DVD Review: Burn Notice - Season Three

Release Date: June 1st, 2010
Running Time: 704 minutes

The Show

The series stars Jeffrey Donovan as Michael Westen, a spy who finds out that he has been “burned.” This means he is wiped off the grid, loses all his contacts, and is unable to leave his hometown of Miami or he will be hunted down. In response, Michael becomes an investigator of sorts, using all of his skills to solve various crimes while searching out the truth behind his burn notice. He is assisted by ex-girlfriend and former IRA operative, Fiona Glenanne (Gabrielle Anwar), and former Navy SEAL, Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell).

Season Three opens with Michael escaping “Management” though he soon finds himself under watch by Detective Paxson (Moon Bloodgood). He is also approached by Tom Strickler (Ben Shenkmen), a man who offers to get Michael’s burn notice repealed if he does some mercenary work. Throughout the season Michael undergoes numerous investigations while continuing to look into his own problems. These cases include: Michael’s brother getting kidnapped; Sam investigated by the IRS; dealing with a boy’s abusive stepfather; a widow caught in an insurance scam; tracking a child predator; and the season concludes with Michael finding out the identity of the man (Garret Dillahunt) who committed the crimes used to burn Michael!

From what I understand from fans, Season Three was a bit mixed in terms of quality. Paxson’s pursuit of Michael never felt truly dire, and the “danger” of the season felt somewhat scattered. However, there is still a lot to like about Burn Notice. The mercenary work for Strickler lets us see Michael’s moral compass, and a potential rekindling of Michael and Fiona’s relationship oozes chemistry in every scene. Then there’s the legendary Bruce Campbell: it’s great to see him in a role that isn’t all jokes.

The four-disc set contains all 16 episodes from Season Three: “Friends and Family,” “Question and Answer,” “End Run,” “Fearless Leader,” “Signals and Codes,” “The Hunter,” “Shots in the Dark,” “Friends Like These,” “Long Way Back,” “A Dark Road,” “Friendly Fire,” “Noble Causes,” “Dressed to Kill,” “Enemies Closer,” “Good Intentions,” and “Devil You Know.”

The Disc

The video is presented in a mediocre 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. The vibrant colors are the highlight and portray Miami in all of its trademark gaudiness. However, the clarity leaves something to be desired. Fine detail can get lost in wide shots and close-ups are average at best. Intermittent instances of artifacts and noise don’t help either. The transfer isn’t horrendous, but the sleek show deserves better.

The audio is offered in an English Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound mix with English/French/Spanish subtitles. It is a relatively active mix for a TV show, featuring action-heavy panning effects and solid oomph from the bass. Directional effects immerse you in the scene, as does the sound design. Unfortunately, like the video, clarity is an issue. The mix isn’t balanced well, and many elements often compete to be heard.

The Extras

Only two special features are offered.

“Smash, Crash, Boom” is a 10-minute look at the stunts of the season finale.

“2009 San Diego Comic-Con International” is a 10-minute collection of highlights from the Burn Notice Q & A panel. As expected, Bruce Campbell is the most entertaining aspect of this featurette.

Final Thoughts

Burn Notice: Season Three is an average DVD set that is best suited as a rental unless you are a die-hard fan collecting all of the seasons.