(Season 1, Episode 11 “Loose Ends” Part 1&2″)
Season 1 of Burn Notice has been a bumpy road for me. I like the idea, but the execution has never quite worked all the way. Jeffrey Donovan (who I am still convinced is an Australian operative living among us and just posing as a dude from Massachusetts) is charming and funny as Michael Westen, and is complimented by Bruce Campbell as Sam, and Sharon Gless as his chain-smoking mother. If the show were about the three of them, I would be way more on board. However, there’s also Fiona.
I don’t believe I’ve ever seen Gabrielle Anwar in anything besides Burn Notice, so I can’t really speak to her as an actress. And it’s not that her acting is bad, per se, but as I’ve said before, she and Donovan just have absolutely no chemistry. Even this wouldn’t be so bad, if the writers weren’t so intent in making her “sexiness” and the resulting alleged sexual tension such a huge part of every episode. It’s distracting and takes up valuable screen time that would be better spent blowing shit up and/or watching Sam drink beers.
The season finale, however, does give me hope. It’s probably the darkest episode of the entire first season; The body count as well as the overall danger is heightened, and for the first time, we really see that Michael may be in a bad situation. With the people who burned Michael attempting to assassinate him a few episodes back, and now Toby Ziegler getting murdered for just speaking to him, the overall mystery of who burned Michael is getting way more interesting.
Plus, they do a great job of bringing in Michael’s family in a more meaningful way. I love how Michael has finally just admitted that he was a spy, and is now allowing his brother to help him out. I’ve always thought that Nate makes a much more interesting partner than Fiona, so the more he’s involved, the better.
Along with the actual Burn Notice storyline, I loved Bruce Campbell’s performance when he was taken hostage. With all of his womanizing and drinking, it’s easy to forget that he’s not just some South Florida gigolo. His military training was in full-force, and it was a good reminder as to why he’s such an integral part of the team.
Overall, my hopes for season 2 include less Fiona (which I know isn’t going to happen), more action, more Sam, and more Westen family. I like the darker turn that this episode took, and the show will be served well if it stays on that course. Sam can still offer levity, and Michael can still be charming if they do — the show will just be more interesting because the stakes will be higher. I’ll probably be starting the next season in a couple of days, so I’m excited to see exactly what Michael has waiting for him after he drives out of that panel truck.
Clacked by Kona Gallagher 
on Jul 02, 2009 @ 14:00 EST5EDT
To me, what makes Fiona’s character so great is the simple contradiction that his her affection for Michael. Despite what she says, I think she loves the knight in white armor that he plays. She seems like she wants him to walk away from everything that he does (and trying to figure out who burned him, why, and get back in), but she loves him for it.
And, she totally has the sexy going for her.
Yes she’s not perfect, but it’s a good fun show.
Here’s hoping to someone else reviewing this show who isn’t obsessed with Fiona.