TVSquad

(S03E06) It seems like this season of Burn Notice has been all about friends and family. You know, like the cell phone deal. Michael has been relying more and more on family -- and yes, that means Fiona and Sam to me -- and picking up new friends week in and week out. As Michael has pointed out a few times, he's more valuable as a friend than an enemy. By the time we reach the end of the summer, Michael may have to throw a party to celebrate the new friendships he's made.

We also now know what can stop Michael Westen in his tracks; a Taser to the neck. Yes, for one of the few times, bad guys got the jump on Michael and he was snatched.

The set up proved to be a good chance to get out of the studio sets and on location in the swamps of Florida, although the real Everglades would probably be even more unpleasant a place to film than what they chose. Still, I'm game for any chance to see Bruce Campbell piloting an airboat like he knows what he's doing.

Along for the ride was Beck, one of those reluctant friends of Michael. He turned out to be more of a liability than an ally, but there wasn't much doubt that even outnumbered and outgunned, Michael was going to beat the Ukrainian -- and his small army -- and make it out of the swamp. If there was a detriment to the episode it was how truncated the ending seemed. Michael's Rambo skills could have gone on longer with a few more explosions and do-it-yourself booby-traps.

There was great Hollywood/show biz touch with Tom Strickler turning up as an agent. Just the idea that a super spy like Michael would need an agent setting up his assignments and taking ten percent was goofy. The gift basket filled with Brenner's Yogurt was genius. It kind of makes you wonder if Jeffrey Donovan has been the recipient of some yogurt-filled wicket baskets in real life?

But even though Michael may find a way to use Strickler, I don't see Strickler recruiting Michael. Strickler's philosophy, "The enemy of your enemy is your financial opportunity" -- flies in the face of Westen's Robin Hood ideal/serving his country. He's not a mercenary, as he proved by refusing payment for the Chechik deal.

After being used mainly as comic relief lately, it was a pleasure to see Madeline pissed off. Like the best of Sharon Gless when she was Chris Cagney, give her a chance to play anger and attitude and she shines. In this case, Madeline was finally tired of being handled by Sam and Fiona and Michael. Her instincts told her that Michael's situation was dire and she wasn't going to sit this one out. She seized upon a chance to do something and Madeline again proved her worth. Had he seen it, Michael would have appreciated her skills at interrogation.

One last thought, were you as stunned and I was to see that in the preview, Fiona gets shot in the chest?