The Morning After: Burn Notice Relights and Reloads

By James Poniewozik | @poniewozik | June 4, 2010 | +

USA

BURN NOTICE-"Friends and Enemies"Episode 402--Glenn Watson--USA Network

If this week marked the return of the broadcast-network summer reality season, it’s also the launch of the basic-cable summer drama season. One of the past summers’ highlights, USA’s Burn Notice, returned last night. I’m behind on it–the show usually has DVR-and-catch-up status for me–but I know it has fans here, so let us know what you thought of the debut. Also, creator Matt Nix’s The Good Guys returns on Fox next week, and if any Burn Noticers caught its preview (and the unveiling of Bradley Whitford’s prodigious mustache) last month, I’m curious how you think it compares. Do you prefer your summer action heroes clean-shaven?

Related Topics: burn notice, the good guys, the morning after, Uncategorized

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lhillberg

Been a big Burn Notice fan from the beginning. I am looking forward to seeing the third season kick-off tonight (family commitment last night). Watched the Good Guys pilot and enjoyed it as well. Odd to me that while there was some common sensibility, I would have had a hard time saying oh, this must be from the Burn Notice guy.

I actually think that this is a good thing. I think Good Guys has a good chance to build an audience. Bradley Whitford is some kind of crazy good actor. You would never believe that the mostly highbrow, buttoned down guy from the West Wing and Studio 60 could play such a wacky believable cop.

My hope for Burn Notice this season: more Sam.
rhys1882

Always enjoy the show, but it can be a little too campy for its own good. Unfortunately, I felt the biker side plot mostly fell flat because it was a little too campy to take seriously. Interestingly, I might have felt differently if there wasn’t such an amazingly awesome outlaw biker show on in the form of Sons of Anarchy right now to compare it to. That said, the show still knows how the get the blood pumping with some quality action scenes regardless of underlying weakness in the plot.

I definitely like where they are going with the serialized portion of the story. Of course it is awesome to see an alumn from the Wire show up. I am glad they are moving a little bit away from this secret organization being horribly obtuse in its dealings with Michael. I liked seeing Vaughn very upfront about the fact that they burned Michael but they want him to help with this bigger threat out there. I just hope we can completely move past Fiona constantly whining about Michael wanting to do the job he loves to do, i.e., big time spy stuff. It’s more plausible that Michael would work for these guys simply because that’s the work he enjoys – not because of some lackluster or convoluted excuse that the show has previously cooked up.
bonejuvi

Fiona doesn’t need to eat a sandwich, or anything, she needs to walk through my front door! Dressed like a nun.
junkster36

Big fan for last year, BUT, first show this year seemed disjointed and wandering. Certainly not up to the level of last year. The carry forward from last years end was done poorly.
chupkar

Thought it could have used a 1/2 hour extension so it didn’t seem so squished and the weightier moments could have gotten their due. It shows great promise of a new direction though. I think the B plot didn’t work so well this time because we were not invested with the plight of the person from the beginning. We didn’t get the hook. However, the over reaching plot, IMO, has some really great potential.