Burn Notice 3.4 - Fearless Leader

Plot: Detective Paxson continues to increase the pressure on Michael, assigning him a tail, which Michael proceeds to ditch at every opportunity. Still, this is only going to get him in more trouble, so its time for a change in plans. If Paxson can't be eluded or scared off, then the remaining option is to convince Michael really is a good guy she doesn't need to be trying to arrest.

Which leads Michael to Matheson, a crook who makes his bones ripping off drug dealer. A crook Paxson's tried to bust so many times, he got a restraining order on her. Getting close to Matheson won't be easy, but getting close to Tommy D'Antonio, a small-timer trying to rise up the ranks? That is easy, if Michael's willing to play the starstruck even smaller time hood wanting to learn from Tommy.

Meanwhile, Sam must face the terrifying  menace of . . . a tax audit.

The Players: Randall (Charmless Sleazebag), Detective Paxson (Inconvenient Cop/Client), Stacey Connolly (I.R.S.), Matheson (Public Enemy), Tommy (Aspiring Public Enemy)

Quote of the Episode: Michael - 'We just need to keep the bad guys from killing each other until the cops arrive.' Sam - 'By standing in front of them?!'

Does Fiona blow anything up? Well, there are several small explosions to deter the drug lab's guards (and connect Matheson to all the other explosions that were actually Fi), but I don't think they actually blew up any objects. Maybe some of the parking lot.

Sam Axe Drink Count: 8 (18 overall). I'm not going to rag on him this week, the man was getting audited. Plus, the last one was a fuzzy navel and by Sam's standards that hardly counts as alcohol.

Sam getting Hit Count: 0 (0 overall).

Mike's Fake Laugh Count: 1 (1 overall). I was starting to think he'd never use a cover identity that required laughter again.

Other: Mike's name this week is "Milo". I love how he and Fi both go for some sort of Jersey (Joisey?) accent, but Sam doesn't even bother.

Madeline really can't cook. Perhaps it's all the cigarette ash in with the eggs.

Right near the end of the episode, Michael describes himself as being free of the people who burned him. Which is a load of bull. They aren't protecting him, but if he doesn't think they're watching him like a hawk, he's considerably dumber than he's appeared up to this point.

It was maybe a little predictable that Tommy would turn out to be a nice sort of guy, who couldn't go along with Matheson, but some people aren't cut out for the tough administrative duties that coming with being boss. Or it could be that unlike Matheson, Tommy's not a total asshole. Whichever.

The whole situation between Michael and Paxson is a little strange to watch. Michael is guilty of the things Paxson thinks he is, the explosions, car chases, and so on. By the end of the episode, he's gotten those things tied to Matheson, in addition to the crimes Matheson actually committed. And he did it in a way where if Paxson starts pulling at the threads to separate Michael's actions from Matheson, Matheson will get away. I'm not sure if I should be glad Michael pulled that off, but there are two mitigating factors. One, it's clear Paxson knows Michael helped her, so it isn't as though he's pulled a fast one on her. Two, we know, even if Paxson doesn't, that Michael's actions were largely taken while trying to stop other crooks, some of them worse than Matheson. Like Carla.

There's one other aspect to it, and it's that I don't really like the way Paxson tries to apply pressure with the tail. Michael says at one point, 'So I answer your questions or you get me and my friends killed?' And Paxson responds, 'No, you answer my questions before you get yourself killed.' She washes her hands of all responsibility, and maybe that's just tough talk to try and spook him, but it still feels wrong. That police tail didn't materialize out of thin air, lady.