Burn Notice

Recently, I've REALLY gotten into the show Burn Notice on USA (I now watch all of USA's original series). I've caught three of the most recent episodes, and about ten from the first and second seasons during a marathon. Next week is the Summer Finale, but I'm following well.

The show follows Michael Westen, an ex-spy with a Burn Notice out on him (Tagline: "Spies don't get fired. They get burned.). Basically, this means he has nothing- no job, no money, no credentials... He was dumped in Miami, and the only people he can truly trust are Fiona, or Fi, "a trigger happy ex-girlfriend", Sam "a friend who used to inform on you to the FBI", and his mom, Maddy.

I am officially hooked on this show.

The OTP

Series Creator Matt Nix says "The thing about the relationship with Fiona is... They are two people who really don't have anybody else that they can be with. Anybody else is going to be afraid of what Michael does, and it sort of turns her on, and anybody else for Fiona is going to be uninteresting. He is attracted to her, but part of what we explore over the first season is that they really are attracted with each other, and yet there is a reason they broke up. She is an incredibly chaotic person who just thrives on disorder. Violence is foreplay for her."

I'm not quite sure how to define the Michael/Fiona relationship. It's very complicated... I know they once dated, but what about now? Lover? Love interest? Friend? They surely act like a married couple. (For sure OTP, but anyway...) The most conflicting episode was 'Wanted Man', with Fi upset by the lack of attention Michael is paying her, her trying to make him jealous, and Maddy trying to talk to Mike and Fi about their relationship, stating that Fiona is the best thing that ever happened to Michael.

As of 'Friends Like These', they are fighting over Strickler. Fi doesn't trust him in the slightest, and is worried about Michael. He knows that Strickler is his only way back in to the Spy Game, however, and he feels he has no choice. This episode has me wondering if Fiona is asking "Who is more important? Me or the job?" This question defintely needs to be addressed. She's been subtly asking it over the entire course of the show, and he desperately needs to answer before he loses her.

'Friends Like These' was also a great episode to show how much Michael cares about Fiona. When he finds out she is alone with the psychopathic killer, he panicks and keeps calling her. When she doesn't answer, he keeps calling, obviously very worried. When he arrives, to see that she has let the killer out of her handcuffs he says that he has to cover a rush of adrenaline with an emotion that won't give him away.

He decides to cover this adrenaline with anger, and he hits her. You can tell that as soon as his hand makes contact, he hates himself. He apologizes over and over, gently holding her face in his hands. He felt horrible for doing it.

Also, in the end, she tells him she's leaving. He calls after her, and while he doesn't go after her, you can tell he's upset she's leaving. In a voiceover, he admits to wanting her on every mission he goes on. He also says there is nothing worse than losing someone to bullets, politics, or personal reasons. When she appears in her position, he smiles.

Next week, she is kidnapped. Michael is angry and worried beyond reason. In just the preview, he is a thousand times more upset than he was when Sam was kidnapped. Perhaps the question will be answered as Strickler tells him to "just forget the past".

It's clear that they definitely care for each other... And yes, I dare say, love each other.