Hey, Roberto! I read your thoughts about the two "explosive" scenes (season finale/"Loose Ends" vs. the explosion scene in s.2, ep.3 "Trust me") - that was a fantastic bit of exposition you gave us there!

As for the technical aspects - more thought is required. *ponders* But I'll pitch some stuff your way off the top of my head here...

I think it's one of two things - either the writing isn't as tight as it was in season 1, or the editing isn't going as smoothly as it once did. These two things may be connected - perhaps the editing isn't going as well because the scripts aren't as tight? I don't know if that's the case...although I will say the transitions between stories A and B don't seem as tight and seamless as they were in season 1 (generally speaking). I still think it's a very well-written show, mind you. And this is really strenuous analysis here, which I think is a testament to how great the show was (and still is). Like I said, there are a *lot* of things I really like about this season (especially the character development on Michael and Madeline and Fiona). That's going *very* well, in my opinion. The writers are delving deeper into why Michael is in the precarious position he's in and how this has impacted his life. I think it's going really well on that front.

I guess I tend to think that in regard to the two examples you gave - the difference must be either in the writing or the editing (story editing? or film editing, I guess? Forgive me, I'm woefully inept at knowing technical jargon/cinematic terms). Soooo...

1. the story-line isn't getting fleshed out to the degree it was in season 1 (scripts are being written in broad strokes and there isn't a painstaking attention to detail) - and the choppiness in the scenes would be the result of a film editor/director trying to bridge gaps in the stories themselves;
2. the story-line *is* being written with the same attention to detail, but the editing is very choppy- shortcuts in film editing could be the result of a number of things, I guess - if the scripts aren't as tightly written this year, then scenes wouldn't be as concise and would be in greater need of being edited...maybe. *ahem* I'm really out of my element in knowing technical film stuff, so I don't really know if that's the case.

I think there's another possibility here, and it involves stuntwork. I believe that having JD/GA/BC performing their own stunts made a huge difference in the authenticity/overall polish of the show. There wasn't as big a need to edit things, for instance, because JD had done much of the stunt-work himself. I wonder if there was a clamp-down on the way that stunts could be performed in general, on account of some mishaps that occurred in season 1? Maybe they haven't been able to get the go-ahead for such dramatic stunts as that one in last year's finale? I'm not certain of that, mind you...it's just something I wanted to pitch out there for further thought. Because maybe they can't really film this stuff the way they once did and that leads to what appears to be loopholes in the finished product.

Mostly, though? I think that season finale is going to be reeeeeally hard to top. Honestly - that was two of the best hours of television I've ever seen in my life. And that entire scene (where Michael runs to the parking garage with Philip Cowan/Sam and Fiona witness Melissa and Kent killed by the missile explosion) was flawless. They really set the bar with that scene, I tell ya!

Look forward to reading more of your thoughts on all things BN, Roberto!

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I also have to wonder how much of an effect the writer's strike had on the writing, editing, production, etc. of the show. When they returned to work after the strike, the writers and everybody else didn't have so much time to get up and running. I also imagine that the first season benefitted from being contemplated, written and revised for so much longer before going into production.

I wondered the same thing, too, Coribbean. Excellent point. I also worry about the *next* season because won't they be wrapping the current season in September? And they want to start shooting season 3 in January, I think is what I heard? Sounds pretty tough to me...

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As much as I do enjoy haveing "summer seasons".....it does make things pretty convoluted now....don't it?????

I relooked over the closing scene....ok technically the whole epi....and it did seem a bit clipped, but everything was in the right order (this thing is getting to be like West Wing....you have to watch it at least 2x to make sure you've got everything straight....no wonder Schiff was in it ). Anyway, everything that needed to be was in the scene (save for the stuff used in the promos...I HATE it when that happens!!!!! :S ), Showing the "FBI" getting out of the car and Fi "helping" the explosion would have probably helped a bit, but nothing was missing per se....I do think it was the editing that made things a little choppy....


But that's just my opinion I could be wrong.....hey, that's it!!!! How bout a guest appearance by Dennis Miller....who knows what he could get himself into


KA23

I agree, KA23, that the editing has been different this season.

Hey. Just saw this episode again. In the scene with Michael&Mom in the kitchen -the adorable picture of the little kid in the background -do you think that is really Mr. Donovan??(thanks to the people at BurnNoticeImageGallery-purplefreak.com) Peace.



http://burnnotice.purplefreak3.com/gallery...=15&pos=544

Yeah. I noticed that. I doubt it. It is probably someone on the crew or cast's kid.

OK I just watched the episode again last night, since there wasn't a new one on and I already have the season one DVDs, so. . . Anyhow I noticed a few things I hadn't before- when Michael is talking to Fi at the car and she says the whole line about "You owe me more than that. I want to do this because this guy, Andy, choose to put someone he loves before himself. That's why." During the last bit of the line, her voice drops and it sounds like she's holding back tears, IMHO, which kind of surprised me that Fi would even seem like she was going to cry. Then, she turns away from Michael and waits at the car door not looking at him which made me think even more that she was going to cry but didn't want to do it in front of him. Then, the second thing I noticed was when Michael and Fi are talking to Andy outside, the second he says, "in Cuba" about the club they kind of give each other a look, then lean back on the truck at the same time with the very same body language, then after they do that they complete each other's sentences when they're explaining the con to Andy. It was just a neat, little touch that I hadn't noticed before and I think it gave a bit more to the episode.

ETA: I also found it rather interesting that while during the rest of the episode Michael insisted that he and Fi weren't together and that she wasn't his girlfriend when it was time for Fi to go off with Zeke he yelled "Don't work too hard!" in a way that was a combo jealousy and worry about her. Also, the fact that he yelled, granted it was a nightclub and kind of loud but when have we ever heard Michael yell anything?!?

Ya! I loved that part - i thought it was adorable - he was worried/jealous all in one!! Love Mike&Fi scenes (and of course chuck finley rocked in this epi too!!) Peace.