Burn Notice Season 4 Review

• 28th Dec 2011

You know an American TV show has made it when Alan Dale pops up. Entourage, Ugly Betty, 24, Lost, Law & Order, The West Wing. The list of that man’s appearances goes on. Maybe a subject which needs it’s own article but this Neighbours veteran does seem to be the US TV stamp of approval for a show.

 Did I think when I watched season one of Burn Notice back in 2007 that it would run to a fourth season (with a fifth airing in the US and a sixth rumoured to be commissioned). Quick answer is no. The premise in itself is ridiculous; a spy, Michael (Jeffrey Donovan) is ‘burned’ and dumped in Miami with no job, no life, no legal identity with only his trigger happy ex-friend (Gabrielle Anwar), old friend who used to report to the FBI on him (Bruce Campbell) and his neurotic mother (Sharon Gless). The show has a set formula week to week; over arching plot of the season with the distraction of someone who needs Michael’s help each week to sort out a problem, be this the Mafia  someone threatening to kill them, the Mafia  some kind of biker gang and, oh yes, some kind of Mafia situation. The show started out with Michael seeking the person who ‘burnt’ him in an attempt to clear his name and regain his life. By the end of season three this has finally happened and we begin season four with him working with the people who burned him hunting some terrorist organisation.

The larger over-arching story of Burn Notice has never really been the pull for me, it’s twisted, complex and I get confused by who is what. Reading this you could say I’m just not paying attention but I think the fact it doesn’t need a strong story arch is where the strength of this show lies and potential why it has had such durability.

Season four of Burn Notice, for me, evoked the same feeling I had for all the other seasons. It is sunshine and great dry comedic performances, a complex plot lightened with humour, explosions, Jeffrey Donovan’s hugely enjoyable portrayal of Michael and the way he explains spy knowledge in a voice-over and when it comes to it, it is just easy to watch fun. If you consider the plot concept you can easily see how it could have been made very differently; dark, gritty, a full on conspiracy series. Thankfully, we have the opposite in this show. And it is still as refreshing as it was back in season one.

This season does face the decision however, of what do once Michael finds out the truth about him being burned. That plot was dragged on for three seasons and it is questionable where they are going to take the show now. Cheerfully it comes up with a clichéd but well executed idea; Michael accidentally burns someone else who then becomes part of his team whilst at the time seeking who burned him. So we are introduced to Jesse (Coby Bell) and predictably we are given the sub-plots of him having better relationships with Michael’s mother, girlfriend, friends, he has a different (better?) style of working and is generally just sweet, smiley, cute and a little bit nuts at times. An adorably destructive puppy. Michael gets insecure etc etc, character developments and realising ones own flaws follow. Like I said the plots don’t make this show, the execution of the idea does.

The season four boxset is awash with extras. Some I could happily do without like the way the television company has crammed in a bunch of stuff on their new show White Collar, attempting to sell us the pilot and ultimately another show. This selling technique may be something you like; personally I have no interest (although White Collar does seem to be doing well for itself in the US). Pushing that stuff aside you have the usual deleted scenes and commentaries, things I find are only for the die hard obsessives for the show. However a couple of diamonds can be found on disc one; a gag reel is always one of my favourite things and this one doesn’t fail. The other is Sam Axe’s Guide to the Ladies. A wonderful little section that focuses on Bruce Campbell’s character, I mean who doesn’t want more Bruce?

If you are wondering if you should continue with season four I say go for it, especially as season five looks to be a great follow-on. If you’re new to Burn Notice go back to the beginning of season one, there is no way you could pick it up in season four without feeling very confused.

Lauren Cracknell