Burn Notice | B+

The USA Network has been getting more and more popular recently with hit shows like Royal Pains and Covert Affairs, but Burn Notice is the hidden gem in the USA family. The series, created by Matt Nix, has proven itself to be more than just a fun summer show.

Now in the middle of its fourth season, Burn Notice has found its stride with the familiar formula of a season-long story arc in addition to smaller, episode-long ones. After an intense summer finale, Burn Notice is back to answer some of the questions we were left with in August.

Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan, Changeling) used to be one of the best spies in the business until he was "burned." Now blacklisted from CIA activities, Michael is stuck in his hometown of Miami. With him are old friend Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs), "it's complicated" ex-girlfriend Fiona Glenanne (Gabrielle Anwar, The Tudors) and Michael's neurotic mother, Madeline Westen (Sharon Gless, Cagney & Lacey). Together the somewhat morally gray team uses their skills, training and natural wiles doing side projects to help people who are in trouble. In their spare time, they help Michael in his desperate search to find the people who burned him.

Half-action and half-clever writing, Burn Notice is definitely full of entertainment. The cast does a stellar job of bringing the characters to life. Donovan is more than believable as a Jack Bauer-meets-Veronica Mars Michael Westen, and is excellent at portraying the subtleties in Michael's personality — his intensity, his intelligence and his humor, which often comes through the most in the show's witty voiceovers and "spy-tips." Campbell and Anwar are great as well, though Anwar's American accent does leave something to be desired. Sharon Gless is the show's real scene-stealer as Michael's mother, whose complex past relationship with her son allows her an influence over him even as they fight.           

When we last saw Michael Westen, he had just discovered that there is a list somewhere of the people responsible for burning him. His meeting is ambushed and Michael is shot in the shoulder. The last moments involve Michael crawling from a car wreck, trying to control the bleeding in his shoulder and witnessing someone taking the briefcase that contains the key to the list of people. Michael Westen has survived much worse, but it is sure to be an explosive season.