What I’m Watching: Burn Notice

Burn Notice: Season 7, Episode 7 “Psychological Warfare” (B-)

To me, this episode was a very unnecessary and disappointing hour for a few reasons. Mainly, this show is all about action, and this episode contained almost none of it, save for some creative driving by Fiona, which is hardly a rarity. The story has been driving this show forward this season almost more than ever before, and to stall with a test of Michael’s integrity and fortitude, two things we already know he possesses, is a waste of time. Starting out with Michael telling Fiona that he slept with Sonya was most significant because it reminded Fiona that she does still care about Michael, and that he’s in over his head. Sonya trying to rescue him is a big deal, even if she just wanted to test him to see if he’d come back on his own. I’m not too surprised by the casting of John Pyper-Ferguson as James, the man in charge, considering he fit that role very well recently on “Alphas.” Michael flashing back to his training with Larry and his childhood with his abusive father is worthwhile because it provides some important information about his background, but, at this point, I’m much more interested in what becomes of Michael in the future. Crediting his father with being the only reason he survived is well worth it if it turns out that his father has been the one pulling the strings all along and making Michael miserable, or if he’s the head of this terrorist network. If not, I think we need to get back to basics and to what makes this show work so well – Michael and crew carrying out missions.