What I’m Watching: Narcos

Narcos: Season 3, Episode 6 “Best Laid Plans” (B+)

This show has always been very good about following its central narrative closely and then introducing new elements that were there the whole time but our characters weren’t necessarily aware of existing. The surprise attack by the North Valley is one such thing that didn’t even need to be narrated by Pena since it managed to change the whole dynamic of the evening, when Jorge was furious that Feistl and Van Ness had shown up without any backup but still knew that there were men who wouldn’t supposed to be there ready to make a move. He did manage a promotion to top security guy, bypassing David, but his wife was pretty damn angry to find out that he was working with the Americans, and we’ve seen how problematic it can be when a spouse isn’t willing to do exactly what the DEA tells her. I’m glad that Christina isn’t dead, but I don’t imagine she has a bright future at all since Pena will surely still try to put Franklin behind bars, especially if he’s not going to testify. Chepe wasted no time at all confronting the journalist who had been watching the salon and gone public after the explosion, and he had no problem executing him in public when it was clear that he wasn’t going to make a deal. Now, Chepe and Pacho are both back in Cali, and Miguel is going to war, something that the DEA is not prepared for and which is going to leave a lot of people dead.

What I’m Watching: Burn Notice

Burn Notice: Season 6, Episode 15 “Best Laid Plans” (B+)

Somehow, things are getting even worse for Michael and crew as they near their exodus from Miami. Olivia watching Madeleine like a hawk and arresting her after her alleged day at the spa makes it hard for them to accomplish much with help from the outside, and even Barry got himself apprehended after doing his best to throw the CIA off their financial trail. Madeleine having Barry called into the lobby of a doctor’s office because of a fungus was an amusing way to stage a meet, and it’s a shame that Madeleine’s spy skills are being combated so aggressively by Olivia. $200,000 per person is a high price for fake identities, and this is actually one of the first times that money has ever been an issue. Making it look like the broken device still worked was a productive idea, and, despite a few setbacks, it managed to work quite well, once again delivering a whole bunch of criminals into the law’s hands that might appease any other investigator besides Olivia. Elsa telling Sam to stick by Michael was nice, and let’s hope that events in the near future don’t drive a better wedge in between them. I suspect that it’s going to be difficult for Madeleine to acclimate to life on the run, more because of the crazy schemes constantly hatched by Michael than the notion of leaving Miami. With little time left in the season, hopefully this crew can make it out of harm’s way without being forced to, once again, leave someone behind.