What I’m Watching: Burn Notice

Burn Notice: Season 5, Episode 17 “Acceptable Loss” (B+)

I didn’t realize until this episode had ended that it couldn’t possibly be the season finale, and that we still have one installment left to go before the show leaves the air for a few months. Michael’s defiant refusal to cancel the transfer request that would surely mean Vaughn’s death was intense, but if it was going to be the cliffhanger on which the show left off, the cycle of there always being a bigger fish would become too much to bear. Instead, it’s an effective segue into the finale, where I’m hoping Michael’s plans don’t blow up in his face or in Pearce’s. This episode’s more moving moments didn’t actually relate directly to Michael, as Jesse helped out a work friend played by the dependable Gregg Henry, taking a break from his recurring role on “Hung” to go out with dignity as he manages to right many of the wrongs in his life by taking down a deplorable person. It was unusual to see both Michael and Jesse so disturbed by the nature of the case, as Ian’s willingness to commit suicide because of his impending cancer-related death caught them both off guard. Sam and Fiona torching Jesse’s car to send up an ultra-obvious smoke signal was the kind of comic extremity that makes this show so fun and exciting, and a great bit of acceptable comic relief in an otherwise especially serious hour. Next week’s finale is sure to be monumental, and I can bet that Michael is going to discovering something about which he won’t be pleased.