The Return of THE MUPPETS

Article originally published as THE MUPPETS Review on Seat42F.

THE MUPPETS are back! The franchise that has spawned more than half a dozen feature films and a number of television specials and TV shows in the past are once again on the small screen on a weekly basis. From Bill Prady (The Big Bang Theory) and Bob Kushell (Anger Management) comes a contemporary look at everyone’s favorite felt characters.

The premise for the new show is simple enough. Miss Piggy (herself; just kidding, though the show would like you to think so) has become the first female late night host on Up Late With Miss Piggy. Kermit, now her ex-boyfriend, is the producer, Fozzie serves as the sidekick, and The Electric Mayhem provide the house band. The rest of the Muppets work on the show, including Kermit’s new girlfriend, Denise (who is also a pig, by the way). So the group has a natural reason to come together, and the late night show is a good way to bring on lots of celebrity guest stars easily.

The format is a bit different from past efforts in that it’s basically The Office. It’s a documentary-style piece, and the politics behind-the-scenes call to mind a certain paper company, though with the Muppets’ trademark humor. Basically, it is made to feel like many other sitcoms currently on the air, which is where its ‘modern’ sensibility claim comes in.

Earlier this summer, I had the opportunity to preview the ten minute presentation that sold this show to ABC. In that version, the Muppets come back together to remake The Muppet Show, and Miss Piggy, who was starring in films, has to be coaxed to join in. I am disappointed at the changes made in the official first episode because it makes the story more pedestrian to remove the crazy antics of The Muppet Show from the set up. However, it does make more sense for Piggy to have success and it’s nice she isn’t coming back to work over a man. The new pilot emphasizes her independent spirit, a key component of the character that can’t be overlooked in this age. Plus, a lot of the good jokes from that presentation are retained.

Overall, I like, don’t love, THE MUPPETS (though I loved the ten minute video). So far, that is. The first episode focuses on Piggy’s feud with Elizabeth Banks (herself) and Fozzie trying to impress his girlfriend’s (Riki Linhome) father (Jere Burns), while the second sees Kermit trying to help Piggy find love with Josh Groban (himself). The second is superior because of funnier bits, but both point to where the show might go.

Both of these stories are relatively tame and typical of modern sitcoms, and can be found on any other show. That’s OK; The Muppets have never been entirely original in their plots. However, what makes them so special is the personalities of the individual characters, and when the story mostly focuses on Kermit and Piggy trying to work together after a break up, it drags things down. If future installments instead commit to playing up the zany aspects of all of the other characters, which the second episode does better, it will improve and get back to what fans of the franchise want.

We also want Kermit and Piggy together, of course. It’s fine to keep them apart from a time to force drama and forward momentum, but this can’t be a series-long arc. They both clearly still care deeply for one another, and Kermit replacing Piggy with a skinner pig (never mind that she’s nicer) won’t sit well with many. Hopefully, this story gets gone through quickly and THE MUPPETS gets back to the essential heart of The Muppets.

THE MUPPETS premieres Tuesday, September 22^nd at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

JUSTIFIED Penultimate Season Finale Review

Article first published as TV Review: 'Justified' - 'Restitution' on Blogcritics.

FX’s Justified completed its penultimate season this week with a nice wrap up of this year’s arcs, and an excellent setup for the final go-round. In all, it feels like the series is not only coming full circle, but preparing the perfect batch of endings for its motley crew of players.

The season’s antagonists have been members of the Crowe family. In “Restitution,” the season finale, Kendal Crowe (Jacob Lofland) is about to be tried as an adult for the shooting of Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Art Mullen (Nick Searcy). Raylan (Timothy Olyphant) tells Kendal’s mother, Wendy (Alicia Witt), that the case will go away if she can get her brother, Darryl (Michael Rapaport), who is actually the guilty party, to confess. Wendy does so, killing Darryl in the process.

Justified does an excellent job of creating complex family relationships. Like Margo Martindale’s brood before them, the Crowes are developed quite deeply, and the shifting alliances and positions make sense to the story. Viewers may root against these characters because they are not on the right side of the law and hurt innocents, but rarely do we see bad guys so compellingly detailed as those in this series.

The ending, Wendy taking down the leader of her clan gang, is about a mother protecting her child, but also about making up for her own past wrongs and escaping a family curse. There is so much emotion that goes into that scene, and the authentic way Witt and Rapaport play the showdown is simply amazing. Let’s hope they follow in Martindale’s footsteps of at least being nominated come award season, as they deserve it.

It’s interesting to see the Crowes clean up their own mess, Raylan stepping back and pulling the strings from the sidelines. Usually, Raylan wants to be right in the thick of things. Perhaps having a baby convinces him that he must be more careful, giving him a reason for self-preservation. With his transfer to Florida to be near his kid imminent, Raylan doesn’t want to screw up his chance at happiness.

Of course, there’s still time for Raylan to make more mistakes as he helps with AUSA Vasquez’s (Rick Gomez) new mission, likely Raylan’s last in Kentucky: bringing down Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins). Boyd is a dangerous and tempting foe, his path with Raylan inexorably entwined throughout the show. They have been friends at times, which only serves to make their animosity more intense. It makes sense for Raylan to want to be present for Boyd’s comeuppance. Yet, there’s a nagging suspicion that Raylan won’t be as triumphant as he expects, and maybe he should just get out of town while he’s ahead.

It’s cool to see Rachel (Erica Tazel), now the acting chief, and Tim (Jacob Pitts) go hard after Boyd. They’ve often been under-utilized on Justified, but with their beloved boss, Art, taken out of commission, they show their mettle in working towards justice. The Crowes and the Crowders are responsible for a great many ugly things, and Tim and Rachel definitely step it up when facing these foes.

Raylan will need his co-workers’ help because Boyd isn’t exactly acting alone. His most recent alliance is with Katherine Hale (Mary Steenburgen), whom Winn Duffy (Jere Burns) introduces Boyd to. Katherine seems nice enough on the surface, but there’s an undercurrent in her role that is edgy and scary. Boyd teaming up with her immediately makes taking on Boyd a more risky venture, sure to increase the stakes and drama in season six. Hopefully, though, they will be the only bad major bad guys, instead of splitting screen time as other years have done, allowing the stories to focus even more on them.

The marshals do have a secret weapon in Ava (Joelle Carter), whom they spring from jail. Ava likely cooperates even though she cares for Boyd because the months spent behind bars have been rough on her, and every day she spends locked up is another day she could die, having made more enemies than friends in confinement. She’s also a good choice as a weapon because Raylan knows her well and Boyd is blinded of suspicion by his love her for.

The Raylan-Ava-Boyd triangle, sure to be a centerpiece of the final season, cannot end well. Part of me is rooting for Boyd and Ava to somehow escape and find a happy ending. The other part of me knows they don’t deserve to avoid justice any longer. What is worrying is that it will be surprising if all three survive, one or two likely to be killed off along the way. The problem is, they are all too dear to go without being a huge blow to the program. We’ve spent years getting to know them, and any deaths here will be rough on fans.

I’ve been a fan of Justified from the first scene of the show. Over five years, it has maintained a consistent high quality, if not raising the bar from time to time. This inspires confidence that season six will be quite memorable, and with the stellar fifth year finale, it’s already on the right track.

Justified will return to FX in 2015.

JUSTIFIED "A Murder of Crowes"

Article first published as JUSTIFIED Review on Seat42F.

FX’s JUSTIFIED gets a change of scenery in the season five premiere, “A Murder of Crowes.” It hasn’t left Kentucky behind, as that is where the episode begins, but the world is expanded a little as Raylan (Timothy Olyphant) travels to Florida and Boyd (Walton Goggins) and Wynn Duffy (Jere Burns, now a series regular) head to Detroit. It’s an exciting way to start the year!

Both of these trips are connected to the main story, as it has played out over the past few years. Boyd is missing some drugs he expected to be shipped in from Michigan, and so is trying to figure out what has happened. Fans of the series are familiar with the particular gang Boyd deals with (played by Dave Foley, Will Sasso, and others), and whatever happens, whether Boyd gets his supply or not, there will be implications back at home.

Boyd may be a little distracted since Ava (Joelle Carter) is still in jail and he’d like to clear her name. This cannot be done from several states away, and so it isn’t long before Boyd heads back, leading to a very tense confrontation near the end of the hour.

At the same time, Raylan goes south to find Dewey Crowe’s (Damon Herriman) family. Dewey’s brothers (Monk’s Jason Gray-Stanford and Boston Public’s Michael Rapaport) and sister (Alicia Witt, Friday Night Lights) have gotten mixed up with a Cuban (Amaury Nolasco, Prison Break) who is bad news. Partnering with Deputy Sutter (David Koechner, Anchorman 2, The Office), Raylan tries to play nice with the kin of his foe.

JUSTIFIED has never been stronger than when Raylan comes across a family of criminals. Margo Martindale headed up a fantastic clan of no-good scoundrels previously, and it looks like season five’s Crowes are poised to be just as enticing.

The casting choices for them are terrific and the story is open-ended enough to run for awhile. Plus, bringing in the Florida Crowes ties the tale to an important recurring cast member (who himself had good development this week), making it feel like a natural part of the established mythology.

Though, it’s also awesome when Boyd and Raylan clash, and that’s little in evidence in “A Murder of Crowes,” with the two on completely different paths. I assume that will come later in the season.

The other central figure in Raylan’s existence, besides Boyd, is Winona (Natalie Zea). Without giving anything away, the dynamic between the two of them has definitely shifted since the last we saw them together. It makes one wonder what kind of person Raylan is, and if he will always make the right decisions, as he usually seems to do. This, more than anything, illustrates Raylan’s flaws, Winona being a weakness for him, and that’s an interesting area to explore in our hero’s psyche.

There are already quite a few guest stars listed in the preceding paragraphs, but those are just the tip of the iceberg. In the first hour alone, besides everyone mentioned above, we get Stephen Root (King of the Hill, Boardwalk Empire), Karolina Wydra (House M.D.), Sam Anderson (Lost, ER), and more. It’s a very impressive roster, and it means we’ll have a very full year of players and plot.

You may notice that several of these names are primarily comedic actors. That doesn’t mean they are used to lighten the mood on JUSITIFIED. As done with Patton Oswalt (who will be returning) last season, the series coaxes dramatic performances out of its funny people, showing range and skill viewers may be pleasantly surprised to find.

My only complaint about all of these new faces, other than that not everyone will get the opportunity to repeat their performance, is that it leaves little room for the main cast. Boyd, Wynn, and Raylan have screen time, of course, and Art (Nick Searcy) will continue to be important every now and then, but Rachel (Erica Tazel) and Tim (Jacob Pitts) are already seen so little that this can only be bad news for them. They deserve to be a bigger part of the show, too.

JUSTIFIED remains a great series, well worth watching, and “A Murder of Crowes” is a strong start to the fifth season. JUSTIFIED premieres Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET on FX.

BURN NOTICE Better In SEASON SIX

Article first published as DVD Review: 'Burn Notice Season Six' on Blogcritics.

Burn Notice, USA’s steps up its game in leaps and bounds in Season Six, elevating above the standard case-of-the-week, old-school-USA, fluff summer show. It is now available on DVD.

From the two-parter in which the central team is trapped in a foreign country to losing a major recurring character, to seeing a main player sit in jail for quite awhile, the series comes across with a new energy.

Michael Weston (Jeffrey Donovan), the center of Burn Notice, grows as a character a lot. We see him run the gamut of emotion in Season Six, from pure, unadulterated fury, proving he is capable of scorching the earth, to deep, soul-wrenching grief, to fiery love, to being helpless. Michael is put to the test in a variety of ways, and it finally gets him out of the pattern he has been stuck in.

The most shocking and jarring development for Michael is probably when his brother, Nate (Seth Peterson), is killed. In the past, the series has avoided removing any of the important players, but despite Nate’s recurring status, he is a vital member of Michael’s family. It’s an unexpected, gutsy move, and one that provides much motivation for Michael moving forward.

We also see the evolution of Michael’s relationship with Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar). It’s a challenge to show it   on screen, especially as she serves time in prison, but there is a strong, passionate bond between them that transcends that. Michael doesn’t open up much, not even to the audience, but Fiona owns his heart. Which leads to him by season’s end to one the most difficult decisions of his life.

With Michael going on revenge missions and getting involved in government work, Sam (Bruce Campbell) and Jesse (Coby Bell) are forced to step up and pick up the slack, while making sure he stays on the proper path. Sam has known Michael a very long time, and it’s gratifying to really see that pay off when Sam sticks by him during the tough times. Jesse enters the game much later, of course, not even being an original cast member, but is now completely intertwined and invaluable to the ensemble.

As usual, Michael’s mother, Maddie (Sharon Gless), is somewhat wasted. Don’t get me wrong, she has some absolutely brilliant moments to play this year in saving lives and losing a son. However, Gless is a masterful actress who really breathes something special into this role. As such, in the episodes where Maddie barely appears fans miss her soulful presence. She is essential to Michael’s humanity, maybe even more so than Fiona, and Gless deserves some serious pay off in the end.

Among the supporting players populating the show, a handful really deserve recognition for their work in Burn Notice Season Six. Jere Burns (Justified, Bates Motel) plays Michael’s greatest foe to date, Anson Fuller, a man who is as crafty as he is ruthless. Meanwhile, Lauren Stamile (Community, Grey’s Anatomy) hits the other end of the spectrum as Agent Pearce, a member of the FBI Michael learns to like and trust. Sadly, both complete their runs during Season Six, but for awhile, they expand the world of Burn Notice in new and incredibly interesting ways, becoming much more memorable than previous guest stars. Also, Sonja Sohn’s (Body of Proof) Agent Riley, while more familiar and less fresh, is still an entertaining addition.

Now, Burn Notice is not counted among the best shows on television, nor even on USA, and Season Six has some mediocre installments. But this is the year where it becomes a show worth telling others about and viewers can actually get invested in the tale, rather than just flip it on randomly some week. If the final season is as good as this one, or even builds upon it a bit, it will be a worthwhile and satisfying pay off.

The extras on Burn Notice Season Six are a little light. We get audio commentary only on a single episode, the standard deleted scenes and gag reel, and a single featurette, “Matt Nix Gets Burned. The latter is six minutes of behind-the-scenes talk about the creator of the show as the Season Six finale is being filmed. It’s an attempt at a humorous mockumentary in the style of Burn Notice, and it somewhat succeeds, though it lacks continuity, which for a short, shouldn’t be difficult to achieve.

If you are a fan of Burn Notice, Season Six is the best one yet, and especially if you have drifted away from the show, I do recommend checking it out. It could be better, but it’s a couple of steps above what has come before it, and regular viewers should be very satisfied.

Justified Haunted by Ghosts

Article first published as TV Review: Justified - "Ghosts" on Blogcritics.

"Ghosts" is the fourth season finale of FX's Justified, which aired this week. Does the title refer to the ghost of Raylan's father, Arlo (Raymond J. Barry), recently deceased, whom Raylan (Timothy Olyphant) has always had a complicated relationship with? Or does it refer to the friendship between Raylan and Boyd (Walton Goggins), the men they once were, and the very different men they have become?

Justified works primarily because of the complex characters in the story. Raylan is a lawman, and only shoots the bad guys when he has a reason. His career is in stark contrast to his criminal father, and sometimes he struggles with the worry that he will turn into Arlo. This isn't helped when Boyd compares the two, something Boyd may be doing just to get under Raylan's skin, knowing him as well as he does.

But Raylan makes a huge decision in "Ghosts," and it threatens his good reputation. He sets up Nicky (Mike O'Malley) to be whacked by Sammy (Max Perlich), his rival in the Detroit mob. Raylan may not pull the trigger himself, but he is complicit in the act. It will weigh on his conscience, drawing him closer to the man Arlo was, and that's a huge sacrifice for Raylan to make.

Raylan does have a good reason for his actions. Nicky sends armed men into Winona's (Natalie Zea) home; Winona who is pregnant with Raylan's child, and whom Raylan still loves. Nicky vows to keep coming after them. Raylan does what he must to protect the mother of his child and his unborn daughter. However, in doing so, he gives away a piece of his soul.

This sort of no-win situation, the kind the tests a hero's mettle, is what makes defines a man. Raylan may be a flawed hero, but he is a hero. He rarely acts out of any selfish impulse. Even the foolish choices he makes are to protect others. He's stubborn and won't quit, even when suspended, but that just proves his dedication to justice and serving others. It's a complicated situation when a good guy disobeys the rules for the right reasons.

Obviously, murder is the greatest extension of that, and it's a good thing that no one knows about Raylan's actions. It may still come out eventually; Justified is the type of series to bring back something years later, when it's least expected. If this comes to light, it will ruin Raylan's career. It doesn't matter that Nicky deserves to die, or that if Nikky doesn't die, Winona very well could. It's the fact that Raylan took matters into his own hands and allowed the killing to take place that is unacceptable to the government.

This will jeopardize his chances for promotion, which Raylan is up for as Art (Nick Searcy) considers retirement, even while under suspension. This proves just how good Raylan's track record is. If the breach stays hidden long enough, Raylan may even get Art's job, at least for awhile. Though I hate to lose Art, it would be interesting to see Raylan in charge, even if Tim (Jacob Pitts) or Rachel (Erica Tazel) may have the better disposition for it.

One wonders how the Detroit men will hold this wrongdoing over Raylan's head. Wynn Duffy (Jere Burns) is their man in Kentucky now, hiring Boyd to distribute heroin for them. Wynn may or may not know what Raylan does, but if he finds out, he will definitely use it to curry favor with Raylan. Will Raylan have to kill others to protect his secret, or will that be a line he can't cross, willing only to do bad to protect others, not himself?

Either way, as Raylan sips a beer and looks at his own grave stone, next to his father's recently buried body and marker, there is a lot going on, both for Raylan the character, and for the viewer. Olyphant plays such a sympathetic, layered man, you can see the various emotions roiling behind his eyes. And having witnessed everything Raylan has done, there's a lot for the fans to think about in that moment, too.

On Boyd's side of the story, things go as far south as they can in "Ghosts." He is at the brink of happiness with Ava (Joelle Carter), making money, keeping his enemies in check, and then world is ripped out from under him. He is betrayed by those he thinks he can control, and while Boyd escapes harm, Ava is put in jail for murder.

Even though Boyd is a scoundrel, the opposite of Raylan, fans still root for him. He is charming, and he has his own code, even if the moral compass is skewed compared to most. Boyd is more than just a troublemaker, trying to better his situation, and he really does love Ava. These things make him relatable on some level.

Sadly, Boyd's decisions mean that he will never have a happy ending. Sure, one can make all the right choices and still not get what they want. However, Raylan is the main character of Justified, and he is sworn to prevent some of the things that Boyd engages in. Either Boyd will eventually have to change his ways, or Raylan will have to stop him.

That day will be a sad one. In "Ghosts," Raylan forces Boyd to take him to Nicky. It's a unwilling partnership, but the interaction between the two is always magical. They have a long history, and even when they disapprove of one another, there is still a connection there that cannot be broken. I think Raylan arresting or killing Boyd would be the hardest thing Raylan would ever have to do. Hopefully, Boyd will choose to team up with Raylan instead.

Boyd certainly doesn't take the right path in this finale. Despite Ava being locked away, and getting her out will definitely be Boyd's main focus next year, he agrees to work with Wynn, a new criminal enterprise for Boyd. He clearly doesn't learn his lesson, since doing wrong is what gets Ava in trouble in the first place.

Then again, with the people Boyd previously blackmailed now having something to hang over his head, getting the better of Boyd. It could serve him well to be backed up by a partnership with the Detroit mob, giving him the clout he needs to be back in the local game, after losing his self-earned cred in this installment.

The fourth year has been a typically stellar one for Justified. It may not have given us a new batch of guest stars to be impressed by, as previous seasons have done, but it made excellent use of its talented recurring cast, and added a few new, wonderful players to that lineup, such as Bob (Patton Oswalt). The mystery arc is a departure from previous outings, keeping the show changing and interesting, and the character development is, as usual, awesome.

Justified will return next year for a fifth season on FX.

Bates Motel dreams of death

Article first posted as BATES MOTEL Review on Seat42F.com

Grade: 96%

A&E is not particularly known for their dramas. They’ve had a few scripted series up to this point, like The Glades, Breakout Kings, and The Cleaner, but they are formulaic crime dramas, not a complex, serial show that deserves attention and praise. With the premiere of BATES MOTEL on March 18th, that changes.

BATES MOTEL, as one might expect, is set at the same location as the classic Hitchcock film Psycho, and looks perfectly in sync with the earlier work. This television series is a prequel to the movie, set many years earlier. As the first episode, “Fist You Dream, Then You Die” opens, Norman Bates’ (Freddie Highmore, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Finding Neverland) father dies, and his mother, Norma (Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air, The Departer), moves them to a small town where she has purchased a motel and the house behind it.

The elements one would expect from such a project are immediately present. Norman is eager to please and mostly obedient. Norma is controlling and manipulative. The motel itself is cursed from the beginning, it having been taken away from a family that has long owned the land by the bank, and a descendant of that family is not happy to let it go. The tone is creepy and disturbing, but not too obviously so.

The cast does a superb job. Highmore is the right mix of good son and budding psychopath. He is trying to be a normal kid, but that’s not the way his mother has raised him, nor does she let explore that option. Farmiga captures the portrait of the type of mother that would name her son after herself. The way she coldly receives the news of her husband’s death, then later handles Norman, is compelling to watch, and surely she is making a mark on the television landscape, owning the role.

Right away, death also comes to the Bates Motel. There are strong hints that Norma might have offed her own husband, and (very slight spoiler) there will be a second body by the end of the first hour. I don’t know if BATES MOTEL is a horror show, per se, and if there will continue to be serial killings throughout; after all, no one suspects Norman long after his mother passes on. But the stage is set for what must be.

Much of the purpose of the series will be to take Norman from normal child to cold-hearted murderer. We see he has a possible support system, with girls who want to be his friends and a teacher offering mentorship. But we also see how the boys don’t take a shine to him, and how Norma cuts him off from social interaction. And then, witnessing what Norma involves him in, we see the seeds of things to come.

Not that Norma is totally obvious in her machinations. To a viewer at home, sure, we can tell she’s a horrible mother because we see it all. To a character in the show, outside of the family, she may seem a little strict, but not someone to worry about. At least, not yet.

The supporting cast is just as good as the two leads, which helps with the overall effect. After all, BATES MOTEL is set in a town, so there must be townspeople. These fellow residents pleasantly round out the world in a very authentic way without distracting or mandating plots of their own. They include Nestor Carbonell (Lost) as the Sheriff, Keegan Connor Tracy (Once Upon a Time) as Miss Watson, Norman’s teacher, and Olivia Cooke as an odd classmate. Upcoming guests (according to IMDB and Wikipedia) will include Jere Burns (Justified), Mike Vogel (Pan Am), Richard Harmon (The Killing), and even Kate Winslet (Titantic, Mildred Pierce).

“First You Dream, Then You Die” is a lot of setup, especially the beginning, but manages to not feel too much like it is. We enter at a critical moment in Norman’s life, one that will put him on a certain path, and he already begins going down that path in the premiere. The start of the action is not sudden or jarring, and yet, this pilot does a good job of actually getting into the meat of the story. Credit writing, directing, and production, as well as the performers, because this is an excellent pilot in just about every way imaginable, with a definite cinematic quality.

My only slight complaint is that there is a bit of heavy handedness present. “First You Dream, Then You Die” begins with Norman listening to dialogue on a television talking about a grown man living with his mother. Norma wears the same dress and hairstyle to dinner that the corpse at the end of the film is sporting. But while it may have been better to spread out such references through multiple episodes, instead of sticking a bunch in the premiere, it does effectively tie this project to its source material, so it’s not totally unwarranted.

BATES MOTEL deserves attention, and Highmore and Farmiga will hopefully get some Emmy credit. Which means you probably won’t want to miss a show this good. I certainly won’t.

"Where Waldo?" On Justified

Article first published as TV Review: Justified - "Where's Waldo?" on Blogcritics.

FX's Justified continues its second season this week with "Where's Waldo?" Art (Nick Searcy) is drawn into the mystery of Waldo Truth, whose name and bag are found in Arlo's (Raymond J. Barr) wall. When Raylan (Timothy Olyphant) realizes that Arlo killed a man in prison just because he overheard Raylan talking about the bag, the Marshalls decide that they need to pay Waldo's family a visit.

The tale of Waldo Truth, and his connection to Justified's characters, seems to be the main storyline this season. By the end of "Where's Waldo?" we know that Arlo probably helped cover up a fake death, and, for some reason, Art is interested in the case, which he seems to already know a little about. This is a deeper plot that first realized, with connections to the past of main players. It is a ripe fruit to pick.

Justified is sort of a cop series, but it's much more about people than action. The show has always taken the time to let the actors really dig into their characters, and present complicated individuals with convoluted relationships. While law enforcement types will probably figure out what crimes have been committed and who has committed them in the end, that's not really the point of the episode.

A great example of this is when Raylan, Art, and Tim (Jacob Pitts) go to confront Waldo's family. At first, they meet up with punk kid Milo (Ethan Jamieson, The Hunger Games), who just deserves to be smacked so hard! Then, they talk to the matriarch of the family (Beth Grant, No Country for Old Men, Jericho). Instead of getting the information that they need and leaving, the scene lingers, letting the personalities clash in delicious ways.

The reason Justified can get away with this is because they are able to cast such fantastic guest stars. No one who saw it has forgotten what Margo Martindale did in season two. I don't know if Beth Grant is being set up for a similar run, but she will most definitely be back, probably multiple times, and her bits this week are intriguing.

Besides the guests, though, watching Raylan, Art, and Tim is fun in and of itself. They aren't often working as a team on the show, but when they do, it's always superb. When one of the Truths tells them to get off their property in 10 seconds, and then five, Tim ribs Raylan that his line is being stolen. When Milo calls the Marshalls perverts, and then Raylan has to relieve the kid of his gun, the reactions among the various feds are great. These details are what keep viewers tuning in week after week.

I also love the increased story for Art. We know that he is nearing retirement age now, and he's out in the field in "Where's Waldo?" to prove he's still fit enough to run his department. This is a man who has pride, who is not ready to be put out to pasture yet, and who thinks that only he can handle his cavalcade of unhinged deputies. The scene where he talks about his people, listing their issues without naming their names, is a particular favorite of mine in this episode, catching you up with some of the more minor characters' stories, while also showing us something about Art.

The retirement plot isn't laid out overtly, but rather, Justified gives you the pieces and the viewer is supposed to put them together. There is no line where Art talks about his motivations, and his possible pending resignation from the unit is just briefly mentioned a couple of times. Yet, Searcy conveys a lot that doesn't need to be put into words.

Bottom line, it's not smart to play on your phone while watching Justified. You're going to miss something.

Across town, Boyd (Walton Goggins) makes a move against preacher man Billy St. Cyr (Joseph Mazzello, The Pacific, Jurassic Park), only to learn that the real threat comes from Billy's sister, Cassie (Lindsay Pulsipher, Hatfields & McCoys, True Blood). We are just beginning to get a glimpse of the religious fanatics. Billy seems sincere, so it's probably Cassie who is up to no good. We have not seen enough to figure out what she might want, though, and as Boyd is doing, it's wise to bide one's time and keep an eye on her, for now.

Besides, Boyd has other troubles when he finds drugs being dealt in his territory. It doesn't take long for the Dixie Mafia to come after their dealer who Boyd has taken hostage, and they send Wynn Duffy (Jere Burns) to be their voice.

Wynn is a fantastic character, one whom Justified keeps finding ways to bring back. This latest tiff shows that Wynn is definitely a bad-ass again, his superior from last season no longer keeping him down and scaring the crap out of him. It is a bit thrilling to witness a villain returned to glory, even when we know it will only make trouble for the good guys.

Wynn's method of dealing with the situation is awesome, but it's a shame that he kind of shuts down Boyd. Boyd wants continued involvement with Wynn's employers, which would be nice for fans of the series, as it gives Wynn an excuse to return on a recurring basis. After Wynn refuses Boyd's offer, we're left in the dark about how he might be back next. However, there's the distinct impression that he will be, and sooner, rather than later.

I like that Boyd has Colt (Ron Eldard, Blind Justice, Super 8) working for him now. As great as Johnny (David Meunier) and Ava (Joelle Carter) may be as characters, they are not all that threatening, and with Boyd getting into plenty of scuffles, he needs a strong right-hand man to keep power. Colt is definitely that guy, violent and a little insane.

The only thing I'm not crazy about on this side of the series is the larger presence of Ellen May (Abby Miller) so far this season. It is likely because I'm not a fan of the character, and so I don't relish her extra screen time. She is definitely a pawn in the game, so she may just be held up to be expendable. However, while she is still alive, I'm getting a little annoyed about seeing her so much.

The other side trip in "Where's Waldo?" involves a man named Randall (Robert Baker, Grey's Anatomy). He has a brief encounter early in the hour with Raylan, and then the episode continues to follow him, even though he is no longer interacting with anyone familiar. It is kind of odd, but it's a good way to pique interest, teasing us with the certainty that Randall is important, but not revealing why until the end of the installment. I kind of wish that they'd kept the mystery going longer, but it's still a cool way to handle things.

"Where's Waldo?" doesn't have a ton of action, but a few key scenes, as well as stellar acting (as usual) make it a fine installment. Two episodes in, and already I'm hungry for more, wanting to know the rest of the story that the show will patiently spin out bit by bit over the next couple of months. Justified is a very well-made show, and with episodes like this, it's easy to see why.

Justified airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on FX.

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A "Shock Wave" rips through Burn Notice

Last night's installment of USA's Burn Notice, "Shock Wave," was huge, in terms of plot development. The major characters are split up. Michael (Jeffrey Donovan) and a team go after Anson (Jere Burns), whom they have located. But when Michael's brother, Nate (Seth Peterson), who is accompanying the squad, gets reckless, he and Anson are both killed. Meanwhile, Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar) avoids British intelligence long enough to earn her CIA-approved release, and Sam (Bruce Campbell) protects Barry (Paul Tei) from some of Fiona's former gun-running associates.

Make no mistake about it. This is a game changer. Michael is devastated by the loss of his brother, and will surely blame himself for getting Nate involved, even if Nate's own dumb actions led to his demise. It's a good thing Fiona is out of prison, because Michael is going to need a lot of comfort, and he will be driven even more by a longing for revenge than before, so he'll need some reigning in. Otherwise, both Weston brothers could be in body bags before long.

The question is, will Maddie (Sharon Gless) blame Michael? She hides out at home for most of the episode, but "Shock Wave" ends with Michael delivering the tragic news. Because of Michael's character, he will not defend himself if Maddie begins getting accusatory. It's no secret that she doesn't like a lot of Michael's activities, and after this, expect bigger push back from her to bring this whole spy life to an end.

Would that be so bad? With Anson down, yet again Burn Notice reveals a deeper level of conspiracy. Every time Michael catches someone who is involved in his burn notice, that person is killed, and he learns that there's someone else behind them. It's an endless cycle. Fans might be forgiven for thinking Anson was at the bottom of the whole thing, having stuck around longer than most previous villains, and being played oh so well by Burns. But nope, someone has Anson killed, so there's more to discover.

It is supremely disappointing that, after being strung along this long, Anson is not the real power behind Michael's bad luck. It's predictable, of course, given the series's pattern. But it's starting to feel like this will never end for Michael. The best thing he can do now is to try to forget it all and move on. Which won't happen because Michael is not good at letting things go.

But with Nate's death, it really looks like Michael might either have to give up his elusive white whale, or go down like Ahab. Which will it be? It's a decision that cannot possibly be revealed until the series finale, and because of USA's sunny nature, it will probably be neither, with Michael ending up triumphant, no matter how unrealistic that is, or how against the grain it goes with the path that has been revealed. Of course, to be fair, Burn Notice is a hero tale, and that kind of bleak outlook would betray the tone of the series.

That has always been my problem with Burn Notice. No matter how great it is, and trust me, "Shock Wave" is a terrific episode, with lots of action and suspense, there is always some nagging feeling that it's not quite living up to its potential. Perhaps in the age of the antihero, so well played on other networks, the happy ending and lightheartedness seems trite. This episode comes as close to greatness as the show has ever been, with each of the original trio getting their own thrilling tale, and the stakes being quite high. But then, as soon I start reflecting, the larger picture makes the good feelings begin to crumble again. Luckily, it's entertaining enough to survive such doubts, and emerge out the other end, still immensely watchable.

The other problem I have with "Shock Wave" has nothing to do with the episode itself, and everything to do with the impatient culture currently reigning. I stopped watching previews of next week's episode long ago because networks, all networks, have little respect for the surprise twist. But avoiding trailers and clips are not enough to stay in the dark anymore. It was no secret for anyone on the internet that Burn Notice would feature a major death last night before the episode even began.

As soon as I started watching "Shock Wave," it was obvious who it would be. Burn Notice wouldn't dare kill off one of their main characters, who are all pretty popular with fans, because it would be a little too dark for the mood the series sets. And while some theorized that Barry would bite the big one, the longer his story with Sam went on, the more obvious it was that they were both dead or neither of them were. Given rule number one, that made Barry safe, too. Though, the Barry and Sam stuff was beyond cool!

But Nate started making mistakes right out of the gate. He disobeyed Michael, and didn't know at all how to handle himself. Without the knowledge that a death was coming, this might have made me think he would be taken hostage or something, because killing him off really is a bold, unexpected move for Burn Notice to make. However, because of the spoiler that was nearly impossible to avoid, the death was anything but surprising by the time it actually happened. Which is a real loss for storytelling, which was great in this episode when taken alone, without the leaks.

So I guess the lesson is, stay off the internet. Funny for an internet-based reviewer to be saying that, though reviews almost always deal with what already happened, not what is going to happen. Even if it's your favorite show you just can't wait to get some nugget of information about, someone is going to ruin some of the best parts if you're not careful. "Shock Wave" is a spectacular episode when viewed in a bubble, but suffers repercussions because of hype and people who just can't help but share when they have a juicy piece of gossip. It's not tantalizing to tease a big event. It's a slap in the face to regular viewers.

Despite the spoil sports, definitely continue to watch Burn Notice, because "Shock Wave" and the earlier episodes this season have established a new pattern. The show is playing a higher level game than before, and it's working extremely well for it.

Burn Notice airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on USA.

Check out my new website, JeromeWetzel.com! If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Article first published on TheTVKing

Burn Notice is "Under the Gun" and I like it

USA's Burn Notice continues its bold sixth season with "Under the Gun." Michael (Jeffrey Donovan), Jesse (Coby Bell), and Sam (Bruce Campbell) are following a lead when the encounter Rebecca (Kristanna Loken, Painkiller Jane, The L Word), the member of Michael's CIA team that betrayed him. Rebecca takes Sam hostage, leading Michael and Jesse on a dramatic, high stakes chase.

Applause to Burn Notice for continuing to chuck case of the week over interesting, longer story arcs! The return of Rebecca comes at the perfect time! Like Michael, Anson (Jere Burns) has some leverage over her, meaning there will have to be at least another episode where Michael and company try to help her. It's a worthy development, continuing the Anson plot, and finally raising the stakes of the series.

"Under the Gun" is pretty cool. It's not the first time we've seen Sam in danger, but he makes an entertaining hostage. His interactions with Rebecca are fun enough, but with that hint of danger that keeps the pace moving and the episode enticing.

Also, seeing Rebecca match wits with Michael and Jesse, with neither really gaining an advantage for quite awhile, is pretty neat. As the stories have gotten better on Burn Notice, so too have the villains. In this episode, not only does the bad guy get to be complex, not really being all that bad, but she's also smart, testing Michael on many levels. It's this kind of writing that will keep fans coming back to Burn Notice, and frees it of any age curse.

There might also be hints here of how Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar) raises Michael's game. Without her, he has seemed a little lost. He doesn't bring the firepower she frequently supplies, and he's distracted. Donovan's acting may not be flawless when he has to dig into sorrowful emotions, but it's effective and appropriate for the character. Having Fiona in jail is doing a number on Michael, which might explain why he can't quite stop Rebecca throughout "Under the Gun."

In the subplot, Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar) make a friend in prison named Ayn (Zabryna Guevara, 3 lbs.). It's clear that someone, most likely Anson, really wants Fiona dead, and the would-be assassins keep coming. To stop the latest pair, Fiona asks Ayn to orchestrate a shake down, which she does, building a little trust among the two women.

It comes not a moment too soon. Fiona is marked for death, and how long can she keep it at bay? Sure, she's stopped a couple of attempts thus far, but people are just going to keep trying to take her out. Having Ayn in her corner makes it a little more difficult to get to Fiona.

As Fiona's part of the bargain with Ayn, she must have a package delivered to the prison. This is easier said then done, which Madelaine (Sharon Gless) discovers when she attempts to retrieve it from Ayn's ex. She leaves with a black eye. Poor Maddie! She needs more good story, and when she gets some, one would prefer not to see her beat up during it.

Of course, Michael avenges his mom in a very serious fashion, letting some anger boil over. It's a testament, once more, to how much he misses Fiona. Yes, Michael will not let anyone mess with his mother and get away with it. But he's also on edge because of the situation, making him less predictable.

Going forward, surely Fiona will be freed before she is killed. But until that point is reached, how far will Michael go? How much will he break down? These are the questions driving the current batch of episode, and they are doozies, to be sure!

Watch Burn Notice Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on USA.

Check out my new website, JeromeWetzel.com! If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Read every Burn Notice review I've ever written. Article first published as Burn Notice is "Under the Gun" and I like it on TheTVKing.com

The "Scorched Earth" of Burn Notice

USA's BURN NOTICE returned last night with the season six premiere, "Scored Earth." Picking up the moment that season five left off, Michael (Jeffrey Donovan) goes on a very personal vendetta against Anson Fullerton (Jere Burns, Justified), determined to make him pay for his part in landing Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar) in jail. But Anson is not done yet, and has a few more tricks up his sleeve.

Generally, no matter how much serial plot is included in a BURN NOTICE episode, the writers still force a case of the week in to keep with their formula. "Scorched Earth" does not have such an addition, which makes it that much better. BURN NOTICE has some wonderful characters with a very interesting story. Why it insists on being a procedural is beyond me, when "Scorched Earth" proves that they can do better. I'm not saying ditch the clients entirely, but they are not needed every week.

Admittedly, "Scorched Earth" starts a little rough. For some reason, the acting between Donovan and Bruce Campbell, who plays Michael's best friend, Sam, is absolutely horrible in an early confrontation. The scene just sets one's teeth on edge. These performers usually do so much better, and it feels like a bad, cheesy TV movie for one entire scene. Then it recovers beautifully, and the two men remind us why they can carry a series, playing more subtle, nuanced, and less hammy for the rest of the hour.

Michael's anger, which oozes through every minute of "Scored Earth," is an awesome thing to tackle. Yes, viewers know that Michael is a spy who has done some seriously questionable things in his life. But never before has he been this scary. This episode changes that, showing fans exactly how bad Michael can get, in a situation that no one would want to be in. Anson is threatening Fiona, the love of Michael's life. As bad a guy as Anson has been, and as dangerous as he seems, one is more concerned for his safety than Michael's in this episode.

There is also something primal about Michael's emotion, and there is a worry of how it might change him. Should he lose Fiona permanently, it is very easy to picture how Michael might go over the edge, blazing through everyone in his path, single-mindedly destroying his own life while focused on one purpose. He could not be easily stopped. This is a Michael that is not the likeable characters fan of BURN NOTICE have grown accustomed to, and it's a side of him that, while thrilling to see here, is not one that anyone is eager to have brought out again.

Sam's loyalty is really driven home in "Scorched Earth," as he is the only thing that stands between Michael and psychotic. Unlike in other episodes, where Sam is content to let Michael work through things, he never leaves Michael's side this time. While Michael does give up a little too easily in the factory, giving Sam a weird, unwarranted smile, Sam's constant presence, as well as wise words, are what keep Michael from flying off the handle completely. Were Sam not present in this situation, there is no doubt that things would have ended much more tragically for someone, or multiple someones, possibly Michael himself.

Agent Pearce (Lauren Stamile) also ends up being a calming factor. She doesn't take Michael's crap, talking back to him as he berates and bullies her. But she doesn't give up on him either. She does find men to back up Michael, and comes to his aid. Her chemistry with Michael, and what she represents for the show, have really earned her a place on BURN NOTICE. Should the series want to add another main character, and it should, she is candidate number one.

Anson is the lowest of the low, killing innocents and going after Michael's loved ones to get what he wants. He is also incredibly smart, which makes him the perfect villain for Michael to go up against. Not easily defeated, every bit a match for our hero, thank goodness BURN NOTICE does not kill him off, as it has done with so many other recurring characters before their potential has been fully realized. Look for Anson to reappear again, hopefully as the ultimate antagonist at the end of the series.

In "Scored Earth," Anson sends a killer after Michael's mother, Maddie (Sharon Gless). We have seen Maddie handle herself time and again, and helped by her very quick mind. Which is why she manages to hide from the murderer, and survive until help can arrive.

Jesse (Coby Bell) runs to her rescue, but letting Madeline save Jesse is a great twist, really giving the actress something fun and brave to play. Every time Maddie gets a scene like this, it reminds us that she is often wasted. Get her more involved, writers! She can handle it!

While all of this is going on, Fiona sits behind bars, being interrogated by a familiar face, Jason Bly (Alex Carter). Bly is the prime example of how the good guys aren't always all that good. On one hand, he is just doing his job, questioning a known criminal. Lying to Fiona, telling her that Michael is dead, is a smart tactic. On the other hand, though, viewers have come to love Fiona, knowing that she has a good heart, and doesn't deserve to be put through this pain. That's why Bly comes off as the one to hate here, even if, from a totally objective viewpoint, he isn't doing anything wrong.

Of course, Fiona doesn't buy that Michael is dead. At first, it looks like she might believe it, but she figures out the deception. She is worthy of Michael, and an equal partner for him in every way. While behind bars, she will definitely be missed in any hairy emergency that Michael and the others might face.

"Scored Earth" does a good job setting up the larger arcs of the season, with Michael, Sam, and Pearce working to clear Fiona's name, since Anson is not brought to justice, or yet proven responsible for the crimes Fiona is accused of. It also gives Michael somewhere to grow, both on a personal level, and a professional one, as he must trust the system to maintain the new, legitimate life he is building, even though his instincts are to fight it.

Will BURN NOTICE stretch out this story for an entire season, only spending scant moments on it each week, while helping client after client? Or will it stick to this much better strategy of letting the characters fully explore themselves and their situation for the entire hour? Common sense says the former, unfortunately, but tuning in is the only way to know for sure. And even when BURN NOTICE falls short of its potential, it still a pretty darn entertaining show.

Watch BURN NOTICE, Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on USA.

Burn Notice Season Five on DVD

USA's Burn Notice recently began its sixth season. It is appropriate, then, that season five recently came out on DVD. Fans who missed the lead up to the great season six premiere will want to know that back story of how Michael (Jeffrey Donovan), Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar), and the others got to the point where they are. This four disc set answers those questions quite nicely.

Season five, itself, is a wonderful story, with more ambitious arcs than earlier runs of the series. Picking up with Michael back in the CIA's good graces, hunting down the people that burned him, Michael's work is finally legitimate. He even has a new partner named Max (Grant Show, Private Practice, Melrose Place)!

But this status quo does not last long. Max is murdered, and Michael comes under suspicion for the crime, leading to the appointment of Agent Pearce (Lauren Stamile, Community, Grey's Anatomy) to oversee things. Michael struggles throughout the year to prove himself to her and to stay on the job. This is made more complicated with the arrival of Anson Fullerton (Jere Burns, Justified, Dear John), a psychiatrist who burned Michael, and now wants to blackmail him for his own purposes. Which Anson does by making it look like Fiona committed murder.


The various factions warring on this season of Burn Notice, with bad guys, CIA agents, a lover, and Michael's regular crew all competing for attention and story time, make the year not only jam packed with excitement, but one of the most complex stories on the network. Michael's focus becomes frayed, often splitting the team into two groups, simultaneously working separate missions. There are twists and turns, many with high stakes and unintended consequences. Bringing in new faces like Anson and Pearce not only mix up the dynamics, but also rejuvenate a formula that had begun to grow stale.

Besides Donovan and Anwar, original cast members Bruce Campbell, as Michael's friend Sam, and Sharon Gless, as Michael's mother Maddie, continue to shine, getting their moments in the spotlight. Coby Bell's Jesse, added to the cast the year before, also settles into the group's chemistry, and cements his status as one of the main players.

Among the highlights of the summer run of season five are: "Company Man," where Michael is first seen working as a government operative; "Mind Games," in which Fiona urges Michael to move on from his past, which he refuses to do when he realizes that there is still an active, ongoing conspiracy; "No Good Deed," which finds Michael trying to avoid blame for Max's murder, while also searching for the real killer; "Enemy of My Enemy," where Sam is abandoned by the CIA during an undercover mission for them; "Hard Out," involving the team tracking a bomb maker, as well as Maddie finding love; "Army of One," in which Maddie is taken hostage at an airport; and the fall finale "Dead to Rights," which clears Michael of Max's murder, introduces Anson, and brings back old foe Larry (Tim Matheson, Hart of Dixie, The West Wing) one finale time.

The shorter fall batch of episodes also has great moments. "Damned If You Do" finds Anson sending Michael and Fiona to Puerto Rico. In "Necessary Evil," Maddie's boyfriend is exposed as an agent of Anson's, with tragic consequences. "Acceptable Loss" features a friend of Jesse's who is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to bring down a very bad man. And the season concludes in "Fail Safe," with Michael running a very important CIA operation, which Anson screws up, and Fiona turns herself into the police to free Michael from Anson's control.

This four disc DVD set includes a number of special features. There are lots of deleted scenes spanning all the discs. "Army of One" gets the extended treatment, while "Fail Safe" has an optional audio commentary. There is also a gag reel and a featurette on the villains of Burn Notice, which profiles such memorable bad guys as Carla (Tricia Helfer), Vaughn (Robert Wisdom), Mason Gilroy (Chris Vance), Larry, and Anson.

Burn Notice Season 5 will likely be remembered as the year when the show raised its game a level. There are still clients in every installment, but the serial elements of the series finally get more attention, and the characters show real growth and development. This is a DVD set any fan should own.

Buy Burn Notice Season 5, on sale now.

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A 'Guy Walks Into a Bar' on Justified

FX's Justified starts building towards a climatic finale this week with "A Guy Walks Into a Bar." Boyd (Walton Goggins) outsmarts Quarles (Neal McDonough), using a legal loophole to get his pick for sheriff into office. Quarles does not take it well, getting high and threatening Raylan (Timothy Olyphant). Raylan is ready for a showdown with Quarles, but the bartender, Lindsey (Jenn Lyon), diffuses the situation, earning her a place in Raylan's bed. Coming out of the confrontation, Quarles gets reckless with his life, and Raylan gets reckless in court, telling Judge Reardon (Stephen Root) to go ahead and free Dickie Bennett (Jeremy Davies). The judge reluctantly complies.

Last year, Margo Martindale won an Emmy for her fantastic recurring role as the villain in season two of Justified. Up 'til now, McDonough has been interesting, but has not risen to her level. "A Guy Walks Into a Bar" changes all that, allowing McDonough to relish the dark depths and borderline insanity of his character. Whether telling the tale of how he killed his drug-addicted father, who sold a child Quarles into sexual slavery, or facing down two men wielding guns with no seeming care for his own life, this is a new, desperate Quarles. McDonough expertly lets the inner feelings bubble to the surface in a tour de force performance, certainly putting him on the short list come awards season.

Raylan is also heading towards self-destruction. After Winona (Natalie Zea) leaves him, he appears to be itching for a fight, an urge that is growing within him every week. He won't be able to ignore it much longer. It may be a natural reaction for Raylan to deal with his sadness, but it's not a healthy one. Moving in above a bar and setting himself up in Quarles's path are not good signs of mental stability. Raylan can usually handle himself in any situation, and he shows the 'cool' factor that makes his character so great in his stand off with Quarles this week. But he also lets Dickie out, seemingly just so he can stage some kind of altercation again, and possibly kill Dickie this time.

Catching Dickie just might be something Raylan is not prepared for. Dickie has also crossed the ruthless, creepy Limestone (Mykelti Williamson). The best case scenario for the marshal may be that Limestone murders Dickie quickly and quietly. Should Raylan insert himself in the middle of their situation, and find Limestone backed by his gang, it's hard to imagine how the lone lawman could come out ahead. Raylan does better with one-on-one, or even two-on-one, battles.

The wild card here is Boyd. Boyd is the one that bested Quarles, even though Quarles's rage now seems pointed mainly at Raylan. Boyd also has dealings with Limestone, and would like to see Dickie dead. Not to mention Boyd's past with Raylan. Fully back in the criminal world, Boyd is the one with connections to everyone, but it's uncertain whether he is more valuable alive or dead to any given party. Or how his self-preservation instinct will balance with his business sense.

Also, if it's apparent that Quarles is about to go down, look for Wynn Duffy (Jere Burns) to switch sides or flee, which could lead to another unexpected game-changer.

Justified was just recently picked up for a fourth year. It continues its excellent third season run Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on FX.

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Burn Notice is "Damned If You Do"

     As USA's Burn Notice returns to finish their fifth season in "Damned If You Do," Michael Weston (Jeffrey Donovan) is sent by Anson Fullerton (Jere Burns) to get a computer guy hiding down in Puerto Rico. Michael and Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar) make the snatch, but when the guy takes them to his girlfriend (Carla Gallo, Bones, Men of a Certain Age), a cocaine dealer is soon after them. Michael figures out how to get the info Anson wants, let the guy and girl escape, and have the cocaine dealer end up in jail. All in a day's work.

     Carla Gallo should guest star in every series, and she is well on her way, with many credits already under her belt. She is cute, funny, and a pretty darn good actress. Despite her very small role in Burn Notice, she still adds to the episode's enjoyment greatly. Wonderful decision to cast her.

     Anson is making Michael do things that aren't right. Anson isn't the first man that leads Michael down a dark path, but this time, the stakes are considerably high. If Michael doesn't keep doing as Anson asks, his love, Fiona, will spend the rest of her life in prison. But what Anson asks is not only dangerous and illegal, but could get people hurt. In "Damned If You Do," Michael gets a horrible virus for Anson that could cause some real damage. Considering what a psychopath Anson is, there is no telling what he might use it for. Is saving Fiona from being behind bars really worth other lives?

     Even scarier, Agent Pearce (Lauren Stamile) ups Michael's security clearance with the government this week. Michael now has more access to sensitive things, and Anson will surely take full advantage of that. Since, somehow, he knows. Is there a leak in Pearce's camp, or even higher up the food chain?

     At some point, Michael is going to decide that it's not worth it. He has to. True, he could end up clearing her name first, but it would be far more interesting if he doesn't, and has to sacrifice Fi. Of course, he wouldn't let her stay in prison. There could be a Prison Break-esque arc where Michael and friends break Fi out and spirit her away. This would make a fantastic final season, as the gang, or possibly just the couple, dodges bad guys and authorities alike. Given Burn Notice's penchant for taking some chances and changes, but not going too far, this probably won't happen. But how cool would that be?

     Instead, Michael and co. will find some way to clear Fiona's name and stop Anson. That's how the series works. On that front, Sam (Bruce Campbell) and Jesse (Coby Bell) get Madeline (Sharon Gless) to break into a police laptop in "Damned If You Do." The point is to discover if there is currently any evidence in the investigation on Fi. Or rather, the bombing Anson promises to frame Fi for. Not only don't they find anything helpful, but Anson reveals he knows what they're doing, and he's too smart to be tricked. His arrogance may be his undoing, but for now at least, he maintains the upper hand.

     For some reason, the opening of Burn Notice remains the same as it was in season one. This isn't cool, because Michael is no longer burned. Plus, Jesse, now a main character for two seasons, isn't a part of it. It's past time to change the opening. It's understandable that the series is going for consistency, but this is one area in which it needs to stop. It used to fill the viewer in on what is going on. Now, it may just confuse them, if they are not up at current plot.

     Watch Burn Notice Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on USA.

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Burn Notice is not "Dead to Rights"

     USA's Burn Notice summer finale, "Dead to Rights," finds Michael Weston (Jeffrey Donovan) clearing his name in the murder of Max (Grant Show). But that's just the beginning of the episode. Then the real murderer (Andrew Howard) jumps to his death, and criminally insane Larry (Tim Matheson) returns to wreck havoc once more. Before the smoke clears, Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar) makes a tragic mistake, and Michael is under the thumb of Anson Fullerton (Jere Burns, Justified, Breaking Bad), one of the men behind the company that burned him.

     This season of Burn Notice is a satisfyingly slow investigation into who kills Max. Clues come together bit by bit as Michael looks into who is framing him, and tries to stay a step ahead of his new work buddy, Agent Pearce (Lauren Stamile, Community, Grey's Anatomy). Things end perfectly in the penultimate episode, as Michael is arrested by Pearce, who doesn't believe his frame claim. But that plot is dispatched with in the first few minutes of "Dead to Rights," instead of making it the tense, exciting installement that it should be. As far as long plot arcs go, this one fizzles out at the end and highly disappoints. Not the first time Burn Notice does this, but still incredibly upsetting, given the high quality of much of this season.

     That being said, a Larry episode is always welcome, especially with a powerful Fiona bend. If there hadn't been such a big let down, there would be nothing to be upset about with "Dead to Rights." Not only does Larry's return challenge Michael, it also puts Fiona in a very tough spot. Michael wants her to stay away from the situation, but she distracts their friends and takes out Larry herself. Probably. With Burn Notice, one is never quite sure if a character is dead, even though it doesn't appear as if Larry has any chance at all of surviving the explosion. But the point is, Fiona proves how much she still loves Michael, despite how tough the transition to living together seems to be.

     Now it's not Larry's fault that Fiona kills two civilians in the process. No, the new big bad, Anson, is behind that. It's a tragic turn that wrecks Fiona emotionally. While Fiona is one tough cookie, and she wouldn't blink twice at taking out those who deserve it, she also just doesn't kill for fun. She has compassion for others. Knowing that she is responsible for taking innocent lives, even if not directly, hurts her badly. Will she blame Michael, too, since rescuing him is the reason she acts? What kind of lingering effects might her guilt have? This remains to be seen.

     Besides Fiona, "Dead to Rights" also gives Sam (Bruce Campbell) and Jesse (Coby Bell) a chance to prove their loyalty to Mike. After Mike is arrested by Pearce, they decide to ram the CIA convoy in order to get her attention. It's the only way they think she will listen to them about how Michael did not kill Max, and they may be right. But they risk serious trouble themselves. There is no fleeing from their stunt. They are committing a crime and turning themselves in for it in the hope that it will give Michael a chance. That shows some real affection.

     Unfortunately, after the brief, desperate act, Jesse all but disappears from the episode. Madeline (Sharon Gless) is barely in the hour, too. This is a crying shame. While both have interesting stories this year, they are also not as involved as Fiona and Sam in Michael's activities. Considering the strongest episodes often feature all five working together, it is always sad when one or more of them are left out. Sure, there really isn't anything for them to do with the way that the plot unfolds, but surely that could have been changed.

     Pearce is a really interesting player. Like most of Michael's contacts, it is easy to assume that Pearce will disappear when her limited arc ends. Yet, even though Max's murder case is closed, Pearce says she is staying in Miami, and continuing to work with Michael. This is a wonderful move, keeping a fine actress on the series, as well as setting up a whole new dynamic, now that she no longer trusts Michael. How long Burn Notice will keep the new arrangement is circumspect, as the series usually ditches its great recurring characters. But Pearce has already lasted longer than most, so here's hoping.

     Anson is a whole new mystery. The surprise of his evil reveal is only half unexpected, because of huge telegraphing, but still works out, since the stakes are so high. Not only is he one of the two founders of the company that ruin Michael's life, but he also has connections, the extent of which are currently unknown, to Michael's father. Dad has come up many times over the years, but mostly in vague terms. Having Anson mention him in "Dead to Rights" seems to indicate that the mysteries of Michael's other parent may soon be explored. For an aging show that must constantly keep things moving, it's a predictable move, but not one that sucks. In fact, such a plot should give Madeline continued deeper involvement in future episodes, a good thing.

     And what does Anson want? With Michael under his control, and a promise that he will use Michael, anything is possible. Anson's motivations are still very murky, but it could very well be that he wants Michael to help rebuild the company Michael so recently destroys. Does that mean Michael will have to take it down all over again? Should be easier, with insider knowledge. As squirm inducing as it is that Michael will have to continue to betray and keep secrets from Pearce, the Anson factor is interesting, and Burns is a good choice to pull it off. Assuming Burn Notice lets Burns do more than a few episodes.


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Article first published as TV Review: Burn Notice - "Dead to Rights" on Blogcritics.