Tweet

I’ve got two things I’m really hoping – Number 1, you’ve already entered our Burn Notice contest and 2, you’re watching this show. It is one of maybe 6 shows that I watch religiously. There is a lot to love about this stylish and innovative spy thriller, which has more than it’s fair share of laughs. Recently I had the opportunity to take an early look at the second season of this USA Networks hit and I’m happy to report that all the old magic is back and the show is as smart and as fun as ever.

Burn Notice is all about what happens when things go wrong with Michael Western’s (Jeffery Donovan) spy career. Instead of being fired, he’s been burned. His bank account is gone, his entire identity wiped away. He’s stuck in Miami under the control of the mysterious government agents that burned him. Michael’s got his hands full trying to get a handle on what’s happened to him and why, but a man’s got to earn a living with the skills he’s got, so he takes up a lot of odds and ends doing detective work – the kind of work that involves guns and explosions and hot women.

Season 2 picks up right where the first season finale left off – with Michael about to come one step closer to finding out who burned him. Things aren’t that easy though, as the season premier Breaking and Entering involves a computer expert and a corrupt, willing to do whatever it takes Private Military Contract. We also get teased with the newest member of the cast – Tricia Helfer as the mysterious handler Carla. We quickly find out that perhaps the reason why he was burned in the first place is just that the “burners” need his particular skills at their disposal.

All of our favorite characters are back in action, including the sexy Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar) who has done the amazing – she manages to up her sex appeal. She shows up in this episode sporting an amazingly cut and sexy set of abdominals. Nice! Which reminds me of one of the prime reasons to watch this show – bikini babes in Miami. Believe me it’s nice.

The first episode delivers the goods in terms of wit and explosions and smart writing. The research that must go into each episode to accurately reflect all the cool spy gadgets and goings on is awe inspiring. I really enjoyed the first episode, though I was hoping to get just a little bit more of Tricia Helfer. Luckily, I also had a chance to check out episode 2.

In the second episode, Turn and Burn, Carla finally makes an appearance face to face, charging Michael with tracking down an expert forger and cloning a high-tech, mysterious access card. Of course, things aren’t that easy, as Sam (Bruce Campbell) simultaneously arranges to help out a scared Spanish Waitress navigate around an aggressive stalker. But if that were it, there just wouldn’t be enough espionage, explosions, or secrets, and things are not what they seem. Soon, Westen is deeply involved with a drug smuggling ring that he must over turn with bullets and, yes, more fireballs. I love it. This episode also gives Campbell a bigger role and he delivers a lot of great laugh moments here. This episode also gives us a little insight into some clever underworld activities we could get involved in, with a short primer on “check washing,” which seems easy enough, though I don’t recommend it for obvious legal reasons.

If you’re on the fence about this show, take the plunge. Burn Notice is an adrenaline ride of fun and wit. If you like the realistic spy game, this is the show for you. Jeffrey Donovan’s performance as Michael Westen is fun as he takes on different identities and classically cool as he plays the perfect spy with a mixture of attitude, humor, and danger. Want to be a spy? Take notes. Always hang up on phone calls without a closing statement. Get some snazzy suits and a kick-ass pair of shades. Drive nice cars, hangout with beautiful women, and don’t be afraid to shoot your gun off at every opportunity.

Burn Notice airs Thursdays at 10pm on USA Networks and is in its second entertaining season. The first season is available on DVD now and can be won at our contest page – enter today!