Burn Notice Season Two on DVD June 16

If you read my review of Saving Grace Season Two on DVD, you have read that  in an effort to save money, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment has issued reviewers of recent television series on DVD not the full  season on DVD to review, but the last few episodes. While in the case of Saving Grace Season Two that budget crunching AKA cheapskates maneuver was an abysmal failure, with Burn Notice it works to a better degree. Sure, being thrown into the last few episodes of the 2nd season was ridiculous from a series review standpoint, but at least with Burn Notice, each episode is more self-inclusive and the DVD had four episodes not just two like Saving Grace. Four episodes of Burn Notice gives a reviewer SOMETHING to work with.

I didn't know the back story or who the characters were, but thanks to some narration and the "previously on Burn Notice" snippets, it wasn't hard to put the Burn Notice pieces together somewhat. Jeffrey Donovan stars as Michael Westen, a secret agent who has been burned and who is trying to find out who burned him and salvage his life.  Being burned means not only was Michael Westen fired, he is now considered an unreliable or dangerous agent. Living in Miami where his mother Madeline Westen (Sharon Gless) lives,  Michael Westen does private eye work for hire and has as sidekicks his former girlfriend Fiona Glenanne (Gabrielle Anwar) and Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell).

Burn Notice is a good show. Although I am handicapped by having seen only four episodes, I like what I have seen. Jeffrey Donovan is an interesting choice for the star. He would not have been my choice for leading man, but his portrayal of Michael Westen grew on me over four episodes. Gabrielle Anwar's undeveloped character Fiona Glenanne didn't work as well, but maybe that's because I don't know the back story. Bruce Campbell was pitch perfect as a Weston's partner. However, the real scene stealer in Burn Notice is Sharon Gless as a crabby, chain-smoking, annoying, headstrong mother whose deep love for her son and regret over the emotional distance between them is fine-tuned to subtle perfection.

Burn Notice is Miami Vice meets MacGyver, and it appears to be the best of both worlds. There are bikini bottoms galore, but there was no gratuitous sex in the four episodes I saw. Excitement, drama, chase scenes, and jury rigging clever devices out of whatever is on hand with the beauty of Miami as a backdrop makes Burn Notice a thrill ride which seems to be fairly family friendly. I was pleasantly surprised. Had I seen more of Burn Notice, I might even be a fan.

"Burn Notice” Season Two released to BluRay and DVD on June 16.

Resources

Saving Grace with Holly Hunter - Season Two on DVD June 16

Christian Movie Reviews Cinema / Theatre Reviews