Burn Notice 1.9 - Hard Bargain

Plot: Nick Lam has a problem. His fiance, Dawn, has been kidnapped. Dawn has a bigger problem: The kidnappers picked her because they think Nick is rich, when he's just a housesitter. If Michael can negotiate Dawn's safe release, Nick's going to have another problem, because he hadn't told Dawn the fact he was just a housesitter, either.

Also, Michael may finally be getting some movement on his burn notice. A desk jockey by the name of Perry Clark is in Miami to review his case, and possibly can recommend the burn notice be lifted. The chances of that are declining sharply as Michael sends Perry through hoop after hoop trying to be satisfied he is who he says he is.

On top of that, Fiona's birthday is coming up and Michael doesn't seem to be giving much thought to what to get her.

The Players: Nick Lam (Dude with a Problem), Lucio Velasquez (Kidnapper), Reyes (Head Kidnapper)

Quote of the Episode: Michael - 'Fortunately, fragile psychological states are a specialty of Fiona's.'

Does Fiona blow anything up? No. She does use a taser on Lucio, and hit another kidnapper in the face with the butt of a shotgun.

Sam Axe Drink Count: 1 (29 overall).

Sam Getting Hit Count: 0 (4 overall).

Michael Fake Laugh Count: 0 (10 overall).

Other: Michael's fake name for the episode is "Andrew Chambers".

How does Michael afford Armani? I guess the suit could be left over from before the burn notice, when he had access to his accounts, but otherwise, that seems a little pricey for how much he usually makes on these jobs. Also, how did Perry expect Michael to get to Ft. Lauderdale? Isn't Michael on a no-travel list that is supposed to restrict him to Miami? I mean, I'm sure Michael could slip out for awhile without being noticed, especially since the FBI got off his back, but that doesn't seem like a good way to make an impression.

I was about to ask whether this is the first episode we saw Michael actually kill someone, but I remembered the two guards he shot in the bathroom in Nigeria in the Pilot.

Nick is kind of tiresome. He's every braindead character from the early days of Keanu's career rolled into one.

Reyes in pretty nice for a kidnapper, though I suppose you have to be patient when negotiating a ransom. But getting the negotiator a massage, that's above and beyond. Maybe he wouldn't need to ask for such extravagant ransoms if he skimped a little more.