COMPLICATIONS Too Messy

Article first published as COMPLICATIONS Review on Seat42F.

USA has a new drama from Matt Nix (the creator of Burn Notice) called COMPLICATIONS. It is the story of Dr. John Ellison (Jason O’Mara, star of Terra Nova and several other short-lived series) and his terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Well, it starts off as roughly a single day, but it quickly spirals into major ramifications for his entire life and he may be spending a long, long time trying to get things back on track. Sounds a bit like Nix’s previous project, no?

To be fair, COMPLICATIONS doesn’t feel much like Burn Notice, despite that central similarity. Both men are good people whom bad things happen to and who have major skills they use to help people, but they are also quite different. While Michael Weston was an emotionally challenged spy, John Ellison runs much, much hotter, his emotions boiling over, and he works in a hospital alongside a team, not operating solo for-hire in his apartment. Plus, there’s no chain-smoking mother in sight.

John is a good-hearted man, the type who will use his medical skills to try to heal a squirrel his dog gets a hold of. When he comes across a drive-by shooting and intervenes perhaps a little more than he should, that’s when things get rocky. He is soon drawn into gang wars and neither his home nor his workplace are an escape from this.

But does John even want to escape it? Part of the pilot involves him discussing what’s going on with a shrink (Constance Zimmer, UnReal, House of Cards) and this is where we get some insight into who John is. Maybe he isn’t happy with the calm, normal life he’s been living; he definitely has some deeper issues to deal with, and these events help bring those to the surface. The only thing that seems certain right now is that John is unstable and unpredictable.

O’Mara doesn’t really play the protagonist as an overly sympathetic character. Because of his wild mood swings and erratic behavior, it’s hard to tell if he’s someone that deserves to be rooted for. Yes, he saves lives, but that’s his job. He certainly has compassion for his patients, but as he goes to greater lengths to do what he thinks is right in the moment, one begins to wonder if the ends justify the means. He is not trustworthy right now.

John is surrounded by enough of a supporting cast to keep the story going for awhile. There’s: John’s wife, Samantha (Beth Riesgraf, Leverage), whom he’s not exactly open with; his straight-laced co-worker, Dr. Bridget O’Neill (Lauren Stamile, Burn Notice), who probably would not participate in John’s madness if she knew what was going on; Gretchen Polk (Jessica Szohr, Gossip Girl), an abuse survivor (I assume) who believes justice trumps rules; Darius Bishop (Chris Chalk, The Newsroom), John’s link to the criminal element; and Dr. Quentin Harper (Ronreaco Lee, Survivor’s Remorse), whom I didn’t get a good read on in the pilot. This is a decent ensemble, and with various people being out of the loop right now, there will be fodder for conflict as they find out more of John’s secrets.

The thing is, though, I don’t know if I want to stick around to see it. The first hour of COMPLICATIONS is a hot mess, not told linearly, no grounded character to view the world through, and no compelling hook to stick around and see what it catches. USA has been moving away from formula and taking some bold chances. I won’t say COMPLICATIONS is boring in the way programs of the past have been on the network, but this is one experiment that is failing because of a lack of direction or anchor, at least out of the gate, and I didn’t find anything in this pilot that makes me want to give it a second chance.

COMPLICATIONS premieres Thursday, June 18^th at 9 p.m. ET on USA.

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.

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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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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     Read every Burn Notice review I've ever written.

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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.


     Burn Notice will return next winter to USA.

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

Burn Notice plays "The Enemy of My Enemy"

     This week's Burn Notice on USA is called "Enemy of My Enemy." Michael (Jeffrey Donovan) helps Pearce (Lauren Stamile, Community, Grey's Anatomy) recover a stolen military warhead by sending Sam (Bruce Campbell) undercover into the hands of dangerous heroin kingpin, Carmelo (Todd Stashwick, Men of a Certain Age, Heroes). Sam convinces Carmelo that the Serbians that took the warhead really have Carmelo's drugs. Things take a dangerous turn, and Michael finds the CIA unwilling to help Sam. Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar) and Madeline (Sharon Gless) are not pleased with Michael's willingness to risk his best friend's life.

     Fiona and Maddie seem to think Michael is being awfully selfish in sending Sam into such a risky situation. Are they right? Michael certainly seems to give them consideration when they confront him. But in this scenario, Michael is already known to Carmelo, and there is a lot at stake in recovering this warhead. Michael is worried sick about Sam, and goes in himself to rescue his friend when things get dicey. Yes, Michael is shown to be too-mission driven plenty of times, often at the expense of his friends. But in this case, there is a lot more going on than just looking into revenge. Michael knows he is playing a dangerous game, but Sam is willing, and the end result is important.

     It's great to see more of Jesse (Coby Bell) this week, as the fifth main character has been absent much screen time this season. This is due to plot circumstances, and understandable. But it is also regrettable, as Bell is now a valued member of the cast, deserving of his fans and attention.

     Fiona and Madeline have their own side mission, attempting to find the man who looks like Michael on a security camera, furthering the investigation into who killed Max (Grant Show). Anwar and Gless have delightful chemistry. Their characters are different in many ways, but both are tough, and they deeply love Michael, so they also have things in common. Any time they can go off together is a good time. Their aliases are very humorous, matched only by yet another variation of Chuck Finley.

     Speaking of Max's death, why is it that Burn Notice has a tendency to kill off wonderful recurring characters so quickly? This is far from the first time it has happened. Richard Schiff and John Mahoney have also been victims of this trend. It would be nice if the series would keep around some of the very strong talent it attracts for a more considerable length of time. Which is not to say that Show's replacement, Stamile, is inferior in any way. But he is still missed.

     Not everyone on Burn Notice gets killed off. "Enemy of My Enemy" actually returns several previously seen characters. Sugar (Arturo Fernandez) puts in his fourth appearance, while Carmelo is in a 2007 episode. Agents Manaro (Brendan O'Malley) and Bailey (unable to find the actor name) are in the TV movie, Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe, which conveniently was released on DVD this week. They are silly in a good way, and hopefully will return to bother Sam again.

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

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Current Season Reviews.

     Click here to purchase DVDs from Burn Notice.

Article first published as TV Review: Burn Notice - "Enemy of My Enemy" on Blogcritics.