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Burn Notice again, but now with picspam
On Monday, I wrote that I had seen the first episode of Burn Notice and that I really rather liked it. Well, I've now seen the entire first season (tragically only 11 episodes long) and now I rather love it.
It's the story of Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan), a spy for the CIA who gets 'burned' i.e. fired. He gets dumped in his hometown of Miami with no money and an FBI tail, and attempts to discover who burned him. He takes PI jobs to make money and is aided in this by his awesomely nuts ex-girlfriend Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar), a former IRA operative who wants to get back together with him, and Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell!!!), an ex-SEAL with contacts in the intelligence community. Hindering him is his neurotic mother and his gambling addicted brother.
When this show first appeared on my radar I dismissed it because I assumed it was a ponderous drama about a spy trying to find out who done him wrong. But it turns it's an action/comedy about a spy trying to find out who done him wrong. And this makes the show funny and smart and above all, entertaining.
Michael is a great hero. Now that I think about it, he's got James Bond's charm but Jason Bourne's intelligence and practicality. He can talk his way out of a bad situation, but if that doesn't work, he'll throw himself off the building. Still, he has issues, namely an abusive father that caused him to run away from home at 17. Dad's long dead but Michael still has a problem with commitment and staying in one place for a long time.
Which is a problem for his ex-girlfriend Fiona who'd dearly like to remove the prefix from that title. Despite her gun running, bank stealing and bomb making ways, she really wants to get back together with him and she's willing to use any kind of manipulation she can think of. He knows she's probably the only one for him but he's still resisting it.
Silly boy. Because they really are perfect for each other. They make an excellent team when on the job and they're so damn cute when they flirt.
And I love Bruce Campbell as Sam. That's some brilliant casting right there.
It's the technical aspects of the show that disappoint me. The photography isn't great, especially when compared with Dexter which is likewise filmed in Miami and makes Miami look gorgeous. I'm not much a fan of the editing or the title cards they use to introduce new characters - it's all a bit gimmicky. The score is unoriginal and unmemorable.
But in one area they do have the jump on every other show out there. Michael gives a voice over narration that is neither boring or redundant, but is actually informative and helps to move the story along. Michael, always short on cash, MacGuyvers listening devices and weapons and his explanation for these contraptions is welcome. I'm considering making the motion detector that calls your cellphone when activated.
Anyway, it's picspam time!
The main cast: Mother, Sam Axe, Michael, Fiona.
Michael wears suits a lot, which is awesome in my book because I love a man in a good suit. It shows he has some level of maturity.
Luckily though, he also spends a decent amount of time shirtless.
I approve.
This photo demonstrates two things: 1) Gabrielle Anwar is way too tanned. 2) This show has a yogurt fetish. The characters are always eating yogurt and it amuses me.
I'm pretty sure the only reason she isn't looking at him is that she's attempting a reverse psychology of some kind. Fi's crafty like that.
Who do I kill first?
He's almost too pretty.
Nah. He's just right as far as I'm concerned.
Yum.
His face is actually slightly scarred which rescues him from being a pretty boy.
Have a promo.
Final verdict: if you want something that's genuinely entertaining, this is a good show to pickup. It's already been green-lit for a 13 episode second season next year and I for one will be looking forward to it.
It's the story of Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan), a spy for the CIA who gets 'burned' i.e. fired. He gets dumped in his hometown of Miami with no money and an FBI tail, and attempts to discover who burned him. He takes PI jobs to make money and is aided in this by his awesomely nuts ex-girlfriend Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar), a former IRA operative who wants to get back together with him, and Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell!!!), an ex-SEAL with contacts in the intelligence community. Hindering him is his neurotic mother and his gambling addicted brother.
When this show first appeared on my radar I dismissed it because I assumed it was a ponderous drama about a spy trying to find out who done him wrong. But it turns it's an action/comedy about a spy trying to find out who done him wrong. And this makes the show funny and smart and above all, entertaining.
Michael is a great hero. Now that I think about it, he's got James Bond's charm but Jason Bourne's intelligence and practicality. He can talk his way out of a bad situation, but if that doesn't work, he'll throw himself off the building. Still, he has issues, namely an abusive father that caused him to run away from home at 17. Dad's long dead but Michael still has a problem with commitment and staying in one place for a long time.
Which is a problem for his ex-girlfriend Fiona who'd dearly like to remove the prefix from that title. Despite her gun running, bank stealing and bomb making ways, she really wants to get back together with him and she's willing to use any kind of manipulation she can think of. He knows she's probably the only one for him but he's still resisting it.
Silly boy. Because they really are perfect for each other. They make an excellent team when on the job and they're so damn cute when they flirt.
And I love Bruce Campbell as Sam. That's some brilliant casting right there.
It's the technical aspects of the show that disappoint me. The photography isn't great, especially when compared with Dexter which is likewise filmed in Miami and makes Miami look gorgeous. I'm not much a fan of the editing or the title cards they use to introduce new characters - it's all a bit gimmicky. The score is unoriginal and unmemorable.
But in one area they do have the jump on every other show out there. Michael gives a voice over narration that is neither boring or redundant, but is actually informative and helps to move the story along. Michael, always short on cash, MacGuyvers listening devices and weapons and his explanation for these contraptions is welcome. I'm considering making the motion detector that calls your cellphone when activated.
Anyway, it's picspam time!
The main cast: Mother, Sam Axe, Michael, Fiona.
Michael wears suits a lot, which is awesome in my book because I love a man in a good suit. It shows he has some level of maturity.
Luckily though, he also spends a decent amount of time shirtless.
I approve.
This photo demonstrates two things: 1) Gabrielle Anwar is way too tanned. 2) This show has a yogurt fetish. The characters are always eating yogurt and it amuses me.
I'm pretty sure the only reason she isn't looking at him is that she's attempting a reverse psychology of some kind. Fi's crafty like that.
Who do I kill first?
He's almost too pretty.
Nah. He's just right as far as I'm concerned.
Yum.
His face is actually slightly scarred which rescues him from being a pretty boy.
Have a promo.
Final verdict: if you want something that's genuinely entertaining, this is a good show to pickup. It's already been green-lit for a 13 episode second season next year and I for one will be looking forward to it.
no subject
Otherwise, it's hella fun, with suave Michael, amusing Sam, bat-shit crazy Fi and Michael's annoying but lovable family.
no subject
That's right! It's good fun when so many TV shows forget their primary purpose: to entertain.
the only issues I had with the entire show were due to Lucy Lawless's guest stint (I just didn't buy her femme fatale routine
I didn't buy it because she's a cylon. Obviously she's going to be evil. The plot would have worked better if they'd cast a more unknown actor - we would have been surprised by the twist.
I enjoy Bruce Campbell as much as the next entertainment geek, but I just didn't buy any of the more serious emotions he was trying to play.
I didn't feel he was terribly strong in these scenes either but dramatic acting has never been his thing. I do feel that Sam genuinely cares for Michael which is enough for me.
no subject
Bruce Campbell! Bruce Campbell! Bruce Campbell!
I believe I'll be watching this. ;)
no subject
Where the hell is Guy Pierce and why isn't he in more movies? Actually, the thought of Pierce playing a spy sounds frickin awesome - like Jason Bourne but even more damaged!
I believe I'll be watching this. ;)
You totally should. It is awesome.
I friended you, I hope that's okay!
I've never even heard of Burn Notice, but it sounds really good - which network is it on in the US?
Mia
Re: I friended you, I hope that's okay!
in an attempt to avoid doing my already 6 days late history essay
I know what that's like!
And every time I find another Aussie Office fan it makes my day that much happier.
We are few and far between. Every time I try to convince my Aussie friends to give it a try, they look at me like I've gone mad.
I've never even heard of Burn Notice, but it sounds really good - which network is it on in the US?
Funnily enough it's on the USA network, which I think is somewhat affiliated with NBC.