Fighting crime on USA Network is generally a breezy, rather sardonic affair. The detectives on popular shows Monk and Psych don’t seem to take their cases all that seriously, and the overall tone on those shows indicates that the producers don’t, either. The emphasis is on humor and character first, and crime-solving second. So it probably should come as no surprise that the network’s new espionage drama, Burn Notice (USA, Thursdays, 10 p.m.), is light and jocular, even as it deals with subject matter similar to what you might find on Alias or 24 or in the Bourne films.
The story of suave superspy Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan)—who is the recipient of a “burn notice” (the intelligence community’s equivalent of blacklisting) and finds himself trapped in Miami, cut off from friends and associates and targeted by a mysterious conspiracy—is not really about international intrigue, despite how its set-up (and opening sequence set in Nigeria) may make it seem. Once in Miami, Michael makes some token efforts to figure out what the heck is going on, but faced with being broke and homeless, he fairly quickly accepts a job from one of the few former associates who’ll still talk to him. Fifteen minutes into the pilot, it turns out that this is yet another show about a private investigator.
Not only that, but despite the dire and possibly dangerous situation he’s found himself in, Michael is still quick with the quips and pretty light-hearted about what he’s doing. He quickly surrounds himself with a quirky supporting cast, including his nagging mom (Sharon Gless) and a gone-to-seed former spy (the always entertaining Bruce Campbell) who helps line up jobs for him. Unlike the stars of Monk or Psych,Michael also offers protection and retribution services, making use of his spy skills to craft improvised gadgets and intimidate two-bit criminals. At times he comes off as a snarkier version of MacGyver.
As the latest procedural dramedy, Burn Notice is largely mediocre, and it’s too early at this point to tell whether its slow-burning conspiracy plotline will bear fruit. Right now there’s not enough information about Michael’s past to generate much more than mild curiosity about what happened to him, and if the show focuses on self-contained stories it’s possible the conspiracy may fade into the background without ever being satisfactorily resolved, much like the murder of the main character’s wife on Monk.
Even if that’s the case, though, plenty about Burn Notice is entertaining in the moment. Donovan brings a good mix of charm and sincerity to Michael, so that his insouciance does occasionally seem like a coping mechanism for all the bad stuff that’s happening to him. Campbell appears to be having a blast as the sleazy, seen-it-all ex-agent, and Gabrielle Anwar provides the requisite sex appeal as Michael’s ex-girlfriend (and a former IRA operative). There are amusing screen titles identifying major players, and a self-deprecating voice-over from Michael that successfully punctures much of the self-importance of spy dramas.
But this show could stand to be just a little bit more self-important. When a vast and mysterious cabal has essentially cut you off from the world and nearly everything you care about, is the best response really to crack a joke and look for a petty crime to solve?
Burn Notice ***