Burn Notice Review: "Center of the Storm"
Between the hurricane that hit the city on "Center of the Storm;" the disagreement Michael got himself into with Vaughn; and his attempts to stop a hitman from killing a witness, Michael truly was at the center of it all this week on Burn Notice.
As usual, he was juggling many things. In this case, that involved helping the FBI find a witness, but also help a wanna-be-hitman find the path back to the side of good. Sam made a Star Wars reference early in the episode, and the discussions between Cole and Michael had a little bit of that “use the force” feel to them.
I really liked how Michael got a true sense of Cole and helped him realize that even when he was trying to be bad, he was doing it with an eye for being responsible and really was a good guy. I really hope that Cole turns back up. I liked the character at the end and he would be a great addition to list of recurring individuals.
While Fiona did not have a huge role this week, her time on screen was fairly powerful. There was her meeting with Vaughn, where you could see her struggle with wanting to help Jesse, and her giving the bible to Michael and sharing that she trust him.
We got a rare glimpse past the guns and explosives to the sensitive person underneath. Did anyone else catch that Michael intentionally held her hands for a moment when she handed him the bible? It was the perfect answer to her more tender moment.
Who thinks that Vaughn and Michael being at odds could be a very bad thing? Granted, Vaughn did finally agree to setup a meeting between Michael and Simon. But I think the power play between these two is only going to get worse. I really hope that when it all comes out that Michael figures out how to direct Jesse at Vaughn for him being burned (it was him after all who gave Michael the key-card and code that was Jesse’s).
I would love to see Jesse take down Vaughn at the end. it would be such sweet revenge.
Speaking of Vaughn setting up meetings, Simon is coming back next week. While I am normally not excited about the return of a bad guy, Simon is so well played by Garret Dillahunt that I am really excited to see him again. Dillahunt has been in shows like Deadwood, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and John from Cincinnati.
He is one of my favorite people to see play a bad guy. From Cromartie on TSCC to this role, he always brings that little something extra to a villain.
What did you think of this week’s episode? Should Fiona have given the book to Vaughn? Do you think Michael and Vaughn are alike, as Fiona said? Check out a few Burn Notice quotes from the hour now!
Jim G. is a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. Follow him on Twitter.
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Fiona: Riley gone from capturing us to killing us. What are we going do? Michael: The only thing we can do, take the fight to her.
Rank: Staff Member
August 9th, 2010 1:36 AM
Colleen,
Again, excellent thoughts on Vaughn and Simon. I will be intrigued to hear your thoughts on up coming episodes.
Jeff, you got quiet, I hope she didn't scare you off :)
August 8th, 2010 11:19 AM
I think Vaughn and Simon are cohorts in some scheme; don't know what it is yet. But I know I do not trust Vaughn and his "hale fellow well met" attitude every time he and MIchael meet up. And they want Michael on their "team", whatever that means. AND - Vaughn doesn't totally trust Simon either (is there really such a thing as honor among thieves?) so he doesn't want him and MIchael to meet because...maybe he thinks Michael will be able to get into Simon's head after all and cause him to turn against Vaughn.
I was really glad to see some animosity between Michael and Vaughn. They are NOT buddies. I think Michael has kind of always tried to very subtly convey that to Vaughn but Vaughn doesn't get it. Michael is not fooled by him. Putting him out in the storm with such decisiveness underscored Michael's drive to do the right thing in this job. Vaughn's remark to Fiona about Michael's being willing to let anyone get into his head was misdirection at its best. (Only one (bad) person has
August 7th, 2010 1:43 PM
Jeff, you brought up some excellent points. I, too, rewatched the episode (for the 3rd time actually!) and I agree that Michael has been getting soft on some spy skills. In fact, I have been noticing that for a while. You're absolutely right about that 2nd gun - I thought the same thing myself when Cole threw him the one gun. Maybe it's all part of the plan to help Michael to realize that he isn't quite the spy material he used to be but he's plenty of badass for the criminals around Miami once his attention is off "getting back in" AND gets his team back into united action. I find it hard to accept that one person can be all that much of a legend anyway, especially once they are blacklisted. Great at his job? Yes. Someone to reckon with? Sure. Invincible? Hardly. The time for this story line was back at the beginning of the show when he was fresh out of the business and still a major contender. Then I would believe that Management would be putting "their biggest enemy and their great
Rank: Staff Member
August 6th, 2010 2:07 PM
Colleen,
Your insight into Michael and Fiona is spot on in my humble opinion and I am so glad someone else has been seeing the little things like Michael taking the book.
I agree totally that Vaughn over played his hand with her, and as both Jeff and I grabbed the exchange between Michael and Vaughn about his visit to Fi, I think we all agree it did not sit well with Michael.
Rank: Staff Member
August 6th, 2010 2:00 PM
Jeff,
you have some good thoughts there and I as much as I fanboy over Madeline nearly every week, I too am glad they are bringing her into the story more.
As far as Michael getting away from Cole, I really took that more of Michael needing to use Cole to find the witness, You maybe right and it might have just been him slipping up, but I would like to think Mike was using Cole at worst, and at best, was hoping to get through to him.
As far as James opening the door, I took that more of habit that stupidity. Try this next time your in public and see someone look at their watch, ask them what time it is. Human nature is to look back at their watch before answering. Same thing happens when someone yells your name and your not a trained spy, you tend to look and see who is yelling. You will notice James had a shotgun that Michael took away from him after bull-rushing the door. He was trying to be safe.
You do have some great thoughts, and I very much enjoyed your take on the
August 6th, 2010 11:17 AM
I had a little different reaction to the Cole storyline this week.
I rewatched this week's episode again this morning and while Burn Notice is always an entertaining and engaging show to watch, this episode felt like a little air had been let out of the tires, especially compared to last week's exciting Fiona-centric hostage ep.
It was an interesting turn of events that the FBI agents who have caused Michael so much grief in the past came looking for his help to search for James Bailey, a man who witnessed a Turkish mob murder and was now the target of hit...and who is on the lam after an attempt on his life had already been made. Always funny to see these somewhat bumbling feds eat crow, so to speak. But since they came bearing gifts in the form of a favor to be redeemed any given point in the future, Mike perked up and decided to take the case.
Jon Seda played the part of Cole, a former-marine-turned-killer-for-hire, and one of apparently two hired guns on the hunt for Ja
August 6th, 2010 8:45 AM
So many thoughts. First off, I really liked Cole and thought Jon Seda did a great job. I, too, hope he shows up again. He had a nice chemistry with Jeff Donovan and was a good match to Michael. It said as much for the evolution of Michael's character to recognize the inherent good in Cole as it said for Cole's in realizing that he was pursuing a life he really didn't want. (Echoes of Tommy D'Antonio from "Fearless Leader").
Vaughn's visit to Fiona was a total surprise; I did not expect that and it was a great twist on a couple of levels. He handed her the best reason of all to turn the book over to him and that was Michael's "addiction". However, Fiona recognized that he had overplayed his hand at that point and she (correctly) affirmed her faith in Michael by telling him what happened. I think Michael is more than a match for Simon; as fun as he is to watch, I just don't think Simon is that much more evil than Michael is good.
Frankly I think Vaughn is much more of a threat to