Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan) has been the good soldier, helping those in need while trying to find out who burned him as a spy. After getting so close to the truth so many times, Michael began risking those he cared about to get any morsel or favor to help him get to the end. Once he got there, he wasn’t prepared for the most surreptitious villain he’s faced so far. Anson Fullerton (Jere Burns) has been up there all along, pulling the strings and orchestrating the madness in Michael’s life and then used Michael and his crew in Season 5 with Fiona’s (Gabrielle Anwar) life as leverage because he could frame her for the killing of two security guards at the British Consulate. The first two episodes have shown that Burn Notice is noticeably different this season–noticeably awesome that is!
Here are 10 reasons how creator Matt Nix, producer/star Jeffrey Donovan and company have dialed up the Miami heat on Burn Notice Season 6:
10. Nate is Back
To no one’s suprise, Nate’s (Seth Peterson) marriage collapsed. No kid could save what was an impulse wedding and a bad track record. All of his responsibility was stripped from him since Ruth left with the kid so he has the license to be reckless. Nate will fill in for Fiona to help pair up, as he has his share of “guys he knows” who can help in a pinch. Of course he can also complicate things for Michael with “friends” in need or “small time” jobs that wind up being more trouble than they’re worth. How is this turning up the heat? Imagine Michael, already aggravated, and add the irrational and irresponsible Nate into the mix? Be prepared for an orchestra of arguments.
9. The Shift in Tone
Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell) fans will disagree but I’ve enjoyed the tonal shift this season given the desperation on everyone’s mind. Last season Jesse (Coby Bell) did some entertaining solo missions and had undercover aliases that infused comedy into the show. Michael too, has gone over-the-top in the past, but no one is in a joking mood this season. Sam’s tried, but no one is laughing. Losing Fiona takes out those married couples missions she used to do with each of the boys. At least while she’s behind bars, there’ll be no winking at the camera.
8. There’s More Chuck Finley Coming
Considering everything that was said in #9, Sam has yet to use the Chuck Finley alias this season, so that means that there’s still more to come and that alone is reason to tune in.
7. Anson is Building Up Another Network
It took Anson (Jere Burns) a long time to create the network of spies and assassins to kill Michael but he’ll have to think even quicker to assemble a new list of assassins to take Michael out. Dealing with Anson will be a continuous battle this year. I get the sense that he’s not just going to be a bookend for Season 6 and Michael would be wise not to let him sit quiet and rebuild his network quietly. Anson’s always been a few steps ahead of Michael, that has to change this season.
6. To See Who’ll Show Up From Michael’s Past
The deeper the story gets the more people from Michael’s path comes into play whether they are people we’re aware of. Like in last season’s finale, we got to see Vaughn (Robert Wisdom) come back but he was locked up in prison orange. Or introductions to new mystery men, Tom Card (John C. McGinley) who got Michael in the habit of eating yogurt and taught him everything he knows. I’m also still convinced we’re going to see Raines (Dylan Baker) enter the fold again at some point.
5. The Agencies Have Michael At His Mercy
The CIA or FBI or any of the other government agencies has Michael under its thumb as long as they continue to keep Fiona safe, or at least allow him to visit her. That means Michael’s willing to do any dirty, dangerous job, even if that means he has to compromise his values and put Fiona first. With nearly three episodes in, Michael’s already gone back to Card and it looks like he’s going to help Agent Pearce (Lauren Stamile) handle a personal debt. I think given this precariousness, Michael can’t be bothered with Madeline’s bridge parter who needs some “help” with a shady landlord. He needs to use his time to do the CIA favors and has to choose wisely and carefully.
4. Michael is Off His Rocker
Having Fiona locked up has rattled Michael off his game. He’s not thinking clearly, he’s putting his friends in even more danger, he’s curt with his family and he’s just taking bigger risks and leaving little room for error. He already pulled a gun on Sam, he let Jesse risk his life with a psychopath alone. He can’t be the same stoic Michael that we’ve come to know. Michael is more emotional and more proactive in two episodes than he’s been in the last two seasons, which is the attitude he should have took when this all started. I also wouldn’t be surprised to find out more dark stuff come out about Michael’s father, which always pushes him to the brink of madness.
3. Fiona in Prison
There may be those out there who think the prison story could get old but not me. Haven’t we been complaining about the status quo in Burn Notice for the last two seasons now? Let’s reward the show for doing something different and letting it breathe. Maybe in the past they would have found a legal loophole to get Fiona back by the end of the premiere, but this feels like it should change Fiona, and her relationship with Michael. We’ve finally got something that’s changed the formula up, and Fiona is front and center in every episode. There used to be episodes where all she’d be doing is surveillance with Maddy or Sam–not this season. We get to see her in a situation where she has to sweet talk fellow inmates. She has no friends to rely on, no mysterious former arms dealer she knows, no hot car and no sexy pumps to wear. That doesn’t mean she’s still not dangerous. The first two episodes have already proved that she can be feared whether she’s negotiating her confession or sending a message to the prison bullies. I’m a huge fan of Michael’s narration of spy skills but I love the McGyver-type creativity you need to use in prison even more.
2. Someone’s Out To Kill Fiona
The easy answer would be Anson, but Fiona has made her share of enemies in the past. One could argue that Fiona’s had the biggest kills in the course of the show. It would be great to see someone who was related to either Carla Baxter (Tricia Helfer) or Larry Sizemore (Tim Matheson) a la Diehard 3. Burn Notice has always allowed situations to evolve naturally and if that’s the case, there are more people who should want this group dead than just Anson.
1. Anson’s Day of Reckoning
It was great to see Jeffrey Donovan wipe that smug face off of Jere Burns’ face in the season opener, but we should be looking forward to what’s coming for Anson when he does reach the end of his rope. I can’t imagine Michael would bring him in to get locked up. The man is too far connected to let live, even in solitary confinement. And instead of having Fiona do all of the dirty work, I expect Michael to make the kill shot once and for all. For Benny, for Fi, Sam and Jesse, for Maddy and most of all, for his father Frank who was killed on Anson’s orders.
Those are my reasons to tune into Burn Notice Season 6, Thursday nights at 9pm on USA. Which one are you looking forward to? Do you have any other reasons why you’re tuning in? Share your thoughts below!
