For the past few seasons Burn Notice has been a very entertaining yet very formulaic show. Matt Nix, the mastermind behind the series, noticed that both critics and viewers were becoming a bit bored with the old “Michael takes on a case to help someone from bad people, while slowly piecing together who the main villain of the season is, with a new clue popping up at the end of every episode” dog-and-pony-show. Thus, Season Four set out to change the approach to the show in several ways. Now you can own Burn Notice: Season Four on DVD!

 

First of all, due to Burn Notice‘s ongoing popularity, USA decided to extend the number of episodes from 16 to 18, bringing the show much closer to other networks’ episode counts. This helped to show that USA is really adamant about supporting the show. Along with that, Burn Notice introduces a brand new character into the mix that throws the entire ‘normal’ dynamic of Michael, Sam, and Fi right out the window. We are introduced to counter-intelligence agent Jesse Porter, played by Coby Bell (Third Watch), who ends up suffering a similar fate to Michael Weston in season one, being burned for something he didn’t do. But this time around, it turns out that Michael was the one causing him to be burned. But Jesse is unaware of this, and thus, like every other character on the show having problems, he shows up on Michael’s doorstep looking for help to try and catch (maybe kill?) the guy who had him burned.

The great Michael Weston (Jeffrey Donovan) is put in a bind when he accepts Jesse onto the team, feeling remorseful for what happened to him, but now he must keep a keen eye on Jesse to make sure he doesn’t discover the truth of who really burned him. Along with that, Michael is now working for the organization who had him burned in the first place, and neither Fiona nor Sam are too happy with the situation Michael has put them all in.

 

Burn Notice really needed this shot in the arm, and it really pays off, proceeding to make this possibly the best season that the show has had, especially after coming off of the somewhat-stale third season. The show continues to stick to its formulaic ways, and the team still ends up helping a person solve whatever problem they are having in each episode. But now the main season plot line is more integrated into the ongoing dealings of every episode.

 

For all of you who have been clamoring for more of Bruce Campbell’s lovable Sam Axe having more screen time, this season doesn’t disappoint one bit. For fans of Gabrielle Anwar’s Fiona, she is torn between her loyalty to Michael and what Michael has done to Jesse, realizing how obsessed Michael is becoming with uncovering the truth.

Burn Notice also continues to cast awesome guest stars for episodes, as this season sees several big names show up on the beaches of Miami. The most notable of these guest stars is probably Burt Reynolds, who plays a former CIA agent, on the run from a Russian hit squad, in one of the more stand-out episodes of the season. Richard Kind (Stargate Atlantis, Curb Your Enthusiasm) gets a reoccurring role as well, playing Jesse’s former handler.

 

Episode Highlights:

“Friends and Enemies”: Opening up with the weird room where we left our hero last season, Michael Weston has been kidnapped by the people who initially burned him, and he is given a choice by a man named Vaughn (Robert Wisdom) to work alongside him in an attempt to stop an international terrorist organization. But in doing so, Michael may have to cause a good man to be burned.

 

“Past & Future Tense”: An old and out-of-work agent (Burt Reynolds) is now being hunted down by a Russian hit squad due to still possessing dangerous secrets. Michael now must go “old school” in order to help protect him, as Jesse hooks up with his old handler in order to get help uncovering who burned him.

 

“Blind Spot”: When one of Fiona’s old friends ends up having her entire life savings stolen, its up to the team to track the bastard down to recover it, while trying to find the man who is after Simon’s Bible. This leads to Jessie discovering the truth behind who burned him, and Fi is caught in the middle of it all.

 

-Deleted Scenes

 

-Sam Axe’s Guide to Ladies and Libations

 

-Best Laid Plans: The Stunts of Burn Notice

 

-“Burn Notice Roasts White Collar” and “White Collar Roasts Burn Notice” featurettes: These two videos feature the production teams from each show literally bashing each other. Ever wondered what the crew from White Collar things of Burn Notice? Now is your chance. These are hilarious and should not be missed.

 

-Audio Commentary on Selected Episode

 

-Gag Reel

 

 

Burn Notice continues to be as entertaining as ever with Season Four, as the show steps up its game and manages to tell a more elaborate and connected story. If you had been “burned” by how stale the show had gotten in Season Three, its highly recommended that you check out this DVD. It basically fixes everything the previous season left lacking. The more-than-welcome addition of Coby Bell as Jesse helped to shake things up in a good way, and watching the team deal with it made for some very good television. After reaching the ending, fans will be begging for the fifth season to arrive.