I could sense you Nate-haters cringing upon his return yesterday. And though I don’t hold it against you (all he does is whine, whine, whine), I can’t feel the same. Maybe it’s because I have a troubled relationship with my own sister like Mike’s relationship with Nate. Or because Seth Peterson reminds me of the Friday nights I spent home from college watching Providence with my dad. Either way, I have a soft spot for the guy — and I like what he adds to the Mike-Fi-Sam and Mike-Madeline dynamics. Plus, he gets Madeline off the relationship tip and onto the sibling rivalry stuff, which I find a lot less annoying. I’m with you guys who pointed out that, if Michael wasn’t talking to Madeline when he and Fiona were dating, how would she know Fi was the best thing that ever happened to him? Maybe he had a dog in Afghanistan that made him much happier or a fling with Peace Corps volunteer years ago that turned him into a major softy.
But, I digress. First, picture me joyful when Nate came back. Then imagine me flying over the freaking moon when Larry Miller showed up as Harvey Gunderson, the state agriculture bureaucrat whom Sam wined and dined (quite unhappily) for deets on Carla. Remember 10 Things I Hate About You? Here’s 10 Things I Love About Larry besides his role as the overprotective dad in that movie: Best in Show, Monk, A Mighty Wind, his creepy Law & Order wife-murderer (he showed up twice, two years apart, with two different dead spouses), and the list goes on and on. Anyway, I thought Miller’s scenes were the best of the night in the greatest ep so far this year. By the way, I know I keep making this pronouncement with each passing show, but how can I not when Sam keeps getting showcased more and more, Michael’s back on his game, and Fiona’s her old ass-kicking self? (Plus, she really rocks a leather fanny pack. I got to get me one of those.) We’re also learning more and more about Carla, who is my favorite mystery on TV right now.
More Burn Notice after the jump…
addCredit(“Gabrielle Anwar: Dan Littlejohn”)
Mike used last week’s top secret Pakistani intel to uncover thatCarla’s special ops cover in Kurdistan was irrigation consulting (heseemed to get this mostly from a picture of her perched in a jeep andlooking rugged). Thus, he guessed she used the same guise in Miami —because apparently nothing changes in ten or so years, even fakepersonas. So Sam, ever the devoted friend (no major mentions ofVeronica last night that I caught on to), set find out her fakeidentity from Harvey, the Secretary-Treasurer of the AgriculturalAssociation of South Florida, President of the Miami Water ResourcesBoard, Vice President of the Board of Soil Scientists and lover ofyellow suits and crab cakes, among other things. Harvey was no fool anda major financial drain (cocktails, lobster, what couldn’t this guy putdown?). But he allowed Sammy some brilliant dialogue. Like when Sam, achampion drinker and borderline alcoholic, claimed to have had gunshotwounds that hurt less than the hangover he got from one lunch withHarv. Or when he told Fiona during their stakeout: “I’ve gotten nuclearsecrets out of KGB agents for less time and money. Good thing my liveris flexible because a lesser man would be dead.” Oh, and is it me, orhas Sam been looking a bit more handsome lately?
Anyway, $3,250 dollars worth of gourmet food and a few headacheslater, Sam threatened to be a DEA agent and shook the wanker down. Allhe got on Carla (who we now know uses the surname Baxter and “works” asan agriculture specialist) was her P.O. box at a Mail ‘n More. The boxnumber is 0044, which I’m thinking could be an homage to The 4400,another great (if canceled) USA show. Yet, I’m not sure what that wouldmean: Is she a missing person? A blast from the past? A mutant withspecial powers destined to save the future? I guess we’ll find out nextweek. Let’s just hope our time away from Carla has made our hearts growa bit fonder.
Nate, who’s now driving limos in Fort Lauderdale, brought home withhim Mike, Fi, and Sam’s sad sack of the week: Ukrainian receptionistKatya, whose sister was being held captive by the Russian Mafia.Apparently sis found a gangster, Ivan, to transport her to the U.S.,but he demanded $25,000 out of Katya to deliver on said promise. ThenIvan decided he wanted another $50,000 or little sis was toast. Oh, andhe punched Katya pretty hard in the eye after she attached him with acrow bar. In his defense, she was also about to bite his finger off,but he was a pretty nasty piece of work: Fi had to send a few thousandvolts of electricity from a stun gun streaming through them both inorder to tranquilize him (in Sam’s words, “Fi, you are one crazychick”). Then again, if she’d watched Lost at all, she’d know that this actor can survive a lot more zapping than that.
Anyway, so getting Katya’s sister back required a pretty elaborateruse that included Michael living in the back of a storage containerwith Ivan, who thought they were both government prisoners beingtortured for information. Psych! As we learned last night, “torture isfor sadist and thugs. It’s like getting groceries with a flamethrower.It doesn’t work, and it makes a mess. Getting useful information isabout creating a new reality for the interrogation subject with nohope.” (We also learn that Sambo is the mixed martial art of Russia,and that Sam apparently looks old enough to be undercover as Fi’ssenile dad, but that’s another story). So Michael became buds with Ivanin the clink, staged an escape for the two of them, and Ivan literallyended up handing him the girls. Were any of you guys sad that Ivan endsup dead in a dumpster (killed by the Russians) at the end? A littlebrutal, but well deserved, I guess.
So what did you guys think? Worried that Michael is maybe takingtoo much of a backseat to the other characters? Any guesses on wherethe Carla plotline is going? Happy or disappointed about Nate’s return?
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I’m sorry…I’m unable to answer your questions since the mere mention of “The 4400″ has sent me into a crying jag. The show was so good and clever and revelent and it was taken much too soon! “Burn Notice” is awesome, but it doesn’t fill the void!
(They need to showcase more Michael, I agree there).
I love this show!! I agree that Nate is a winer – but – his character brings some intimacy into Michael – the way that he relates to his family. Without the relationship with Fi – it’s hard to get some insight into Michael’s “other life” outside being a “burned spy” Sam does seem to be getting more “face time”, but I love his character, so it’s all good with me. That scene with Fi getting shocked with the stun gun, priceless, and I love her banter back and forth with Sam… Did I mention that I love this show?
I feel like last year the writers developed such great characters and this year they were like now that we’ve got them let’s have them in every scene! Phew anyway a little less Fi would be good for me. It’s way too painful to see her on screen. She’s too tan, too skinny and too smug. Great recap though
Kind of loved having Nat on the episode! He really did bring out some nice family moments with Michael it was very nice! I don’t think Michael realized how much his little brother thought of him which was kind of sweet. Fiona was great in this one too! Great episode!
Nate adds nothing to the show!Also Michael’s mom is a pain in the butt.Why can’t we focus on MICHAEL?
Michael seemed rather sad. Nate rattled him, the annoying sister rattled him, he lacked his usual high spirits, didn’t seem entirely in charge. The “thank you for saving my sister” stuff was gooey, and in general the quotient of sophisticated slickness was down, sentimentality up. Some of the dialogue was stiff. Any changes among the writers? Needing to slug Michael to make his bruises reallooking is a clever idea but they didn’t get much out of it. Then breaking Nate’s ribs? The sadism is so casual, it lacks punch. The fake prison idea was farfetched, the lockdown room full of smuggled russian girls was out of several Law and Orders and skimpily presented. I’m worried.
The writers’ efforts to cram “family dynamics” into the show strike me as forced and unnecessary. It’s as if they have so much fun with the missions and the burn plot and Sam’s goofy disguises that they then feel the need to work some “serious” content into the show, eat-your-vegetables style. Of course, it doesn’t help that Nate is a simpering ninny and Madeline a naggy gorgon. (If I were Michael, I too would find excuses to spend as little time as possible with them.)
The pleasure of the show lies in watching Michael out-think Miami’s criminal underworld (and kicking ass when he has to) and in hanging out with Sam and Fi, his massively cool sidekicks. The writers should keep the focus on those three, gracefully seek to minimize Madeline’s role and (gracefully or not) ship Nate back to Fort Lauderdale for good.
more sam!! bruce campbell makes this show what it is. no more hokey voices from michael. that is getting old. he has done one in each show this season! more sam!
OMG – the client (Katya?) was super annoying. I hate people like her who think they know better and are going to go in with guns blazing but they don’t know how to shot. Egads.
Anyway, on another note, happy that there was no Carla intrusion aside from the dossier. I liked the whole Sam-Fi-Sam plans and how they rely on one another.
I meant Sam-Fi-Michael. Oopss!
The show was great. I don’t mind Nate at all; it adds more to Michael’s character and sort of explains why he is the way he is. Everyone has family issues of some kind. I love that Nate was using any opportunity he had to beat the crap out of Mike. Bruce Campbell is fantastic and Aubry, he does look different….I think he lost weight and styled his hair. Oddly enough, I was sort of sad that Ivan had to die, I love that actor. Even though Carla was annoying me, it now seems strange that she hasn’t been calling Mike. Surely she knows what he’s been up to.
I was a little sad about Ivan too, but then I remembered that he’s not at all good, so I guess he deserved it. Also, I love what they’re doing with Sam. Especially when he gets to act like an obnoxious person to distract people. Always entertaining and he has some great lines. I also like seeing Michael with his family dynamic. We’re really learning a lot more this season and I love it.
Um, yes, Bruce Campbell IS looking more handsome lately. I say we need more Sam (and honestly, he doesn’t look old enough to play anyone’s father on that show).
Love the show – don’t care how farfetched it is. Sam is looking very dashing. Fi is adorable (but wish she still had her Irish accent from the first show – it makes more sense with her IRA past) Very impressed with Michaels’ various accents – better actor than I originally thought. Good to see Sharon Gless back, but they do overdo it with the cigarettes; nobody smokes that much. Keep ‘em coming – can’t wait for this season’s recap marathon!
Man how good was this episode! I enjoyed every moment from Fi’s excellent bagging of the bad guy, to Sam’s hilarious wining, and dining to get info, to Michael kicking the crap out of the Russian mafia baddie to gain an alliance, this one had it all. I wait patiently every week for the next one. I have loved Bruce Campbell going all the way back to the early “Evil Dead” days. Oh yeh, btw wasn’t Jeffrey Donovan’s Russian spot on? He really is quite the actor, and let me be the first to say Hollywood make a movie series out of Lawrence Sanders Archie McNally book series starring none other than Jeffrey Donovan! He would be one great choice for the quirky character that is Archie McNally. If you haven’t read any of these books then get out there and buy some pilgrim. till next week Do svidaniya comrades!
Enjoyed the episodes and all the characters. Add to various aspects of Michael’s character. Don’t understand the hype over the actress who plays Carla. The character is interesting the actress is not. I disagree about the mom. She knows her son even if they have been estranged for years. I think she was referring to their relationship since they have been in Miami and not when they dated years ago which of course she would not have seen. As a writer, I am puzzled how people can say they like a show then want to change everything about th show and characters. Makes no sense to me. As a TV series, Michael should have a variety of relationships in order to have some variety in the stories. Love this show and love the writers of the show. Jeffrey Donovan has done great work in everything he has done even the small parts. loved Touching Evil. I hope the show last for a few more seasons and ends before it gets repetitive.
‘Would be happy if the show just focused on Michael, Sam and Fi. Forget about Nate and that annoying mother (and all her cigarettes!).
Can we please discuss the scene with Fi giving Michael his bruises and Nate deciding to chime in??? Awesome
maxwell19596 you are brilliant!
i love the mcnally series and jeffrey
donovan would be awesome as archie.
I love the family dynamic on the show- no matter how cool you are, or all the spy tricks you know- nothing trumps a mom with an effective whimper/glare.
That said, I want more Mike/Fi action because her wearing him down in season 1 was funny as hell and I miss that
Can we please get a Psych mini tv watch.
THANK YOU EW, for considering this great little show Must See TV, and giving it a TV Watch! I happened to catch it season 1 when it premiered, and I’ve been hooked ever since. It’s great you’re giving this show the attention it deserves.
I love this show. Thank God for the cable networks – I never watch the other networks anymore – why bother? I hope to never watch another reality show again. If I ever get in trouble, I want Michael/Sam/Fiona in my corner.
Just discovered this show and caught up watching it on Hulu. I think Madeline was refering to the ‘dating’ that Fi and Mike were doing last season. I didn’t like Nate last season but he’s grown on me this season. I do like seeing Mike with his family. He’s so cool, calm and collected on the job, but one sniping comment from his mother can send him over the edge. It’s funny to watch. So glad I found this show, I love it too!
I do have one complaint: I wish the show were more equal opportunity. Lots of beauty shots of girls in bikinis. Where are the shots of the men on the beach?
It’s good! rolex watch?
luxury watch?