Burn Notice 3.7 - Shots in the Dark

Plot: Michael still has Tom Strickler trying to employ him, so he decides to do a little research on Strickler. By research, I mean he decides to make Diego Garza's life more difficult so he'll check into Strickler. The end result is that Diego was heavily interrogated, I mean interviewed, about Strickler by six different agencies (including one he didn't know existed). So Strickler really is that connected.

But Michael can't just sit around, and tapping Diego's data feed only takes up so much time, which is how he ends up helping Joey. Joey's father is dead, and his stepdad, Erik Luna, is an abusive jerk trying to gain full custody of Joey and his little brother. With all his connections, Erik has the pull to make it happen, which is why Joey tried to steal one of Fi's guns. Michael convinces him there are better ways. Better ways like scaring the crap out of Erik. See, Erik likes to swipe cars from shipments off the docks, then sell them off the books. So Michael plays a former customer now being hunted by a very angry, well-armed person. "Peter" needs his money back so he can run, and suggests Erik do the same. When that fails, they hire killers of their own (Sam and Fi) to handle the problem. When it goes wrong, Erik will panic and run.

Only Erik is more scared of his brother Quinn than he is of these shadowy killers. Which really says something about Quinn. Which leaves Michael with one option: Make Erik look unhinged.

The Players: Strickler (Agent to Spies), Diego (Michael's Point of Contact), Joey (The Client), Erik Luna (Sorry Excuse for a Man), Quinn Luna (The Guy Behind the Guy)

Quote of the Episode: Fi - 'Nice fall, Shakespeare.' Sam - 'Oh, you should talk. You look like you got shot with a bow and arrow.' Fi - 'You don't know what you're talking about. A nine-mil at this range?'

Does Fiona blow anything up? No.

Sam Axe Drink Count: 3 (25 overall). With more surveillance comes more opportunities to drink.

Sam Getting Hit Count: 0 (0 overall). Erik was the only one getting hit this week.

Michael Fake Laugh Count: 0 (2 overall).

Other: Mike's full alias for the episode was Peter Carson. He was also "Pete" of the Lady of Grace Church.

I love Erik's entire breakdown there at the end. Erik pointing at Sam (posing as a fruit vendor), claiming he's a hired killer, while Quinn exasperatedly yells 'That guy? He sells pineapples, Erik!' That little wink Michael gives Erik when no one else can see. Oh, Michael might go to Hell for that one.

Joey's family are the first people this season to stay at Maddie's house. I suppose Quinn got Erik committed, so we can count that under "getting the bad guys to take care of each other". That's only the second time that's happened this season, the first being when Santora and his guys shot each other over suspected double-crosses in "Question and Answer"

I know the Quote of the Episode was a little long again this week, but I thought it needed both sides of the exchange for maximum effect. And Sam really did try and sell it. Just like at the end of season one, when Michael no-sold the ship explosion, while Sam flung his arms out and clearly was getting shoved by the concussive force.

A couple of weeks ago, I felt bad about the show's attempt to get humor out of Spencer's condition, even if I completely understood Michael's frustration with him. Yet I love this whole bit about making Erik look nuts. I suppose the difference is Spencer was an innocent, well-meaning person with a chemical imbalance that made hm difficult to deal with. Erik was an abusive asshole who, near as I can tell, only wanted custody of the children because appearing to be a loving dad helps his image with all those judges and leaders of enterprise. I certainly don't have any impression he cares about Joey or his brother for themselves.

That said, the writers hammered the point about similarities between Joey and Mike way too hard. Maddie commented on it, Sam commented on it, Mike talks with Joey about understanding what he's going through, Joey tries to imitate Michael. I think if they had just left it at Michael and Joey's interactions, it would have been sufficient. Mike sees something familiar in the boy, Joey sees someone who gets where he's coming from in Michael, that would have worked.

I don't understand at the end, why Michael is so eager to distance himself from Sam and Fi to visit Strickler. Sam gets Michael's desire to reclaim his old job, though he likely won't trust Strickler. Fi doesn't get it, but she agreed to support Michael, and has done nothing but support him thus far. I suppose Mike fears blowback from his decisions and is trying to protect them.