Burn Notice: A Spy Show So Good It Has Bruce Campbell In It!

[Magneto_X]

When I first saw previews on tv about Burn Notice I thought it would be a boring, badly done spy show that was more about looking cool then having substance.

Boy, was I wrong when I caught an episode. Now I'm hooked!

It's funny, the characters are all interesting and the stories while formuliac are not entirely predictable. You never know what Michael's spy team is going to pull next -- from evading an assassin to solving a hostage situation.

What's great is that the show is like a live action comic book. Every character the cast talks get brief discriptions of their function when they show up -- and they change if the character switches to something else.

It's got pretty women, great locales, sarcastic humour, tells you about how spy's operate*, how to create all kinds of stuff* and basically watch a low level James Bond kick some ass in style.

Michael Westen is like a MacGuyver who kills people. What's not to like about that? Only he does it realistically, he doesn't make unbelievable plot devices and every so often makes mistakes and/or gets beaten up.

Oh yeah, Campbell is in the supporting cast as a retired, down on his luck ex-Navy SEAL whose primary source of income is sleeping with rich women. lol

[Jack Zodiac]

I was talking to my mom the other night and she asked me if I'd seen it, which I hadn't, but she thinks it's pretty great. Especially Bruce Campbell, which surprised the fuck outta' me.

[Magneto_X]

If you missed episodes they will repeat it.

But if you want to see the series on,ine several sites already have it, too.

Looking forward to season 2.

This show would be *easy* to make into a comic, IMO.
Gail or Rucka would be perfect for it.

[Night Swordsman]

It was the best surprise of the summer. Great show,and i am glad it will be back.

[Larime]

Great concept, great writing, but I think the lead is too bland to carry it. Campbell should be playing that role.

[Paul McEnery]

The show is an anagram of "Bruce not in".

I feel sure that there's a hidden message here.

[Magneto_X]

Great concept, great writing, but I think the lead is too bland to carry it. Campbell should be playing that role.

If he was in his prime, yes. But he's to old for that now.

They'd have to make the show more of a comedy for Campbell to work as the lead.

Personally, I like Jeffrey Donovan. He's got charisma and is believable as a spy/action hero. If he can do a convincing British accent they should consider him for Bond after Craig leaves.

[Paul McEnery]

If he was in his prime, yes. But he's to old for that now.

They'd have to make the show more of a comedy for Campbell to work as the lead.

Personally, I like Jeffrey Donovan. He's got charisma and is believable as a spy/action hero. If he can do a convincing British accent they should consider him for Bond after Craig leaves.

I cannot express to you enough how much you have just made my blood boil.

[Larime]

If he was in his prime, yes. But he's to old for that now.

They'd have to make the show more of a comedy for Campbell to work as the lead.

Personally, I like Jeffrey Donovan. He's got charisma and is believable as a spy/action hero. If he can do a convincing British accent they should consider him for Bond after Craig leaves.

I disagree. Campbell can still pull it off - the man is an amazing physical actor. I also find the lead to have no charisma at all. Just my opinion.

[Crowley]

I LOVE this show... I've only caught bits and pieces of it... but what I saw I liked alot...

the lead is really likable.

[Corrina]

Great concept, great writing, but I think the lead is too bland to carry it. Campbell should be playing that role.

Excuse Me?

Have you seen him doing half-naked push-ups?

If you had, and you're me, you might have a different statement. :)

I love Campbell but I also love the lead, he underplays the role nicely, bringing the show back down to a certain level of reality. He reminds me quite a bit of James Garner as Jim Rockford. Not in looks, but in attitude.

And did I mention how good he looks doing situps without his shirt?

Oh, gotta mention the writers here. The writers have been doing great work with very clever, somewhat unpredictable scripts. Spy shows have been on forever, it's rare to find one that manages to keep the mysteries interesting and avoid cliches. Love the way Michael threatened to burn the drugs with a blowtorch, for instance.

[Larime]

Excuse Me?

Have you seen him doing half-naked push-ups?

If you had, and you're me, you might have a different statement. :)

I love Campbell but I also love the lead, he underplays the role nicely, bringing the show back down to a certain level of reality. He reminds me quite a bit of James Garner as Jim Rockford. Not in looks, but in attitude.

And did I mention how good he looks doing situps without his shirt?

Oh, gotta mention the writers here. The writers have been doing great work with very clever, somewhat unpredictable scripts. Spy shows have been on forever, it's rare to find one that manages to keep the mysteries interesting and avoid cliches. Love the way Michael threatened to burn the drugs with a blowtorch, for instance.

Hey, just my opinion, as I said. :) The lead comes across flat to me.

[Tyr]

When I first saw previews on tv about Burn Notice I thought it would be a boring, badly done spy show that was more about looking cool then having substance.

Boy, was I wrong when I caught an episode. Now I'm hooked!



I felt the same way, the preview didn't impress me and Jeffery Donovan's last show on USA wasn't that great. But then I found out Bruce Cambell was on it, so I figured I'd watch it. And now I'm hooked, and went and told all my friends about this show. Too bad we have to wait tell next summer for the new season, and knowing USA we may have to wait that long to watch it again. Though they'll probably have a Burn Notice Marathon before the show slides off the tv for awhile.

[Corrina]

He strikes me as sly & smart, part of the reason I like the show.

And I was prepared to hate it because I thought it was an Equalizer rip-off. But it's not.

But I missed the Lucy Lawless episode. Must find.

[Magneto_X]

I felt the same way, the preview didn't impress me and Jeffery Donovan's last show on USA wasn't that great. But then I found out Bruce Cambell was on it, so I figured I'd watch it. And now I'm hooked, and went and told all my friends about this show. Too bad we have to wait tell next summer for the new season, and knowing USA we may have to wait that long to watch it again. Though they'll probably have a Burn Notice Marathon before the show slides off the tv for awhile.

The new season will start in January.

Corrina:

The ep is probably on Youtube by now.

[Tyr]

The new season will start in January.

Corrina:

The ep is probably on Youtube by now.

And its probably been pulled. Youtube really likes to crack down on those things.

[Magneto_X]

And its probably been pulled. Youtube really likes to crack down on those things.

There are several non-Bittorrent sites that should have it. Or most of the episodes, anyway.

[TCJohnson]

I love Campbell but I also love the lead, he underplays the role nicely, bringing the show back down to a certain level of reality. He reminds me quite a bit of James Garner as Jim Rockford. Not in looks, but in attitude.



I agree completely....except about the sit ups thing. He keeps the show from going over the top.

Although I will say that if she gained 10 lbs, Gabrielle Anwar would be one of the hottest things ever.

[Magneto_X]

I agree completely....except about the sit ups thing. He keeps the show from going over the top.

Agreed.

Although I will say that if she gained 10 lbs, Gabrielle Anwar would be one of the hottest things ever.

Agreed again.

I'm glad Anwar's getting work again. Great actress who just disappeared from movies one day. :confused:

Was skeptical that she could pull off a bad girl role like this but she does it well.

[Shades0077]

When I first saw previews on tv about Burn Notice I thought it would be a boring, badly done spy show that was more about looking cool then having substance.

Boy, was I wrong when I caught an episode. Now I'm hooked!

It's funny, the characters are all interesting and the stories while formuliac are not entirely predictable. You never know what Michael's spy team is going to pull next -- from evading an assassin to solving a hostage situation.

What's great is that the show is like a live action comic book. Every character the cast talks get brief discriptions of their function when they show up -- and they change if the character switches to something else.

It's got pretty women, great locales, sarcastic humour, tells you about how spy's operate*, how to create all kinds of stuff* and basically watch a low level James Bond kick some ass in style.

Michael Westen is like a MacGuyver who kills people. What's not to like about that? Only he does it realistically, he doesn't make unbelievable plot devices and every so often makes mistakes and/or gets beaten up.

Oh yeah, Campbell is in the supporting cast as a retired, down on his luck ex-Navy SEAL whose primary source of income is sleeping with rich women. lol

Why do you asterisk-ize things and not provide the expected footnotes?

Also, sounds like my kind of show. I'll have to look for it.

[Magneto_X]

Why do you asterisk-ize things and not provide the expected footnotes?

Also, sounds like my kind of show. I'll have to look for it.

I'm not sure how much info to give since it might confuse new potential viewers.

But I guess you're right. This is a comic board.

[JamesRitcheyIII]

I was hooked from the pilot, on. The writing is fantastic--lively as hell, intelligent, with brilliantly slapstick acts of violence, and well researched. It's like a cross between The Rockford Files (the only truly great adventure show in the early seventies--for those too young to remember--with the same level of well-thought-out characterization) and The Anarchist's Cookbook. Didn't like Donovan initially, but he's proven himself--really pulls off believability as an honest, hard-working Spook placed into a really screwed up situation. Campbell is his typically entertaining self, and is a perfect foil. I don't care much about Donovan or Campbell's abs, as many here seem to, but Gabrielle Anwar's (Fiona's) body drive me nuts.

[Corrina]

But she's so skinny! I see her ribs.

And they should be a little more careful about giving her rifles when she's wearing shirts with bare shoulders. I mean...OUCH! Either she gets off on bruises or (much more likely) the producers are convinced certain viewers are getting off on watching her wear said shirts. :)

[JamesRitcheyIII]

Hey, there's unhealthy, anorexic skinny (which I don't go for), or there's Ectomorph, svelte, without an ounce of body fat, works out constantly skinny. She is most definitely the latter.

[TCJohnson]

Guns make you stupid. Duct Tape makes you smart.



This is not a car-jacking! I just need a big car without air-bags

This show really does have some great writing.

[Chiroptera]

New season starts in July (or was it june?) And they've put the first season back on the air for anyone who hasn't caught up!

Squee! Can't wait for new episodes. :D

[TCJohnson]

New season starts in July (or was it june?)

July 10th.

[TCJohnson]

"Know what it's like being a spy? Like sitting in your dentist's reception area twenty-four hours a day. Read magazines, have coffee, and every so often, someone tries to kill you. "

[Chiroptera]

"Know what it's like being a spy? Like sitting in your dentist's reception area twenty-four hours a day. Read magazines, have coffee, and every so often, someone tries to kill you. "

Yeah I remember this one time I'm just sitting there reading this HighLights for Kids from 1983 and all the sudden this old lady comes in, and she signs the sign in sheet and then she whips around and fires off half the clip from a PPK at me. Broke my favorite thermos and ruined the wall above my head and I 'm just like "What the F, grand ma?!"

[Alan Lynch]

...I've never heard of this show. I must see it, immediately. Bruce Campbell in a TV show about spies? Which actually managed to get a second season? Yes!

[TCJohnson]

They are playing the 2 hour pilot again at 10am on Sunday if you want to set your TIVO or VCR.

[Alan Lynch]

They are playing the 2 hour pilot again at 10am on Sunday if you want to set your TIVO or VCR.
Sadly I'm British, so it's the internet for me. Because I'm pretty sure nobody over here has picked this up yet; if they have it's been kept quiet enough.