Burn Notice: Back From Summer Vacation

Michael Westen fans rejoice, Burn Notice is back from a self-imposed mini-hiatus with the first of several episodes that promise to finish off season 2 in fine form.  Things get rolling with Sam & Mike doing a bit of friendly dumpster diving to successfully ID Carla’s big bad sniper.  Then it’s back to the loft where Mike is understandably shocked to see Larry (Tim Matheson), a presumed dead frenemy who wants Mike to kill Jeannie (Aliens in America‘s Amy Pietz), an alleged gold digger who stands between a brat and his inheritance.  Clearly detecting the stench of evil, Mike takes the job with the clear intention of screwing things up. 

Later, Fi tries to bait Mike’s jealous side with a new piece of paramedic arm candy before settling into her usual ops backup role.  They proceed to waylay Jeannie, put her in the loop, and get some tips.  Fiona positions herself as a houseguest and overhears stepson Drew (Zachery Bryan, apparently now ashamed of the middle name Ty that he bore so proudly during his years on Home Improvement) booking multiple hit men.  Understandably, this makes Larry quite mad and Mike quite nervous.  What’s our hero to do but assume Larry’s identity and threaten the spoiled punkass.  Unfortunately, Drew can’t call off both his goons, leading to a potentially fatal Jeannie vs. dump truck-type incident.  Like the consummate pro that he is, Mike flies into action by stealing a pickup and pulling off one of the best car chase stunts in recent memory when he cuts off the assassin and slams on his breaks.  Vehicular destruction can be so pretty sometimes!

In one last hit man Hail Mary, Larry turns the tables by impersonating Mike and informing Drew that the hit is still on.  Fi prevents a covert poisoning, leaving Larry to assume that Jeannie is no more by whisking her away on an ambulance with the help of Sam and the aforementioned paramedic paramour.  Realizing that Larry is just too dangerous to keep breathing, Mike tries to snipe him at Drew’s cash drop to no avail.  Larry kills Drew, puts Mike on a guilt trip, and presumably RSVPs for a recurrence in season 3.

Meanwhile in Maddy Land, mommy dearest shows up to drag Mike back into therapy, their last shrink having committed the grievous offence of agreeing with Mike’s point of view.  The new guy is a predictably spineless yes man, but somehow manages to coax an honest-to-god breakthrough when Mike discovers that it was Maddy, not his dad, who let him join the Marines at 17.  The moment is tenderly played, and a nice chance for Sharon Gless to not be a naggy shrew.

The episode sets up next week’s season finale in tastefully cliffhangy fashion with Mike observing Carla’s sniper, triggering the realization that everything he has ever done for her has led to this job and he knows what he must do to stop her.  I have no idea what he’s up to, but I’m sure it’ll be a blast finding out.

 For another opinion on this episode, check out Double Booked by Cameron Cubbison.

 

Thursdays at 10/9C, USA

Photographs courtesy of IMDbPro