JAM Reviews Burn Notice: Season Four from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Burn Notice Season Four : Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Review by JAM

Now having the chance to review the fourth season of Burn Notice, it is interesting to see each of the seasons encompassing certain main issues and traits as we follow the life of our main character Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan) and his ragtag team of adventurers. Season One seemed to be able the introduction of the character and Michael working towards re-finding himself while he works towards removing his burn notice. Season Two shows Michael discovering that the job he has lost through the burn notice does not define his life as he fights against a female adversary who attempts to control and use him, holding information as a carrot to influence him. Season Three focused on Michael beginning to realize that the people around him are far more important than all the craziness happening in his life. But Season Four leads to the magic phrase of “Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it.”, as Michael focuses on the attaining of his long missed occupation. Working with another devil’s advocate type known as Vaughn (Robert Wisdom), Michael will destroy lives while he also attempts to repair lives as well, especially his own. Joined by a fourth team member Jesse (Coby Bell), another former burnt spy by way of Michael himself, the team works to find a powerful coded Bible that holds all the secrets they are searching for.

In my review of Season Three, I mentioned that Michael seemed to be worried about becoming the monster that his file portrays as Season Four is about to begin. And he does. The only question that remains is can he pull himself back out of the abyss that he has fallen within.

Worst feeling for a burnt spy? To burn another innocent spy in the pursuit of your own redemption, and that is exactly how this season starts out for Michael. Throw in crazy turns for Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar) as she fights feelings for Michael and Jesse, the standard awesomeness of Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell) Mike’s mom (Sharon Gless), and appearances by a menagerie of former awesome characters from the Burn Notice canon including Barry (Paul Tei), Simon (Garret Dillahunt), and Tyler Brennen (Jay Karnes). Starting with the beginning of the burn of Jesse and ending with the final shootout to save Jesse’s life and the lives of all of Michael’s friends and family. All along the way there are betrayals, violent attacks, assassins and death dealers, and more, all making an awesome season of sweaty BURNing goodness.

JAMS Ink on Burn Notice

This season is a fun mixture of old and new with returning guests galore from the previous seasons as well as a number of new fun characters that do their own best to stick their thorns into Michael’s side. Jesse, Michael’s newest ally is a bit of an enigma though as he searches for those who burnt him while working aside those who burnt him. The final confrontation between the two yields a mutual understanding towards working towards the better good no matter the personal cost. The drama is well played out throughout the season as Jesse finds out the truth halfway in, and deals with the betrayal he feels from those he had trusted.

Favorite Episode of Season Four – Episode 5 Neighborhood Watch. Navi Rawat continues her three episode romp through the show as Kendra, an assassin that captures Michael’s attention and almost his heart in a deadly way and a doctor must deal with viscous drug dealers that have hurt and scared those he would shepherd and heal. The flirty exchanges between Michael and Navi’s character Kendra show a side of Michael he had forgotten about as he enjoys the witty banter much to Fiona’s chagrin. And the ballet of bullets and bombs that they employ to make the doctor look like the master of the hell raining down on the undesirables strikes fear into the hearts of many and establishes a man of healing as a force to be reckoned with. This is Michael’s team at their best, establishing strength within those who need it while working the system against those who take advantage.

EXTRAS

The extras included are a pretty fun set, especially considering the limited amount from last year. Commentaries, deleted scenes, gag reels and more will take more of your time than you anticipated as you peruse this new season. The deleted scenes and gag reels usually tend to be my favorites, but we have a look at Sam Axe on this set and being a Bruce Campbell fan makes this the best gift I could get. Sam Axe’s Guide to Ladies and Libations is as great as it sounds as Bruce shares special insights that only he could share. The Burn Notice and White Collar roasts are okay, but once again they strike gold with a behind the scenes look at the stunts of Burn Notice. All in all, the extras don’t really make me want the set any more than before, but that is because the set is a MUST have by itself.

Burn Notice: Season Four from Twentieth Century Fox appeared on shelves on DVD on June 7, 2011. Grab a copy and feel the BURN! Ok, that was bad, but seriously check it out.

Remember check out this review and more from JAM at www.hollywoodteenzine.com for teens and tweens, and at www.jammoviereviews.blogspot.com for movies of all genres and ages.