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Burn Notice

Past and Future Tense

Season 4, Episode 7, Aired 7/22/10

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Episode Summary

Michael helps former CIA operative Paul Anderson who got into trouble with some Russian spies.

8.0

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Cast & Crew

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Jeffrey Donovan

Michael Westen
Gabrielle Anwar

Fiona Glenanne
Coby Bell

Jesse Porter

Fan Episode Reviews (6)

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Dropped the ball

5.5

"Mediocre"

By aliasfreak, Dec 02, 2011 Report Abuse

I love Burn Notice. It is, by far, my favorite show of the summer. I love it so much because the writers give the characters intricate and very creative ways of dealing with problems. I suppose that I should say almost always because this episode was lacking greatly in that respect. Burt Reynolds was just blah, like he couldn't muster up any emotion. Maybe it was his character, maybe it was his acting. Whatever the case, he brought the episode down. Like others, I did enjoy the parts where Michael freaked people out just be telling them who he was. That was funny. But I really hope that next week they get back to the creativity that makes the show so spectacular.moreless

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2 2
Every once in a while they remind us of just how Awesome Michael Weston really is. And I love it.

9.0

"Superb"

By GreyMinerva, Oct 07, 2011 Report Abuse

After a string of low key or "local" jobs, it feels good to see Michael tangle with the best of the best from the international circuit again.
Bringing in old time spies, Soviet Spetsnaz and sleazy congressmen, this episode provides a lot of ego-stroking for Michael - but also a few depressing realitychecks.

Being able to scare the living daylights out of hardened professionals merely by introducing yourself is Awesome, in the classic James Bond-style. Having the Soviet Spetsnaz wet work team exclaim "But there's only four of us!" when faced with the "boogeyman" himself is just too funny for words. :D

The other side of the coin is of course coming face to face with your own possible future in the person of an old, retired, drunk and slightly senile (or just too PTSD-ridden) spy who keeps saying you could have been him 30 years ago...
Not to mention having to lie and betray people around you for the "good of the cause" - causing your lover to start hating you just a little...

The "Weston, Michael Weston"-moments were great. The old spy playing the ghost of Christmas future was a bit sad, but not without its lighter moments - it's a POSSIBLE future, not set in stone. But the part where Fiona starts to question his motives and ethics - that's a real kicker. Because we can't help but agree.
Come on, Michael, you're better than this!moreless

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5 1
7/22

7.0

"Good"

By thefanof, Sep 16, 2010 Report Abuse

Burt Reynolds used to be a big movie star and I was excited to see him appear on this show, but this role was beneath him. This is something they gave to an unknown, not a former A-lister.

As a whole, this Burn Notice just did not do it for me. It just seemed like a whole lot of fluff, a lot of thrown-together scenes with no real point to them. Madeline willingly participating in the con, Sam and Michael being able to KO people with one punch, it just seemed out of character for this show, like there were different writers or something.

Not horrible, but definitely a disappointing episode.moreless

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Holding on to your stories.

10

"Perfect"

By TMFMM2022AD, Aug 18, 2010 Report Abuse

Jesse, Fiona, and Michale spot some Russians in town at a conference and they check them out to see who they are and who their target is. They take one of the wet work team members to an open space and Sam makes the introductions, Michael's is the famous one, and Fiona is the hammer. Alexi (Russian operative) is reluctant to answer then questions and didn't believe Michael Westen was real. Alexi tells them that they are in town for Paul Anderson and old spy. Sam and Michael go and find Paul Anderson and alert him if the wet work team looking to kill him.moreless

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A return to form!

8.0

"Great"

By entil2001, Jul 27, 2010 Report Abuse

I'm going to assume that this is roughly the midpoint of this season of "Burn Notice", at least in terms of the summer arc, and maybe that explains why this episode really hit the ground running. After a two-episode skid focusing on the acting abomination that was Kendra, things take a much more substantial turn. And that's not even taking a wonderfully understated performance by none other than Burt Reynolds into account.

Jesse's hunt for the cause of his burn notice seemed to slip into the ether, but now it's back with a vengeance. It's definitely going to be a huge part of the resolution of the season arc, and it's setting up to be a truly horrific situation. Consider this: the longer Michael and the gang work with Jesse, the more intel they hand him for that inevitable day he decides to come gunning for them. And the more personal they make it, since they are actively destroying information to keep that day from coming. It's a slow-motion train wreck, made worse by the fact that I really like Jesse and his interaction with Team Westen.

This is the first time I saw evidence that Michael has a reputation in the intelligence community to such a degree. I assume that's because I skipped three seasons. But it does make it odd that his closest confidantes don't have the same level of appreciation for his talents. Maybe because they see the flawed man behind the legend?

I'm also not sure I get what Fiona was saying at the end of the episode. I don't see Michael losing his empathy, but maybe that's a function of my lack of context. Instead, it feels like a plot point: Michael's work with the Organization is turning him into something he hates. Was Fiona's comment justified, or was it just checking off a bullet point on the wipeboard in the writers' room? I leave it to more informed fans to weigh in.

Whatever the case, it was a very good episode, and probably my favorite of the season so far.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- In the first episode, Madeline said Michael broke out of his room at 6 to see the Star Wars. This can't be since Star Wars came out in 1977, making him just over 10 when he sneaked out.
  Edit
- Michael's drivers license says that he was born 01/7/67 weighs 185lbs and is 5'11" Edit
- Featured Music: "Ella Es Mia" by Qbanito "No Reason" by Aliex Six "Bostonova" by Lisa Maxwell "The Catch" by DJ Kambo "Mr. Deceit" by Kathie Talbot "Meet Me At The Partay" by Lori Michaels "Cornered" by Beat Chanber "MDV- Caliente Salsa 02" by Latin Pulse Music "Dirty Deedz" "Grynd Nutt" by Polywood "Fire Ignite" by Kopius Few Edit
Notes
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- Original International Air Dates:
  Australia: September 23, 2010 on Channel Ten
  United Kingdom: October 5, 2011 on FX/FX HD
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Quotes
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- Michael: (voice-over) When you're being hunted in a crowd, your biggest advantage is, your opponents can't maintain visual contact with each other. The key is to move without drawing attention to yourself. When you can, you disguise your actions as something else. When you can't, you strike fast and hard. Then you calmly move for the exits and get the hell out of there. Edit
- Fiona: I can't stand this! I can't stand lying to Jesse. I can't stand watching you keep this secret like it's nothing! I can't stand what you're turning into. Michael: Which is what? Fiona: Someone who only cares about the idea of people who doesn't give a damn about the ones who have his back every single day. Michael: You know me better than that. Fiona: I used to think so. Edit
- Michael: (voice-over) Spies and politicians tend not to get along very well. Politicians see spies as vitally important in the national interest, right up to the point where they deny ever meeting them and abandon them entirely. It makes for a tough working relationship. Edit
Allusions
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- When Sam says "The Russians are coming", it is actually alluding to the a famous phrase attributed to United States Secretary of Defense James Forrestal in 1949. The complete phrase was: "The Russians are coming. The Russians are coming. They're right around. I've seen Russian soldiers." Edit