Burn Notice

Friends and Family

Season 3, Episode 1, Aired 6/4/09

Episode Summary

After escaping "Management", Michael is caught by the police and put into jail. An old friend named Harlan bails him out but asks for a favor in return.

9.0

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Cast & Crew

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Jeffrey Donovan

Michael Westen
Gabrielle Anwar

Fiona Glenanne
Bruce Campbell

Sam Axe

Fan Episode Reviews (7)

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Season 3 Premiere.

7.0

"Good"

By thefanof, Jan 26, 2011 Report Abuse

Burn Notice returned after three months and I personally could not have been more excited. It is quite possibly a Top 5 drama on TV (with Lost, Damages, Dexter and House as the only programs I would rank higher) so my hype was understandable. Unfortunately, this episode was all over the place at times and just did not result in the mega premiere the fan in me was hoping for. Missing was the snappy and witty dialogue and replaced with it were some really awkward scenes and the generic tie up your hostage, only for the hostage to overpower and break free of the rope scene.

The episode was still fairly decent with some good action and fight scenes, and some of the usual, expected humor from Sam Axe, but I just wanted so much more given how well the second season ended.moreless

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2 4
An old service buddy named Harlan bails Michael out of jail to ultimately reveal that someone, somewhere has big plans for the former spy.

8.0

"Great"

By Maxximus_Prime, Oct 21, 2010 Report Abuse

This was a decent episode, but I expected a bit more from a season premiere, especially considering this show has set and maintained a high standard. While there was plenty of espionage, action, the eventual double-cross and the obligatory yogurt reference, it was more fitting of a regular episode, more to the point, a filler episode. With the Burn Notice on a temporary hold, I expected the establishment of a new, mysterious syndicate or nemesis to at least have a face to associate the next adversary for Michael. Instead, Michael ended up pulling a job for his old service buddy Harlan who has obvious ulterior motives. Harlan turned Judas and admitted that Michael was a proverbial stepping-stone in his career. The end of the episode redeemed itself it smidge with the establishment of some kind of group coming after Michael. Overall, it was a nice episode but again, something felt missing; like there could have been more to really kick-start this season with the flare it deserves.moreless

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Excellent Season Premiere

9.5

"Superb"

By OnePerCentClub, Sep 02, 2010 Report Abuse

With the same excitement as last season's finale, this season premiere had just the exact amount of fun and action.

So did things change? Not really... Sam was hilarious when he was explaining this to Michael and all he got was probably nothing. Michael still wants his job back and will do anything to get it.

What a twist, with this friend Harlan. Never crossed my mind. Good he got what he deserved in the end.

Fiona... She still wants to believe that she can change Michael, but I think it will take her more than that. Or maybe she won't be able to do anything. And I don't think she'll dare ask Michael herself, she's probably too afraid of the answer.

Madeline and Sam are great together. Their scenes have to be some of the best. And Madeline was right... They can't be apart.moreless

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Well we're off to a good start. Season 3 starts right where Season 2 left off, with Michael in the water. Thoughts on the premiere after the jump. If you need me I'll be mixing beer with yogurtmoreless

9.0

"Superb"

By theplurp, Jun 09, 2009 Report Abuse

Well we're off to a good start. Season 3 starts right where Season 2 left off, with Michael in the water. Last season Burn Notice really seemed to hit its stride. It mixed it's season long arc seamlessly with it's story of the week episodes. Not much has changed in that respect, BN seems to have that formula down. Plus, they seem to be having a lot of fun with the stand alone plots (see the creative use of the subtitles 'el jefeje').

The Lesser Evil?

Seems like management wasn't kidding, they really were keeping Michael's enemies, frenemies and the police at bay. I like the fact that I was lulled into a false sense of security with Harlan, although his betrayal not a surprise, it does send the viewers the message that Michael isn't safe anymore. The little cover that management had provided before is gone, so in come all the crazies that want a piece of Michael.

So it begs the question, why cut off ties with management? I would think that they would be the lesser evil, a more manageable evil than the unseen and unpredictable enemies that Michael might have lurking around now. Bah..its funner this way anyway :) I'm certain that Michael will eventually pretend to play nice with management when things get unmanageable. But for now we can delight in Michael hacking, kicking, punching and exploding his way out of danger.

More at www.theplurp.commoreless

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Season 3 picks up where Season 2 left off. Michael's plunge from a helicopter and subsequent swim in the Atlantic left him wet and dazed but it didn't dampen his incredibly resourceful mind.moreless

9.5

"Superb"

By sunsethill, Jun 07, 2009 Report Abuse

After a brief stint in jail for undefined reasons, Michael is bailed out by a friend from his past spy days, a former Special Forces soldier named Harlan. Harlan then enlists Michael's help with a young Venezuelan woman(Marta) in desperate need of assistance to regain land stolen from her father. Michael agrees and the planning begins. The remainder of the cast, Sam, Fi, and Madeline are all present and accounted for. The most interesting change this season is that Michael is no longer pursued by "The Management." However, as Sam informs him, Management was apparently protecting him from an array of adversaries, including the police and foreign government agencies. With this new set of foes, Michael is still willing and able to help someone with the skills only he can provide. Of course, Sam and Fi are there to give "tactical support," but as Robert Burns wrote: "The best-laid plans of mice and men/often go awry,..." In this episode, much to Michael's surprise, Harlan is not the friend he once was and is using Michael for his own gain. Harlan deceives Michael, Sam, and Fi into thinking that the target is a Venezuelan criminal named Cortez. The plan is to kidnap Cortez, return him to Venezuela to face justice and thereby free the land he stole from Marta's father. Everything goes well until Harlan reveals the real plan-give Michael to the Venezuelan Federales and thereby make a name for himself. After killing Cortez, and binding Michael to a chair, Harlan waits for the Federales to pick up Michael and a dead Cortez. It is not in Michael's nature to sit still and wait for the impending doom. He manages to cut himself free and a fight ensues with Harlan. Michael wins and then waits for the Federales arrive and take a bound and gagged Harlan, along with Cortez, back to Venezuela. With this development, Marta's land is to be returned and her father and he will be released from prison. In one of the closing scenes, the stage is set for the remainder of the season when Madeline tells Michael, Fi, and Sam that they need to "stick together." Hopefully, the writers will keep the rapid pace that Episode 1 has set.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- Featured Music: "Explosion" by Potent (Opening scenes) "B*tch Slap" by Russell Howard (Michael in jail) "Maracayero" by Jimmy Bosch (Marta tells her story) "Give It To Me" (Instrumental) (At the club) "Slavemagnet" (The alarm is activated) "Beach Salsa" by Sunspot (Sam talks to Barry) "Electro Pirate" by Daniel Lenz (Michael meets Falcone) "Havana Ray" (Sam and Fiona wait for Michael) "Slam" by Christopher Lennertz (Michael escapes) "Miami Beach" by Sunspot (Closing scenes) Edit
Notes
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- International Episode Titles: Czech Republic: Přátelé a rodina (Friends and Family) Edit
- Original International Air Dates: Australia: October 29, 2009 on Channel Ten Latin America: November 17, 2009 on FX Sweden: March 7, 2010 on TV6 Norway: March 22, 2010 on Viasat 4 Czech Republic: May 12, 2010 on Prima COOL United Kingdom: September 1, 2010 on FX/FX HD Germany: November 8, 2010 on Vox Edit
Quotes
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- Michael: (voice-over) Like a wedding, an armed extraction requires a lot of planning if you want it to go well. And like a wedding, it's not the sort of thing you want to do twice, which is why you hold a rehearsal before the big day. Edit
- Michael: (to Falcone) You have a slug in your engine block. Your team is pinned down and I'm leaving with your boss. If I were you, I'd think about another line of work other than security. Edit
- Michael: (voice-over) One of the things covert operatives have to give up is the idea of a fair fight. Spies are not trained to fight fair. Spies are trained to win. Edit
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