Hard Time

Season 4, Episode 10, Aired
EDIT

Episode Summary

Michael interrogates Simon in order to gain more information on the cipher he found.''Meanwhile, an old buddy of Sam's serving jailtime ask him for help, because he thinks his life is in danger.
8.5
out of 10
EPISODE RATING: Great
165 votes
  • Your Rating: 10
    "Perfect"
  • Your Rating: 9.5
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 9
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 8.5
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 8
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 7.5
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 7
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 6.5
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 6
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 5.5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 4.5
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 4
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 3.5
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 3
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 2.5
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 2
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 1.5
    "Abysmal"
  • Your Rating: 1
    "Abysmal"
Rate It

Watch Online

Netflix
Subscription
Amazon
Buy
iTunes
Buy

Cast & Crew

See All EDIT

Fan Episode Reviews (4)

See All

  • Hard Time

    7.5
    "Good"
    By thefanof, Oct 29, 2011 Report Abuse
    This season CSI: NY had an episode that saw Hill Harper's character get stuck in prison and have to escape people he helped put away while trying to survive. This episode of Burn Notice had that feel, but frankly it was not nearly as good.

    That is not to say that the CBS procedural is better than this show, but the prison scenes were really the only good part of tonight's episode. All the other stuff with Fiona, Sam and Madeline was just really boring. It was good to see Michael in constant action though, as it is almost like his character has toned down a bit in that regard, he became like the DA character on Law and Order, just someone who oversees things and rarely gets involved, but he definitely got involved here.

    A good Burn Notice, but it could have been better.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    1 5

  • Amazing episode, best of the season!

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By tvfanatic91, Sep 15, 2010 Report Abuse
    Slowly but steadily this is becoming my favorite show. The cases are always easy to follow so that if I miss the first 10 minutes or so or if I'm multi-tasking and listening but not watching a certain scene I can still follow what is going on. On top of that the series plot is Phenominal. My favorite part is that episode by episode we learn more about Michael's burn, and it all leads to a huge cliffhanger at the end of each season.

    So why was this episode so good? It's because we met up with Simon and found out who burned Simon and how Michael got his job and why Simon is Psycho and was after Vaughn and Michael. I can't imagine anyone else besides Jeff Donovan in the role of Michael, he just takes the show to a new level. After this episode we are left with plenty of plots to watch play out such as 1) Michael/Jesse 2) Michael/Vaughn 3) Michael/Simon 4) Simon/Vaughn and 5) Michael & Vaughn/CEO Tech guy who's name I can't remember at this moment. There are so many things going on I am as excited to see the next episode as I was when I was watching the final season of Monk and Lost which puts Burn Notice in some pretty hefty company.

    I love that Madeline is getting some face time now, and how she seems to be in the loop with Michael and Jesse. In this episode Michael helps an old friend of Sam's by going undercover as a prisoner and defending him from some prison gangs who were trying to kill him. We got some good self-defense tips in this episode from Michael which is a favorite of mine although I always seem to forget them by the time the next episode comes around and I learn some new ones. I can't wait to see what Michael has in mind for this tech guy and Vaughn because I have a feeling there will be some twist and that the relationship between Michael and Vaughn will change soon. The writers are getting all of my praise here, it was brilliantly written and with this not being the season finale I can't wait to see what they have in mind for the final two episodes of the season.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    6 0

  • The work continues.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By TMFMM2022AD, Aug 20, 2010 Report Abuse
    Michael has a meeting with Simon and tells him he found his bible, but someone was trying to steal it before he got to it. Simon breaks out of the handcuffs he was imprisoned in and tackles Michael off a balcony. During the process of this, Simon gives Michael a message of a location to look for a tape buried in a grave site. Later Michael tell Fiona and Sam what happened and about the location of the tape. Sam and Fiona wonder if Simon is setting Michael up in a trap, Michael believes that the information on the tape is worth listening to.

    Sam goes to visit a buddy in prison and finds out his friends life in in danger, and his friend Juan becomes an unsuspecting client.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    0 0

  • Matters escalate

    7.0
    "Good"
    By entil2001, Aug 19, 2010 Report Abuse
    It's hard to believe that this show is almost done for the summer. But it did start earlier than most other summer shows, and the fact that the season arc is heating up makes the impending hiatus all the more bittersweet.

    The highlight of recent episodes for me has been the renewed focus on the season arc. The Kendra sub-arc was a complete waste of time, but the recent action has notched up the tension in the Jesse situation while also pulling Michael deeper into the fight against the Organization. I can't say that I picked up on all the nuances regarding Simon and his past history with Michael, but the implications were clear enough.

    The information at the end of this episode may provide an out for Michael when Jesse learns the truth about his own situation. Jesse is going to react badly, and could become Michael's worst enemy. But if Michael has compelling evidence that the same person was ultimately responsible for both their situations, then I can see things taking the unexpected route, with the current Team Westen remaining more or less intact and going after Vaughn.

    The episodic elements of the story didn't work quite so well for me. I thought Sam's scenes with Juan were played for too much sentimentality, and while there was a palpable sense of danger, I thought it was far too easy for Michael to keep himself and Juan alive. Keeping Cruz at bay is one thing, but if there were that many people under his thumb, Michael and Juan should have been fending off attacks left and right.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    0 2
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

See All

  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • Featured Music: "Bells" by DJ Kambo (Opening scenes) "Ambient Intro" by DJ Kambo (Michael talks to Simon) "Grunge Hop" by The Glove and Kurt Farquhar (Sam meets Juan) "The Heist" by Will Richter (Sam leaves jail) "La Tierra" by Correa Bros and Kurt Farquhar (Michael offers help) "Conundrum" by Kurt Farquhar and Dave Bateman (Michael goes to jail) "Mystery Room" by Kurt Farquhar and Dave Bateman (Dangerous silence) "Miss En Garde" by Jon Mattox (At the library) "Who You Are" by The Grave Spinners (Jesse and Fi uncover the treasure) "Beat Down" by Dave Bateman (At the infirmary) "Break Glass" by Kurt Farquhar (At the infirmary) "Asphixiate" by Kathie Talbot (Michael meets Vaughn) Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES

    • Original International Airdates:
      Australia: November 4, 2010 on Channel Ten
      United Kingdom: October 26, 2011 on FX/FX HD

      Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Michael: Why tell me any of this? Simon: I would have worked with the devil himself to take down those sons of bitches that burned us. Sadly, the devil's not available. I'll have to pin my hopes on you. Go get'em, brother. Edit
    • Michael: (voice-over) In the jungle, the first warning that a predator is approaching is silence. When violence is imminent, animals instinctively know that keeping quiet and still is their best shot at survival. Prison's a lot like the jungle. Silence is not a good sign. Averted eyes, stockpiled food, and guys wearing heavy coats on a warm day also indicate trouble's on the way. Edit
    • Michael: (voice-over) Old cemeteries are great hiding places, as long as you don't mind desecrating a grave. People don't often go digging in cemeteries, and unlike buildings or houses, they don't get demolished or remodeled. Bury your stash near an old, nondescript headstone and there's little chance anyone will uncover it, unless they're meant to. Edit

  • Allusions

Show Forums

See All
Last Activity
Replies

Watch Burn Notice Full Episodes

See All

Related Shows

  • Terriers

    Available Episodes: 13

    Source: FX

  • 24

    Available Episodes: 193

    Source: FOX

  • MacGyver

    Available Episodes: 139

    Source: CBS

  • Hawaii Five-O

    Available Episodes: 39

    Source: CBS

  • Human Target

    Available Episodes: 25

    Source: FOX

Season 4 Episodes

See All
Ep 18
Last Stand
Ep 17
Out of the Fire
Ep 16
Dead or Alive
Ep 15
Brotherly Love
Ep 14
Hot Property
Ep 13
Eyes Open
Ep 12
Guilty as Charged
Ep 11
Blind Spot
Ep 10
Hard Time
Ep 9
Center of the Storm
Ep 8
Where There's Smoke
Ep 7
Past and Future Tense
Ep 6
Entry Point
Ep 5
Neighborhood Watch
Ep 4
Breach Of Faith
Ep 3
Made Man
Ep 2
Fast Friends
Ep 1
Friends And Enemies

Contributors

Become a contributor
More
Less

TV Listings

Full Listings
BROWSE | Shows | Videos | News | Listings | Forums | People | Photos | TV.com Blog

CBS Entertainment | About TV.com | About CBS Interactive | Jobs | Advertise

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Ad Choice | Terms of Use