice finale last night made quite a splash, I'm not talking about the ratings. I'm talking about the show. Creator Matt Nix, who penned the Burn Notice Season Two finale, really knows how to write a cliffhanger. Actually, it's a cliffhanger with a hook, because in some ways we actually went over the cliff with Michael Westen. More on those specifics -- and spoilers if you haven't seen the show yet -- after the jump.The promo for the show indicated that there were going to be loose ends wrapped up, but as we all know, promos can be misleading. (I was railing about Brothers & Sisters last week.) But take a look at the USA previews from the finale:
Maybe it's truth in advertising, but most of what's implied actually happened. There was so much that was really satisfying, not just Michael's confrontation with Victor (well-played by Michael Shanks).
Sam was tasked with babysitting Madeline who was finally not up for his services. Her refusal to go on a trip to Cinderella's castle in Disneyworld set up her and Sam as an ops team, defending her house and rigging weapons out of Christmas ornaments. You knew it was serious when Sam turned down a beer.
Ultimately, when they got away -- in a very hot, cherry apple red vintage Buick convertible courtesy of the lady next door -- I loved how Madeline took charge and told Sam she could take care of herself and proceeded to blend in as a 60-something woman in Miami with bleached hair.
Fiona was also brilliant, concocting bombs, disabling bombs, kissing Michael goodbye and then slapping his face to remind him to be careful. Michael still doesn't know exactly who burned him (I don't think), but he now knows that he was burned because the machine wanted him. They wanted him because he was a very good spy.
The Victor/Michael team was just getting good when Carla had Victor shot. At that point, "Management" appeared. A looming white helicopter that had Carla running scared. Fiona got the pleasure of killing Carla before Carla could blow up Victor's getaway boat.
Meanwhile, Michael did what Victor wanted. He finished him off, but it wasn't without a price. The look on Jeffrey Donovan's face spoke volumes. And Victor's last words to Michael, "Get out while you can" was prescient.
When John Mahoney -- "Management" -- suggested that Michael was actually under their protection, he offered Michael the option to get back in the business. But the terms weren't Michael's and his plunge from the helicopter into Biscayne Bay, miles from the beach, was amazing. (Yes, I know Sawyer took a plunge like this on Lost, but this seemed bigger and more realistic -- maybe it was the way they shot it.)
Michael's voiceover said it all, "Put your head down and try to survive." Next season, that's precisely where the story will pick up...and I can't wait!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-06-2009 @ 12:54PM
Tom said...
Another great episode from a great team, Nix with Tim Matheson directing. The story and direction made for an extra special finale. Lot of things still hanging; is Management who burned Michael? can Mom go around undetected (God forbid she uses a credit card)? Can't wait until Season 3 in June (rumors are a full 16 episode run this time, hooray). Going to be great seeing the team confront some old enemies from the past. Should flesh out the characters more and how they know and trust each other. Kudos, kudos, kudos.
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3-06-2009 @ 1:03PM
cdawg said...
been waiting all morning for this!
Such a great episode that really wrapped up alot for me and didn't have me confused, scratching my head, anymore.
And great review as well.
So we still dont know who burned him, but it doesn't matter anymore. It was just a name on a paper - wasn't it "Richard something or other" - the guy he met at the end of Season 1 who was then promptly shot?
Still a TAD disapointed it wasn't Fi who burned him, but oh well.
So Michael's out. But, it cant be that simple right? He'll never get back into the gov't agency he was in. But he doesn't have to play under Mgmt's rules anymore either. So now he's just a freelancer?
I'm excited to get back to the "vigilante story of the week" format next season, but I'm very curious about where they'll take the overarching theme. I guess it'll be all his old enemies trying to get to him without Management's protection, maybe?
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3-07-2009 @ 2:18AM
YouFaceTheTick said...
I hope they never return the "client of the week" format. It was the show's weakest angle and unless they up the ante, it was also so "A-team" like. Gag. If i wanted to watch the Equalizer, I'd rent it. Give us higher stakes.
3-06-2009 @ 1:07PM
deebopalula said...
This was such a great finale! I always wonder though what the Miami police think about bodies and fire bombs and multi car high speed chases going on all around them. Even if they've been told to "stand down", you'd think some of them - or even pedestrians, neighbors, tourists - would take notice and question all the commotion. I mean a bunch of scary looking guys with guns drawn and pointed at Madeleine's house for quite some time and not one neighbor dials 911?
Anyhoo, I'm excited to see what direction they take the show in next season. And I wonder where Madeleine will be living now that her house has blown up/burned down. I wonder what the fire dept. will think when they investigate the cause and find a combination of Christmas lights and gunpowder started the blaze. I wonder if that's covered under her homeowner's insurance policy ;-)
p.s. - Sad to see Victor go. And sad to have to wait till June for new episodes....
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3-06-2009 @ 1:33PM
Jason said...
I've been waiting for this post all day. That was some hella show last night. Some fine writing and superb acting on all accounts. I love it when a cast comes together. 5 Stars all around.
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3-06-2009 @ 2:03PM
John Heltsley said...
I was very disappointed to see Victor (Shanks) leave the show. Before, he was really just a one-off character, but this episode, in a very short time, fully developed his character, and made him into someone you'd want back in a semi-recurring role. His exit was perfect - for the character, the show, and for Michael - but I still wish they had left some ambiguity so they could have brought him back later.
Ah well. This finale was great, and I can't wait until next season.
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3-06-2009 @ 5:18PM
Michael said...
Agreed. I really loved the dynamic his character added to the show. I kind of figured he would get killed, but I was hoping not so that he could come back in future episodes. Excellent finale, though. That's two from USA in the past couple of weeks after Psych's superb finale a couple of weeks ago. Can't wait for things to pick back up in the summer.
3-06-2009 @ 2:59PM
Jwonghealy said...
This episode was the BEST episode of the entire series so far. It not only answered Michael's questions but it set him up for new adventures next season. When does June arrive...???!!!
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3-06-2009 @ 6:05PM
MERVE-THE-PERVE said...
What a great episode! And June is only 3 months away. Plus In Plain Sight will be back around the same time. There will be some great some great tv for this summer on USA plus with Leverage on TNT, Entourage and True Blood on HBO, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and the Prisoner on AMC, and Weeds on Showtime. I'm more looking forward to the summer season this year than this falls tv season. I just hope they don't break these summer shows up into 2 parters like last year. And I really liked Victor's character and was sad to see him go. Great reaction by Michael when he had to finish Victor off. And a great review by Allison too. Job well done. I can't wait til June for all that great tv to come back. It looks like I won't get to see many movies this summer. Oh well.
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3-06-2009 @ 7:07PM
Christopher said...
Just reviewing the shows you listed, has me so amped for the summer. I didn't like the break up of the seasons either.
3-06-2009 @ 7:03PM
Tom said...
Also, does anyone have a sneaky suspicion that Carla may not be dead? Fi's shot looked like it got her in the side. Didn't see her put in a bodybag and wouldn't be surprised to see her show up again.
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3-07-2009 @ 2:12AM
YouFaceTheTick said...
You know I hated Season 2 and Season 3 was going poorly until they came back from the break and made a few changes:
1. Michael killed again
2. Things went wrong on jobs...
Watching a spy who is a boy scout gets old. And watching a spy who never has a plan go awry was lame. Adding that helped and the last two episodes were the best the show has been since season 1.
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3-07-2009 @ 3:23AM
aaron said...
tick:
This past 7 episodes that started in January was the other "half" of Season 2. June will be the start of Season 3. They may do the same thing with next season, so of course #3 will end sometime in 2010.
I feel your pain somewhat on the "client of the week". I think the writers know this WILL be a problem, and I hope corporate will stay out of it. BN attracts alot of people because it's simply sexy and the clients (w/ respective problems) make Michael and the other characters approachable, likeable, etc. Turning a little darker (like Magnum P.I. near the end) would alienate much of that audience, and I think USA/NBC will not tollerate any loss of viewership.
Do I think it should turn darker like you are suggesting?Hell yes. But I would be careful what you wish for. Now with my favorite show, Battlestar Galactica, ending in two weeks, and my third fav show, Life On Mars, ending soon, I really feel I'm in no position to ask my soon to be #1 show to do something different...especially with this economy.
Also if you trully "hated" what has happened with most of Season 2, you would not have cared to post once on this site, much less twice. And you would've stopped watching altogether a while back as well. Maybe instead of "hated" you disliked? If so, I'm following you.
3-07-2009 @ 2:49PM
BG said...
Also looks like the diched his brother..no big deal. And I do have a question..it sounded like Victor worked for another organization not simply after "Mahoneys" organization as a freelancer. If so there is a third group around that Mahoney is afraid of.
And didnt they basically say that it was Mahoney's group who did the burning"??
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3-07-2009 @ 7:36PM
bamboo said...
Both the wife and I are not looking forward to months without Burn Notice. We watch it the night it airs and then again from the DVR on the weekend. It is still funny the 2nd time.
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3-08-2009 @ 12:57AM
YouFaceTheTick said...
Aaron - I actually began half-watching Season 2 (sorry for the mix up) as the client of the week format was so getting on my nerves. It wasn't until the show returned and my wife suggested I watch the newer episodes completely that I came back. I was quite close to writing the show off like Lost (left 4 epsiodes into season 2) and Heroes (essentially left toward the end of season 1 when Mohinder had Sylar captured and did not kill him).
Most TV - save for HBO/Showtime - seems to live on this plane where characters cannot die (except at season finales) and where the dynamic can never shift. It bothers me to no end. I've heard The Wire is one of the few shows where even the cast is in flux. I've got it on my netflix list...
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3-10-2009 @ 6:36PM
Kim said...
I thought the finale to Burn Notice was great. Glad to see that Carla is gone but sad that Victor had to go. Liked his charactor and was hoping that he would return. Never miss the show and can't wait for the new season
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3-12-2009 @ 5:07PM
La-Di-Dah said...
Burn Notice's second season was truly amazing to watch, especially once we were climbing down into the last episodes and wrapping up. Can't wait for more!
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