Burn Notice 1.8 - Wanted Man

Plot: Jason Bly is gone, and in his place is Michael's alleged dossier, the one full of all the stuff he did that got him burned. This included selling secrets in Lebanon, and code-breaking equipment in Jordan. Well, then. Amongst the lies however, is a name, Phillip Cowan of the NSA, the man who burned Michael Westen. Now it's just a matter of getting in touch with him.

Perhaps the Libyan intelligence service could help with that. Assuming Michael can find time to meet with them when he isn't trying to help Thomas McKee clear his name of heisting an expensive brooch from a hotel safe. Fiona was supposed to be arresting him in her job as unlicensed bounty hunter, but he said he's innocent, so she's helping him instead. And flirting with him, since Michael appears to be trying to pretend nothing happened between them at the end of the previous episode.

The Players: Thomas McKee (Fugitive), Wayne Ray (Other Bounty Hunter), Barry (Money Launderer), Cristo (The Fence), Lawrence Henderson (Hotel Owner, Thief), Anwar (Libyan Operative)

Quote of the Episode: Fiona - 'All this to clear the name of an innocent man. That's noble. You should be proud.' Mike - 'You know who I did this for, Fi.'

Does Fiona blow anything up? No.

Sam Axe Drink Count: 4 (28 overall). It's more significant that he has to assume a cover identity of someone who doesn't drink. Meaning Sam misses out on 20-year old Scotch. Twice.

Sam Getting Hit Count: 0 (4 overall). Once again, it's Michael bearing the brunt of the violence.

Michael Fake Laugh Count: 0 (10 overall).

Other: Something I forgot to mention last week. Bly told Michael there are some people back in Ireland who would really like to know where Fiona was, as a threat to get Mike to toe the line. Moving on, but sticking with Fiona. One of the reasons Michael gives Anwar to not try torturing Michael for the info he's offering in trade for assistance is that then the Libyans would have to contend with Fi. I love that an entire country's security forces would be wary of crossing a single Irishwoman, albeit a ruthless one who could give MacGuyver a run for his money in ingenuity when it comes to bomb making.

Speaking of Anwar, I'm disappointed that he simply used Michael's idea of sending Cowan a fruit basket, rather than coming up with his own flashy display of camaraderie. Maybe a delivery of expensive wines, or a girl in a cake. Shows either a startling lack ingenuity, or that Anwar was half-assing it.

Speaking of liquor, poor Sam having to turn down fine booze. Or I assume it was fine booze. I don't know a thing about liquor, other than I don't like the taste. Also, the cover identity cost Sam a weekend in the Keys with Veronica and an opportunity to go Caddy shopping. Ouch. On the other hand, it's the first example I can recall of Sam's "Charles Finley" cover name.

Speaking of fake names, Michael simply went by Mr. Smith, which is lazy, but it was supposed to obviously be a fake name, so I guess that make sense.

All that being said, this is one of those episodes that has a lot of individual parts I like, but doesn't do much for me as a whole. Part of it is I don't find Thomas a particularly interesting client. He's nice, but sort of slow, but not so foolish that he's one of those clients who insists on getting involved and complicating things. Which is fine, those clients are best in moderation anyway, but Fi's attempt to stir some jealous feelings in Michael is so obvious and unconvincing that Thomas doesn't really work in that role either. It's not his fault, he clearly seems into Fiona, or at least grateful she didn't turn him in, but Fi's just as clearly not into him. It's too transparent.