See a complete and extensive biography of each of the Burn Notice main characters with a resume of their activities, including: all known aliases, travel, education and associates, as well as photos.
Piece the characters' lives together as never before possible with all the information available from their early family lives to their present whereabouts and activities. Bios include: Michael and Madeline Westen, Sam Axe, Fiona Glenanne and Jesse Porter.
Good Guys: See a complete description of all known facts about each of these characters, mostly 'over-the-table' people who seem to show up from time to time in several episodes. This is a good way to index into which episodes characters like Nate Westen, Diego Garza, Lucy Chen and Marv appeared in and to recognize them by their photos.
Naughty: Complete descriptions and biographies of these, perhaps a bit 'under-the-table' characters which are none-the-less friendly and/or helpful to Mike. Included are characters like: Barry Burkowski, Seymour and Raymond (Sugar) along with the episode numbers of the episodes in which they appeared.
Family: Family members of the Burn Notice main characters.
See complete decriptions of each of the Burn Notice Clients who have been helped by Michael Westen and his friends. These are people who were described as "the desparate people to whom Michael Westen lends his razor-sharp mind and fists of fury" by someone who was one of them… Victor Stecker-Epps, a spy who, like Michael, had his life ruined by 'the Organization,' Carla in particular.
From Javier and David, clients in episode one, through to the very latest. They're all here with their photos and episode numbers. Their stories often provide links into the back-stories of the main characters.
See complete character descriptions of this odd group of antagonists who are usually closed-minded, often misinformed, frequently angry, ostensibly 'above-the-table' but nearly always a thorn in Michael Westen's back-side. Additionally, many have been won over to being friendly through a whole lot of patience.
All come with photographs, the actor who portrayed them and the episode number and include such characters as: Agents Harris and Lane, Bill Cowley, Jason Bly, Detective Paxson and others.
The Cabal: This is a complete listing of all the members in the organization only known as "the Cabal" along with their complete biographies, photographs, actors and episode numbers. They were described as "A Cabal operating within the US completely unknown to the intelligence community."
The Organization: This is a consortium of high placed officials known as "The Organization." Other names such as: "People we work for," "Carrot and stick people," and "46 money making opportunities" have also been used for characters like: Albert Machado, Bill Johnson, Carla, Vaughn, Phillip Cowan and the man known only as "Management."
The Organization 2.0: Missed by the CIAs "housecleaning" – this is the house that Anson built.
Freelancers: These are definitely bad guys of renoun but are not in any descernable organization or affiliation and it takes more than one show to get rid of them. Larry Sizemore ("Dead" Larry), Natalie Rice and Tyler Brennen all fit into this category.
Here is the most complete listing of Burn Notice bad guys found anywhere on the web. A complete description is given, along with the actor, photograph and episode number.
Characters range from the bumbling fool to the worthless terrorist who's soul has no redeeming value – complete from episode one to present. Included are the likes of: Adam Scott, Concha Ramirez, Cruz, Erik Luna, Harlan, Justin Walsh, Omar Hernandez, Rincon and Vlad "B-something."
Here is the most complete listing of Burn Notice prequel characters found anywhere on the web. A complete description is given, along with the actor, photograph and episode number.
Characters range from the altruistic good-guy to the bumbling fool to the worthless terrorist who's soul has no redeeming value. Included are the likes of: Sam Axe, Commandant Veracruz, Beatriz, Amanda Maples, admiral Gregory Maitland and even Michael Westen."
Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe - Wow! What a block-buster! We learned more than we expected about Sam and our head is still reeling with more background bio material on both him and Michael. We learn why and how he was retired, how he got some of his facial scars and EVEN where his favored alias, Chuck Finley, came from and why he is so attached to it.
To top it off, we got to see a pre-burned Michael Weston complete with beard, suntan and adventurers pocket vest. And we are tantalized by learning about yet another "mission" he and Sam had worked on.
With Michael Westen's true life dilemma, the loss of his job and endangerment of his friends and family due to his Burn Notice, mixed into all of his "Day Job" work with clients plus all the Feds within Cabal's within Organizations – it's a bit difficult to put it all together. Here is the "straight scoop" summary for the Burn Notice thread (what Matt Nix calls the "A" story) in the television series (you're welcome).
We learn what it means when a spy is "burned." Not just words, a spy who is abandoned by his agency is in really, really deep crap; and that goes for all his friends and family too! No money, no job, no place to live? How to survive? And what about all the scum-bags who find you're out and now want to kill you? How do you defend yourself?
We meet Madeline, the mother, and Nate, the brother; as well as friends and companions like Sam, Fiona and Barry. And we start the quest to discover what in the #$%! happened and figure out how to un-do it all and get back to "normal."
Michael did discover who had actually signed the documents to burn him, get the guy's attention, foil an assassination attempt and meet him face-to-face – right before he was taken captive by "the Organization" behind it all.
[The 12 episodes in the 3 months this season was aired, between june 28, 2007 and Sep 20, 2007, went from the opener's 4.0 million viewers to the closer's 4.8 million.]
This season we learn about "the Organization" that burned Michael. What can they do? – about anything they want. Do they have any morals? – absolutely none. Who are they after? – Everyone and anyone, especially those who get in their way. Arrogance seems to be a job qualification and blackmail their modus operandii.
We get better acquainted with the histories of the main characters and learn about what makes them tick. Were they ever engaged? Why is/was Michael a spy?
Michael became the "personal shopper" for what turned out to be a "rogue" member of the "rogue" Organization, and discovered that he is neither unique in his situation nor alone – even the bad guys have enemies. With his friends help, he gets rid of one enemy only to meet her boss and even extract a promise to be left alone – wonder how that will work.
[The 16 episodes in the 9 months this season was aired, between Jul 10, 2008 and Mar 5, 2009, went from the opener's 5.39 million viewers to the closer's 6.1 million.]
This season is the time to see how "deep the doodoo" Michael is in even if the so-called "Organization" pulled out of his life. Of course it's really unlikeley that the scum-bag sociopaths will really keep the promise to "really" leave him alone; but, what if they did?
Season Three is the time to meet the local police and learn what they think of Michael's methods of helping people. Is it even possible to establish some form of detant with his old agency? And, can things possibly get any worse?
Michael's new vulerability leads him to uncover a completely different nefarious organization that even his old Nemesis didn't know about; and find out that nearly always getting out of trouble is harder than getting in to it; and people who you think are friends can turn on you in a blink of an eye.
[The 16 episodes in the 9 months this season was aired, between Jun 4, 2009 and Mar 4, 2009, went from the opener's 5.39 million viewers to the closer's 6.1 million.]
This season is back into the clutches of "the Organization" who just don't seem to be able to keep their hands off of Michael. Now, at least, he knows who really did the things he is being blamed for; but, will it even help?
Season Four is the time to pull out all stops and get out from under these guys thumbs – or die trying. Is the enemy of his enemy his friend - or just yet another burden to dig out of?
Michael's blackmailers have blackmailers! Can he cancel them both out? And what about his "civilian" enemies. Will they take a breather while he is thus occupied?
[The 18 episodes in the 6 months this season was aired, between Jun 3, 2010 and Dec 16, 2010, went from the opener's 6.62 million viewers to the closer's 5.11 million. Overall, the figure was 6.69 million viewers.]
The world-wide Organization Michael spent four years exposing was summarily taken down over the writers summer break – and shown in three minutes of flash-back montage. He seems to be off the no-fly list and is hangin' with Max, Raines and Pearce who keep calling him "super-spy" and sayin' "he's back in" without putting it in writing.
Any sympathy we had for Jesse being burned was wasted because he summarily decided that "going back was booring" and became a high-paid security guard. Madeline is remodeling, Nate is back with son Charlie and wife (actively avoiding Madeline), and Sam has lost a lot of weight. Fiona… some things never change.
Oh, only the CIA thinks "the Organization" is gone. Michael knows better – meet Anson and "Organization 2.0".
[The 18 episodes in the 6 months this season was aired, between Jun 23, 2011 and Dec 15, 2011, went from the opener's 5.17 million viewers to the closer's 2.89 million. Overall, the figure was 6.69 million viewers - this is the year the series became self-centered and had Anson!]
It looks like Michael's standing with the CIA hasn't gone down the tubes over the season break; but, unfortunately he's still left dealing with Anson's "Organization 2.0". Fiona being in the slammer has left Michael a near basket case and Sam to pick up the pieces.
Now's the time for Michael to try and undo all the poor decisions he's made on behalf of Anson – if he can, and find out just what more it will cost him.
With Madeline getting to shoot her first psychopath – we are truly in for a "bumpy ride" this season. And, we know that it will involve Jesse because Matt Nix has now even added him into the intro.
[The 18 episodes in the 6 months this season was aired, between Jun 14, 2012 and Dec 20, 2012, went from the opener's 3.87 million viewers to the closer's 3.78 million. No overall figures given. Self-centered, convoluted plot focus remained.]
This is the final season for Burn Notice – and all bets appear to be off. For some undisclosed reason, the creator, Matt Nix, has made the episodes more "edgy" and dark. Characters have changed dramatically (and not always for the better). In some ways the plots are more believable but in many others come across as superficial and "formula."
Season Seven is a "bumpy ride" to say the least with many twists and turns. "Clients" are basically a thing of the past and the entire season is absorbed by Michael and his various hateful enemies pursuing vendetta's against him personally and his friends and family.
Overall, fans are probably NOT going to like how the series ends; although, it could have been worse – well, perhaps not by much.
[The 12 episodes in the 6 months this season was aired, between Jun 6, 2013 and Sep 12, 2013, went from the opener's 4.32 million viewers to the closer's 4.97 million. No overall figures given. Self-centered, convoluted plots remained through the season.]
When one has watched the Burn Notice series for any amount of time, the variation in style of writing becomes obvious. Yes Matt Nix, the creator, has his hand in abut everything; but, sometimes you can notice that character's actions are less believable or style has changed. Some episodes are clearly action drama while others seem like a daytime "soap." Here is an index of each of the writer's episodes so that you can tie them together more easily.
Probably as much as the writer the director's style makes a huge difference in the finished impatct of a Burn Notice story. Yes Matt Nix, the creator, has his hand in pretty much everything; but, sometimes you can notice that a character's actions are less believable or some aspect of the style has changed. Camera angles and pacing are but two aspects to look for which differ between directors. Here is an index of each of the director's episodes so that you can tie them together more easily.
When one has followed the Burn Notice series for any amount of time, it may be difficult to remember the name of an episode but you might know about when it was aired. This season index lists all episodes by title in order that they were aired. Using the titles to jog your memory, you should be able to recognize the episode you are trying to find and the built in link will take you right to it.
If you're one of the fortunate ones who remember television show titles then using an alphabetic index is the easiest way to find an episode's summary. This index lists all episodes alphabetic by title. Each has a built in link to the summary as well as to where you can watch the episode on Amazon.
A trademark of the Burn Notice series is the spycraft voiceovers by Michael Westen. However, just as memorable are the "one liners" the writers throw in to spice up conversations between characters. Some are about spycraft but many, especially those by Sam Axe, are about not taking oneself too seriously
These are painstaking transcripts of the more memorable character quotes - when I can notice them - and are available indexed by episode and by character.
A unique trademark of the Burn Notice TV series is the use of "voiceovers" to inform about background information – a sort of "Spycraft 101." Die-hard fans usually get so they aren't even noticable; but, without them you know that somethings missing.
These are painstaking transcripts of all Michael's attempts to teach us his craft – listed by season and episode in addition to topic!
Burn Notice is a made-for-television action series, created by Matt Nix, about a spy, Michael Westen, who was "fired" right in the middle of a dangerous operation – nearly getting him killed. In the spy lingo it's called being "burned," and being killed may be the easier way out. Except, that Michael was good… really, really good, and had no clue what could have happened to get him axed – "this can't be good!"