Burn Notice season 3
| Burn Notice (season 3) | |
|---|---|
| Season 3 | |
 DVD cover art | |
| No. of episodes | 16 |
| Release | |
| Original network | USA Network |
| Original release | June 4, 2009 – March 4, 2010 |
| Season chronology | |
The third season of the American television spy drama Burn Notice premiered on June 4, 2009 on the cable television channel USA Network.[1] Season three consists of sixteen episodes, split between a nine-episode summer season and a seven-episode winter season.[2]
Season overview
Season 3 picks up with Westen, having lost the protection of "Management," now under surveillance by Miami Detective Paxson (Moon Bloodgood), who has been tasked with monitoring his activities. Michael is able to secure the arrest of a major Miami criminal Paxson has long been targeting, and he threatens to reveal the true circumstances of the arrest if Paxson does not stop following him. Paxson agrees to the deal. Michael is soon contacted by a man named Tom Strickler (Ben Shenkman), a "smooth-talking, gregarious freelance spy broker", who offers to unburn Michael in exchange for his help with a potentially lethal job.[3][4] It is clear to Michael that Strickler has major, if shadowy, connections, but appears to be the first person he has met capable of getting him his old job back. At first it seems to work, and Michael is able to confirm, through interactions with undercover CIA agent Diego Garza (Otto Sanchez), that movement is being made on his burn notice. In the midseason finale, however, Michael is forced to kill Strickler to save Fiona's life. The action has unforeseen consequences, including the murder of Agent Garza.
Following Strickler's death, Westen is contacted by an associate named Mason Gilroy (Chris Vance), who is responsible for the murder of Garza. Gilroy informs Michael that he wants Michael's help on an extremely lucrative operation. Believing Gilroy to be planning something dangerous, Michael plays along to uncover the plot with the aim of eventually foiling it. After performing several errands for Gilroy, Michael learns that the job involves a maximum security prisoner being rendered from Chile to Poland. Gilroy's job is to divert the plane to Miami, but he is double-crossed and blown up. Before dying, he informs Michael that the man behind the operation is named Simon (Garret Dillahunt), a man who committed the crimes used to burn Michael. In the Season 3 finale, Michael solicits help from Management to stop Simon. Michael successfully captures Simon but is arrested himself, while Management states that Michael has a "big future." Michael is taken to a mysterious room, where he sits as the season ends.
Actor Michael Weston appeared in one episode as a schizophrenic MIT graduate who needs Michael to protect him from what he thinks are aliens selling the names of undercover spies.[5] Also, Sharon Gless was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her work in this season. Gless was also reunited with her former Cagney & Lacey co-star, Tyne Daly, for the episode "A Dark Road".
Cast
Jeffrey Donovan returned for the third season as series protagonist Michael Westen. Gabrielle Anwar also returned as Fiona Glenanne, while Bruce Campbell reprised his role as Sam Axe. Sharon Gless returned to play Madeline Westen.
The third season featured a host of guest stars and recurring guests. Paul Tei returned as Michael's favorite money-launderer, Barry Burkowski. Seth Peterson returned as Michael's brother, Nate Westen. The character of Detective Michelle Paxson was introduced, portrayed by Moon Bloodgood. Another handler for Michael, Tom Strickler, was portrayed in a variety of episodes by Ben Shenkman. Otto Sanchez portrayed Michael's CIA contact Diego Garza. A self-proclaimed "freelance psychopath," Mason Gilroy, was played by Chris Vance. John Mahoney returned as the mysterious man known only as Management. Several villains from previous seasons returned, including Tim Matheson as "Dead" Larry Sizemore and Jay Karnes as the vengeful Tyler Brennen. A former villain, Sugar (Arturo Fernandez), returned needing Michael's help. Marc Macaulay and Brandon Morris returned as Agents Harris and Lane in a single episode. Garret Dillahunt was introduced as Simon Escher, the man who actually committed the crimes Michael was framed for. Various actors made guest appearances during the season, including Carlos Bernard, Jude Ciccolella, Clayne Crawford, Tyne Daly, Callie Thorne, and Danny Trejo.
Episodes
In the following table, "U.S. viewers in millions" refers to the number of Americans who viewed the episode on the day of original broadcast.
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
U.S. viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 1 | "Friends and Family" | Tim Matheson | Matt Nix | June 4, 2009 | BN301 | 5.99[6] |
| 30 | 2 | "Question and Answer" | John T. Kretchmer | Alfredo Barrios, Jr. | June 11, 2009 | BN302 | 5.24[6] |
| 31 | 3 | "End Run" | Dennie Gordon | Craig O'Neill | June 18, 2009 | BN303 | 5.78[7] |
| 32 | 4 | "Fearless Leader" | John T. Kretchmer | Michael Horowitz | June 25, 2009 | BN304 | 5.35[8] |
| 33 | 5 | "Signals and Codes" | Jeremiah S. Chechik | Jason Tracey | July 9, 2009 | BN305 | 5.51[6] |
| 34 | 6 | "The Hunter" | Bryan Spicer | Story by: Ryan Johnson Teleplay by: Lisa Joy | July 16, 2009 | BN306 | 6.66[6] |
| 35 | 7 | "Shot in the Dark" | Ernest Dickerson | Ben Watkins | July 23, 2009 | BN307 | 6.80[9] |
| 36 | 8 | "Friends Like These" | Félix Alcalá | Rashad Raisani | July 30, 2009 | BN308 | 6.63[10] |
| 37 | 9 | "Long Way Back" | Jeff Freilich | Craig O'Neill | August 6, 2009 | BN309 | 7.59[6] |
| 38 | 10 | "A Dark Road" | John T. Kretchmer | Matt Nix | January 21, 2010 | BN310 | 5.35[6] |
| 39 | 11 | "Friendly Fire" | Terry Miller | Alfredo Barrios, Jr. | January 28, 2010 | BN311 | 5.30[11] |
| 40 | 12 | "Noble Causes" | Michael Zinberg | Ben Watkins | February 4, 2010 | BN312 | 4.25[6] |
| 41 | 13 | "Enemies Closer" | Kevin Bray | Jason Tracey | February 11, 2010 | BN313 | 4.66[6] |
| 42 | 14 | "Partners in Crime" | Dirk Craft | Michael Horowitz | February 18, 2010 | BN314 | 4.12[6] |
| 43 | 15 | "Good Intentions" | Dennie Gordon | Rashad Raisani | February 25, 2010 | BN315 | 4.50[12] |
| 44 | 16 | "Devil You Know" | Matt Nix | Matt Nix | March 4, 2010 | BN316 | 4.32[6] |
References
- ^ "Burn Notice". USA Network. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
- ^ "Burn Notice". The Futon Critic. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
- ^ Fowler, Matt (2009-04-28). "Michael Westen To Get Unburned?". IGN. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
- ^ Ausiello, Michael (2009-04-28). "Exclusive: Grey's widower heats up Burn Notice". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
- ^ Ausiello, Michael (2009-04-21). "Casting scoops: Ugly Betty, Burn Notice, and Californication". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Berman, Marc (March 7, 2010). "Burn Notice Ratings". Mediaweek. Archived from the original on April 18, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Gorman, Bill (2009-06-23). "Jon & Kate Minus 1.3 Million Falls Way Out Of Cable Top 20". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved 2009-06-28.
- ^ Gorman, Bill (2009-06-30). "Jackson Tribute BET Awards Edges Jon & Kate Plus 8 To Lead Cable Shows". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
- ^ "Top Cable Shows For the Week Ending July 26, 2009; Burn Notice, The Closer, Royal Pains, SpongeBob Squarepants, WWE Raw, NCIS - TV Ratings, Nielsen Ratings, Television Show Ratings". TVbytheNumbers.com. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
- ^ Seidman, Robert (2009-08-04). "Updated:The Closer, Burn Notice, Royal Pains Top Week's Cable Shows". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ^ "Relax, Burn Notice Is Doing Great - TV Ratings, Nielsen Ratings, Television Show Ratings". TVbytheNumbers.com. 2010-01-30. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
- ^ "Archer Repeat As Good As Original; Burn Notice Rises - TV Ratings, Nielsen Ratings, Television Show Ratings". TVbytheNumbers.com. 2010-02-26. Retrieved 2010-06-11.