Burn Notice 1.6 - Unpaid Debts

Plot: The FBI has backed off Michael, but now he has new worries. A mysterious guy has shown up, throwing his weight around in an attempt to bully Michael into accepting his fate. To that end, he breaks into Michael's apartment, bugs his phone, uses an optical bug to spy on him when Mike thwarts the phone bug, tows the Charger, and oh yes, chooses to introduce himself by barging into Madeline's home with armed men and trashing the place.

Which means Michael is on the hook to his mother for the damages, which is how he ends up helping an old SEAL buddy of Sam's repossess a boat. Of course there are complications. The owner of the boat is rather attached to it. The people who want it repossessed don't have any actual claim to it, and are more interested in what is hidden inside. And when it becomes necessary to hide Virgil, he and Madeline take a shine to each other.

Well, Michael certainly considers that last one a complication.

The Players: Virgil (Potential Client), Andre (Boat Owner), Mason (Virgil's Client).

Quote of the Episode: 'You sure you're not just trying to keep me away from your sweet mama?' - Virgil, to Michael.

Does Fiona blow anything up? No.

Sam Axe Drink Count: 5 (23 overall). And one scene cut out right as Sam went to get a beer, or it'd be even higher.

Sam Getting Hit Count: 0 (4 overall).

Michael's Fake Laugh Count: 0 (9 overall).

Other: Mike's horrified shudder when Maddy tells him Virgil's asleep in her room is fantastic. The Charger's 8 track player is busted. Michael's alias for the episode is "Homer", complete with exaggerated Southern drawl. I do think it works well for getting people to underestimate him. Sam is officially not living with Mike anymore. Yes, things have progressed to that stage with Veronica quite rapidly.

We learn at the end of the episode that the mystery man giving Michael grief is one Jason Bly. I like that he staunchly resists Mike's attempts to get his name, making the effort to simply learn that much a running thread. Plus, there's the game of oneupsmanship between them. Mike makes fake mysterious calls to various consulates to occupy whoever's listening, Bly cuts off his phone service (though I didn't realize Mike had a working phone in his loft). Bly tows his car, Mike fries Bly laptop with a homemade magnet.

It's the second time this season Michael has stashed a client at Maddy's house. This is also the first time we actually get to see her scared. She was spooked over the phone when the loan sharks showed up to pummel Nate in "Old Friends", but by the time Michael arrived she'd sucked down enough nicotine to calm down a bit.

The title of the episode is "Unpaid Debts". Sam owed one to Virgil. Virgil had one with Mason. Depending on whether you buy Michael's "I left you in the middle of the night to protect you" line, he could owe one to Fiona. He almost certainly owes one to Maddy, but then, so does Bly for trashing her house. It can also be said someone owes Michael for burning him. There wasn't much progress on that line of inquiry beyond learning Bly's name, but we did find out there's a dossier which Bly feels makes it self-evident why Michael was burned.

Finallyy, strictly on a daroky fan level, I wish they'd name him John instead of Jason. You've got Brisco County Jr. right there on your cast, why not an antagonist named John Bly?