Burn Notice - Season 1 (DVD, 2009, 4-Disc Set)

Michael Westen: "Most people would be thrilled to be dumped in Miami. Sadly, I am not most people...I've never found a good way to hide a gun in a bathing suit."
When you're a spy, getting a burn notice means that you've been officially deemed unreliable by your covert brethren, and that you're no longer wanted in the cloak-and-dagger community. Always good at rubbing people the wrong way, international spy Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan, TOUCHING EVIL) is in Nigeria brokering a deal with a terrorist when he learns of his burn notice over a cell phone. Barely skedaddling out of Nigeria with his life, Michael somehow finds himself stranded in his hometown of Miami, with his finances frozen, his options about nil, and former friends and colleagues keeping far, far away.
Michael decides to lay low for a while and, because a man has just got to make a living somehow, becomes a makeshift private investigator and troubleshooter. But, even as he takes on the criminal elements in Miami, his overriding objective remains finding out why he was blacklisted. But it's hard going as, mysteriously, no one will tell him anything. Meanwhile, various spooks are monitoring his every move. So, somethings going on...
Yup, I dig this show. The USA Network's BURN NOTICE proved to be one of the more pleasant surprises of 2007. Not having seen a lot of Jeffrey Donovan's work, I'm still quickly becoming a fan. He brings a wry, deadpan charm to the show, and he looks like there's stuff just churning underneath his character's self-contained exterior. And it's exactly because of this distant persona that I appreciate Michael Westen providing a very quotable, "been there, done that" voice-over narration. This device not only engages us further but also makes us privy to Westen's cynical inner musings, as well as giving us frequently amusing first hand advice on various stuff. No, it's not exactly life lessons that he's imparting. Rather, it's more of a tutorial on espionage and breaking heads. Y'know, the cool stuff. For example, Westen, on fighting: "You don't want to break the little bones in your hands, so you look for a bathroom, which has plenty of hard edges and surfaces." On guns: "Guns make you stupid. Better to fight your wars with duct tape. Duck tape makes you smart." Or on setting traps: "A good trap doesn't scare people, it makes them curious." And, so on and et cetera. Dude's often wry observations make my day. Someone should put together a quotation book, because I'd shell out.
Chemistry rears its beautiful head. Donovan's supporting cast is very good, and two of them are very engaging. Westen's tiny circle of trust consists of three folks. There's his sexy and fiery Irish ex-girlfriend Fiona (gorgeous Brit, Gabrielle Anwar). Fi is an ex-IRA agent and into mayhem and violence, and, of her, Westen unequivocally states, "I am NOT hooking up with her. I need her for tactical support." (sure, sure). Slovenly Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell, who's casually let himself go) is Westen's long-time buddy and a semi-retired spy. Now Sam helps Westen out on cases, and vice versa. And then there's Westen's irritating dragon of a mother, Madeline (Sharon Gless, CAGNEY & LACEY), who is a champion emotional blackmailer. Gless is effective at channeling Doris Roberts from EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND. So if you're hating on Gless's character, then she's just being brilliant.
BURN NOTICE, with its first season's 12 episodes, brings it with suspense and some action, and with

Burn Notice is a fresh spin off the Spy Genre with plenty of precarious twists to keep you guessing and enough explosive action to keep you riveted.<~~This is what it says in the back of Burn Notice Season 1 Box.

In My own words however....I LOVE this Show-Burn Notice has everything you can think of when it comes to an action TV Show and always makes you wonder what's next...and with a Superb cast....Michael Westen(Jeffrey Donavon) is a spy who is basically is fired from his job and dropped in Miami....His Bank Accounts Frozen,and No Where to turn.But Spies always have backup plans....with his friends Sam(Bruce Campbell-Who is actually informing on Michael to the FBI) and Fi(aka Fiona,an Ex-Girlfriend who simply cannot take no for an Answer-Gabrielle Anwar) They tackle everything from the Russin Mafia to Prostitution all the way down to helping get his Mother's Friends back their Money from some undesirable Con-Men.His Mother (Sharon Gless) is always tracking him down no matter where he is at the time.This TV Show has twists and turns left and right and you will be entertained the whole time.The upside of this show is everything ,the downside is...well,there is no downside on the show.but the Season 1 boxed set does have 1 downside however...not enough special features but still has some....
And Afterall.I did forget one small detail.When i said fired from his job,that wasn't entirely accurate.....
Spies Don't Get Fired-They Get Burned!

This 4 Disc 11 Show Special Features Include:

Gag Reel

Scene Specific Audio Commentary for each episode featuring show creator Matt Nix and stars Jeffrey Donavon,Bruce Campbell,Gabrielle Anwar & Sharon Gless.

Character Montage/Action Montage

Girls Gone Burn Notice Montage

Jeffrey Donavon Audition Footage

Gabrielle Anwar Audition Footage

So Why Not Get Burned Today & Grab Your Own Set!

I stumbled upon this show on USA channel when it was already into Season 3. I was immediately hooked on the fast pace and intelligent story line. It is fresh, clever, fun, light and entertaining with plenty of action. Burn Notice is different from the usual action/drama genre shows. The writing is smart, well crafted, well acted and doesn't insult the viewer's intelligence.
Jeffrey Donovan, Gabrielle Anwar, Bruce Campbell, and Sharon Gless make up a first-rate cast! Their interaction is witty and fun, and they are seasoned professionals.

After watching one episode, I immediately ordered Season One from eBay.
The box is mediocre but the DVDs are excellent, with some great special features. I am a little disappointed that there were not more episodes in the season -- as it only took me a few days to watch the entire season!

I can't wait until Season 2 comes out on DVD. It is one of the best TV shows out there. When the other networks brought out more reality shows, CSI copies, and hospital dramas, USA chose a refreshing winner with this spy show.

I highly recommend this series and give thanks to USA channel for having the intelligence to properly support it. Keep it coming!

Led by an all-star cast–Bruce Campbell (Sam Axe), Jeffery Donovan (Michael Westen), Gabrielle Anwar (Fiona Glenanne), and Sharon Gless (Madeline Westen)—this action packed dramedy-thriller draws its audience into a rollercoaster ride that you never want to end!

The tagline “Spies don’t get fired, they get burned,” explains everything you need to know. Michael Weston (Donovan) was fired from his job as a government spy in the typical fashion—his identity was erased. His new mission—find out who “burned” him.

“Michael Westen: ‘Not bad for a man in his underwear.’
Sam Axe: ‘You think that's good, you should see me without them!’”

From the dry, witty, sarcastic comedy…

“Michael Westen: [voice-over] ‘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.’”

To narration (mostly by Donovan) that is near perfection, and the "helpful tips" Westen provides along the way make this show a MUST see!! The sexual tension between Michael and Fiona, and Michael’s seemingly endless struggles with his nagging family (Mother played by Sharon Gless) make this show (in a sense) a thrill menagerie.

Season 2 begins on USA July 10, 2008 at 10:00 pm est on the USA NETWORK.

*Quotes Provided by IMDB

Burn Notice is about ex-spy Michael Weston who was "Burned" by the government, they took away his history, identity and froze all his assets, He is forced to rely on his ex-girlfriend Fiona (she runs guns for the I.R.A.) and old friend Sam (who is informing on him to the F.B.I.) and yes even his mother for help. While he is trying to figure out who "Burned" him and why, he works as a kind of private eye, he helps people out who can't go to the police. The show is fresh, innovative, at times quite funny, like he has to leave a stake-out to pick up is mom at the beauty salon. Michael Weston is half James Bond and half McCgiver, he is very innovative and thinks very quickly on his feet. There is also a unique relationship between Michael and Fiona while there is obviously a sexual attraction between the two, Michael is more concerned about getting his old job back then pursueing a romantic relationship with Fiona but he needs her help on his cases. (Did I mention that she is smokin hot and very trigger happy)
Randy