Burn Notice- Pilot

Why yes. I am a badass.

Thank goodness for cable in the summer! While the networks give us reality show after reality show, and shelve the only original things out there (disclaimer: I worked on that show and might be a bit irked...), channels like USA give us fun new scripted programming like Burn Notice.

Because I'm writing about the pilot episode, which is chock-full of character exposition, I'm going to break down the main folk for you, and then get to a run-down of the story.

Michael Westen: Michael Westen is a covert operative. On a mission in Nigeria, he learns that he's been "burned." This is the CIA's way less pleasant version of firing someone, wherein the spy is completely cut off from their contacts, their assets are frozen, they're tailed by the FBI, etc. Back in his home town of Miami, Michael is looking to find out who issued the burn notice, why, and how he can reverse it. To make some money, he's using his spy-skills for private detective-type work.

Fiona: Fiona is Michael's ex-girlfriend, formerly affiliated with the IRA. If it was going to work with anyone, it was Fiona, Michael says, and it's pretty clear that at some point, these two are at least going to get it on, for old time's sake. Fiona's as badass as she is hot, so she'll probably be helping Michael in his quest.

Sam: Sam is another ex-covert operative, living off of rich women in Miami. A goofy drunk, Sam helps Michael with the PI-type work and provides a good laugh.

Madeline Westen: Madeline is Michael's hypochondriac mother who wants him to stay at home and make up for lost time.

Michael's first mystery (outside the whole burn notice thing): Michael gets hired by a Javier, a rich man's landscaper, to clear his name in a theft on the man's property. He discovers, however, that the rich man was responsible for the theft himself, because he needed the insurance money. When richie sends his head of security after the landscaper and his son, things get tricky, but Michael manages to keep Javier out of jail and score some tuition money for his kid, who he also teaches self-defense to in an adorably awkward way.

Meanwhile, in other first episode news:

- Michael takes up residence above a Russian's club and shoots his drug-dealing neighbor in the knee.

- The feds are following Michael to make sure he goes quietly, and both Sam and Lucy (another friend who hooks him up with the PI work) are working with them. The question is: are they just saying enough to keep them off Michael's back, or should he be worried?

- Fiona and Michael get close, but he slows things down. 

What did you think of the first episode of Burn Notice? Do you plan to keep watching?