The Show
Last season, we met Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan), a good spy who does all the right things for all the right reasons, and yet he was given his "burn notice," informing him of his immediate termination, that leaves him completely high and dry. Ever since, he has been trying to find out who burned him, and why, but along the way in his new life he has become a sort of Robin Hood to those with seemingly insurmountable problems in sunny Miami, while his narration explains many of the do-it-yourself nuts and bolts of the Spy Game, sort of MacGyver meets Jason Bourne. This season, while taking his relationships with his mom and his ex in new directions, he is also stripping away layer after layer to uncover the truth, revealing of course a whole new manner of intrigue. Matters become very nasty, very dark, but fortunately Westen is a serious tough guy who keeps his cool no matter what.
The Picture
The 1.78:1 image exhibits a definite haze, and the frequent instances of smoke and dust don't do the picture any favors, either. Miami looks lovely sometimes, overcast and dingy at others, although some bright sunlit aerial shots in the season finale are exceptionally sharp. Blacks can be a little non-specific, however the Doris Day filter sometimes used on close-ups of Michael's mom (Sharon Gless) are even more noticeable at this high resolution.
The Sound
The accompanying DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 makes excellent use of the rear speakers and subwoofer, not just for all the expected action: atmosphere abounds throughout the season, and the music is generously mixed across the entire soundfield. Explosions (and there are many) can be movie-quality at times, but the effects do vary. Directionality is well-rendered in the car chases, and everything is very clean and clear.
The Extras
Three of the 16 episodes carry an audio commentary, one with director Bronwen Hughes, actor/story editor Ben Watkins, co-writer Rahad Raisani, and actors Rob Benedict and Method Man; another from director/actor Tim Matheson with co-writers Jason Tracey and Craig O'Neill; and the last shared by actors Bruce Campbell actor Michael Shanks; all of them featuring creator/co-writer Matt Nix. He's also given the spotlight in "NIXin' It Up," as he reflects upon his experiences directing an episode (14 minutes.) There are also deleted scenes for multiple episodes, a ten-minute gag reel, and a fun eight-and-a-half-minute Easter egg (look for the sunglasses). All extras are in standard-definition.
Final Thoughts
As has been the case with many of the best hour-long dramas of the past several years, Burn Notice combines great weekly entertainment with a bigger, deeper mystery below the surface. I'd put the audio/video quality a notch above most TV on disc, and the extras maintain the fun undercurrent of the series.
Where to Buy:
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