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Sometimes it’s a good thing to take a moment and admit that you made a mistake. For me, this is definitely one of those times. Only a couple of months ago, after I’d seen just the first half of Burn Notice’s pilot episode - I gave it a fairly indifferent verdict. Rather unimpressed, I even said I wouldn’t be surprised if you couldn’t be bothered to give it a chance. I was wrong about Burn Notice first time round, and as Season Two kicks off, I really am glad that I gave it that chance.
Burn Notice isn’t one of the most popular shows on US cable without good reason. Although the first season does take a good two or three episodes to find its feet, it becomes really good fun. The show is fantastic at pulling off standalone episodes while keeping the main thread of the story running, making it something you’ll be able to enjoy without following every week (or even if you’ve never seen it before).
Another strength of the show so far has been the dynamic between the handful of central characters. They complement each other well and all roles are portrayed by quality actors. I know that “cool” is a generic word without that much meaning, but for me it immediately brings thoughts of Michael Weston (played by Jeffrey Donovan). The ex-spy spends most of his time making Bond look like an amateur. Michael is well-dressed, tough, quick-thinking, adaptable...and has a seriously cool pair of sunglasses. He’s not the only standout here however. In fact, if I were compiling a list of TV’s coolest characters; Sam (Bruce Campbell), Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar) and Michael’s mum (Sharon Gless) would all rank highly too.
The way that Season One ended proves what Burn Notice is capable of. It had an explosive finale where Michael and Fiona stage a high-stakes rescue mission to save Sam from almost certain death, and simultaneously fended off the people who burned Michael. Everything happened quickly, ending the episode on a brilliant cliff-hanger.
With the Season Two premiere ('Breaking and Entering') we pick up right where the last season left off. Michael is suddenly recruited by the people who burned him and then thrust into an unpaid high-risk job (he calls it “more of a ‘we'll kill you if you don't do it’ type of thing”). The season opener is a real success; there’s more than a couple of surprises (Michael putting on an English accent being one!), and in true Burn Notice fashion, it’s got awesome action scenes. It skilfully manages to maintain the tone of the first season as it brings some powerful new players into the game.
I do feel I should apologise for judging the show too quickly, and with that said, I’m very glad that I decided to stick with it. Quite simply, it’s worth tuning in for - especially if you're a fan of action. Anybody who enjoys watching spies do what they do best will surely love Burn Notice.
Catch Burn Notice Thursdays at 9pm on Fiver
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