Network: USA
Episodes: 111 + movie (hour)
Seasons: Seven
TV show dates: June 28, 2007 — September 12, 2013
Series status: Ended
Performers include: Jeffrey Donovan, Gabrielle Anwar, Bruce Campbell, Sharon Gless, Paul Tei, Tricia Helfer, Seth Peterson, Marc Macaulay, and Brandon Morris.
TV show description:
This comedy/drama centers around a spy who’s received a “burn notice,” meaning that the agency that he works for has wiped him off the grid, leaving him with no work history, no money, and no identity.
Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan) flees a Nigerian operation that is taken down after the sudden non-cooperation of his U.S. contact. He soon finds himself back in his hometown of Miami with his ex, Fiona Glenanne (Gabrielle Anwar). A quick wit with two black belts, Michael’s assets have been frozen and he’s been abandoned by all of his business contacts. Michael learns that if he leaves Miami he’ll be taken into custody. So, working as a private investigator, he hopes to learn who burned him and why.
Fiona is a former IRA operative. She decides to stick around in Miami after Michael shows up and becomes one of his confidantes. She’s an explosives expert. Fiona and Michael are drawn to each other and, in their line of work, they really don’t have anyone else they can be with.
Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell) is a former Navy SEAL and a semi-retired intelligence operative. He works as a double agent and has been asked to report on Michael to the FBI. He tells Michael about this and they pass false information to the FBI. Using the alias of Chuck Finley, Sam has no job and no place to live, so he sleeps with rich, older women in exchange for food and shelter.
When Sam’s not doing that, he lives with Michael’s mom, a chain-smoking hypochondriac named Madeline Westen (Sharon Gless). Madeline’s other son is Nate (Seth Peterson), Micahel’s down-on-his-luck younger brother who has a tendency to wager property that he doesn’t own. Nate still resents Michael’s joining the military and leaving him at home with their abusive father. The brothers are able to find common ground when it comes to their desire to keep their Mom happy and safe.
Episode #111 — “Reckoning”
Michael finds himself in a standoff between Fiona and Sonya: between loyalty and betrayal. Michael was planning on turning against the CIA and allying himself with Sonya, but when Sonya tries to kill Fiona for getting in their way, Michael shoots Sonya dead.
Michael’s now back on the right track, but it’s too late: not only are James and his entire organization gunning for Michael, but now the CIA is, as well. Because Michael didn’t make good on his agreement to take James and his entire organization down within 48 hours, the CIA has opened up a manhunt for Michael and his friends, releasing their pictures to every law enforcement agency in Florida.
With their faces all over the news and everyone in Miami chasing after them, Michael and the team have no choice but to go ahead and finish the mission. Michael is going to take down James and his network, once and for all, or die trying.
Michael learns that James has a communication relay center hidden in an abandoned building in downtown Miami. Inside, there’s a hard drive that records every message that passes through there. Michael plans to get the hard drive and deliver it to the CIA, so they can locate and neutralize every member of James’ terrorist organization.
Jesse goes to Maddie’s house to get Maddie and Charlie. Maddie sacrifices herself by detonating a bomb and takes out James’ men with her.
Michael shoots James who in turn blows up the building, seemingly killing Michael and Fiona. After Sam presides over a military funeral for his friends, we learn that they have escaped They are presumed dead so they can have a new life raising Charlie together.
Note: The series ended with a thanks to Freddie Figueroa. He was the show’s medic who passed away from cancer.
First aired: September 12, 2013.
What do you think? Do you like the Burn Notice TV series? Do you think it should have been renewed for an eighth season?
This was my favorite show and I wish you were still airing it. There was great chemistry amongst all the actors. Sometimes broadcasters don’t listen to their audience and air other shows that just don’t have it. Bring back Burn Notice and you will regain a loyal audience.
Yes, I enjoyed the series. I do not know exactly why. It was somewhat of a “feel good ” thing if I recall and I suppose there was some mystery and fascination with what they were doing.
Yes, I am sorry that the series was not extended. It was one of my favorite TV series ever.
The show ended well. I hate that Maddie had to pass but the end Mike and fi finally getting to live the way she wanted all along. I’m gonna miss watching this show.