"Spies Don't Get Fired. They Get Burned."

What is a Burn Notice? It is an official code used by intelligence agencies to discredit or dismiss agents who are considered too unreliable and dangerous for one or more reasons. This refers to the title of the TV show.

Burn Notice, is a USA Network-original TV comedy-mystery first-person narrative drama about a former covert-operations agent who got burned, blacklisted and dumped unexpectedly in his hometown of Miami, Florida. After fleeing a Nigerian operation that had gone all wrong by a sudden and unexplained burn notice on the phone call, Michael Westen vows to figure out who did this to him and for what purpose. His bank assets have been frozen. He also cannot leave the city limits, or he will be hunted down and taken into custody. He is continuously under federal surveillance.

Michael Westen begins to take on odd jobs and cases as an unlicensed private investigator (P.I.) to earn needed cash and search for clues behind his burn notice. While most of his intelligence contacts have abandoned him, his former IRA operative ex-girlfriend, Fiona Glenanne, assists him and becomes a valuable asset. She is extremely knowledgeable of guns and explosives. Weston, on the other hand, prefers to use common electronic devices and commercial equipment to handle his jobs. Sam Axe, a semi-retired intelligence agent and former Navy SEAL, assists Weston on his investigative cases. Sam is also an informant and passes along false information to the FBI to gather information about Weston's burn notice. Occasionally, he also seeks the assistance of his mother, Madeline Westen, and brother, Nate Westen, although he prefers to see them less and out of dangerous situations.

Whether it's rogue Green Berets, heroin dealers, assassins, con artists, or greedy businessmen, they are no match for the clever, highly-skilled Weston and his intelligence-trained team along the South Beach of Miami.


SUMMARY

I absolutely loved this series. This is a first-person narrative drama, so it is presented from Michael Westen's point of view. The show provides voice-over streams of consciousness by him that are often humorous and educational. He has a cynical personality, although he can be humble and nice. You can't help but laugh when he predicts what will happen in the next scene. His over fifteen years of experience in the intelligence field has taught him what to expect and how to survive in unpredictable and dangerous moments. The other main cast members also provide comedic elements and complement Westen on his investigative cases. If summer is your favorite season, you will easily be drawn to the show and the tourist beach scenes of Miami. The season finale ended on a suspenseful, incomplete note. Westen has a strong desire to know who burned him and is prepared to find out. I highly recommend this show.

Season One: 12 Episodes, 2007. Burn Notice Season One was released on DVD June 17, 2008
Main Cast: Jeffrey Donovan (Michael Westen), Gabrielle Anwar (Fiona Glenanne), Bruce Campbell (Sam Axe)
and Sharon Gless (Madeline Westen)

Stay tuned for the premiere of the second season of Burn Notice on July 10, 2008 on the USA Network.