I am not pleased at all with the new season of Burn Notice. It has became a snooze since it premiered about two weeks ago. I feel let down and disappinted, especially since the last season ended so greatly. Lets discuss all the problems in this new season: (1)Bad Writing and (2) Bad Writers.

Topic: Now Michael is no longer being protected by those who burned him.
Problem: If they burned you why would they protect you? Seems to be self defeating and making very little to no sense to me. Better yet why are they protecting you when they are constantly trying to kill you? Do they waste energy, money and their best co-ops or the heck of it? Well obviously.

Topic: Detective Rodriguez
Problem: Why bring an attractive woman on the show when Fiona is very clear and present. I see a very predictive story line in the future. She is so hard on his case that it is repepitive and ridiculous! She has been popping up every episode to say, "I am going to get you.... one day." Seriously? Why can't she disappear as suddenly as she showed up?

The show is boring! I understand the writers are adding characters in order to build upon it and make a more complex story line but if there is nothing wrong with the formula why tweek it? Better yet if the show is CANCELED guess there will be story to add to. Now that I think about it did the writer purposefully make a bad story line so that it can be canceled? I think so! it is dumb and outrageous! This week he worked for an old enemy. C'mon! I though thats why he wanted to be set FREE by those who burned him. Only to meet with a new crowd of unknowns that no one cares anything about. I smell the end nearing. I for one will watch one more episode just to give it another chance but if it is as lack luster as the other two I am OFFICIALLY done! Just as th writer didnt bring Sharona back to Monk..... killed the spirits of faithful viewers. I refuse to watch another USA show thats going to be great coming the gate and fail miserable in season 2 and 3! To think I place facebook status about this show and now have to continue the statuses but this time to urge people not to watch.

Oh Aussie, I don't think there is anything that would be good enough to bring you back to the show now. You seem officially done, already. Stop torturing yourself and change the channel. Sorry to see you go.

Personally I'm lovin' the 3rd season.
Michael's cranky, Sam has a new girlfriend, Fi is not getting what she wants, and Nate screwed up; again. All is well in the Burn Notice world.
The story line makes sense to me. The Management was protecting Michael from Others, from the competition, from old enemies, not from themselves. They threw a certain amount of danger at him because he was a tool, not a person, and they wanted to make sure that he wasn't too weak for their purposes, but they did not want any one else messing with their tool.
Now they've stirred the pot and they're sitting back and waiting for Michael to come back.
I'm glad that a few old faces are coming back. It doesn't make any sense that Michael chases all these bad guys off and they just leave forever like obedient little children. Bad guys are by definition disobedient; they're BAD! And Brennen was perfect, because he is smart, persistent, angry and still alive.

Im pleased with how the show has started this season.

Aussie if you followed second season you know it was Victor who tried to kill Michael not Manegment.
Manegment want to use Michael but he dont follow their rules.

Remember how it was with Carla, i did not like her at all at the beginning, not dangeroues enough I think I see
a smilarity ,later in this season she will propbly kick some mike butt.

You are CLEARLY a TROLL! I mean why join the board for 1 day just to slam the show? If you don't like it don't watch but don't expect people here to follow because we LOVE Burn Notice & HATE TROLLS! So goodbye!

Feelings so hurt. NOT! Look! I purposely joined just to smash this new season. Are we really going to let the writers get away with this? They added a Detective who knows nothing about nothing yet she continously pops back up in her power suits with her boring one-liners! "I'm gonna get cha!" "I'm watchin' cha!" "Whatcha talkin bout Willis?" Ew! Seriously gross! Fi didnt even get 20 minutes of air time but yet we got to see the detective for 20 minutes. Did I mention she knows nothing and says very little? Of course I did! Guess what Recall, simple-minded viewers such as yourself can not keep a show on the air. Better yet, simple minds like the one you have doesnt receive Emmy nods you crazy hoe!

I have watched ALL of the seasons and EVERY last episode. I liked Carla, she didnt play! She had so much power and control, but why kill one B!tch to bring on another B!tch? She may very well be awesome but I think I would have enjoyed some character development much more. I mean we know so little as to how Fi and Mike started dating, for how long, where they met, and if they will get back together. Burn(ed) Notice was the last show I had left that I could watch every episode and love it!

Who the heck is Detective Rodriguez?? I can only assume if you don't know these characters, then you're not watching at all. Therefore, your comments have no weight whatsoever - especially here.

For the record I know Detective Paxton's fictional character name. I just used that name bc she could be called anything and it wouldn't matter! Plus she has a Spanish Accent so I thought it was befitting. Ok Luigi?

For the record I know Detective Paxton's fictional character name. I just used that name bc she could be called anything and it wouldn't matter! Plus she has a Spanish Accent so I thought it was befitting. Next person who tries to question my loyalty and knowledge of the show will be VERBALLY assasinated!

i will... sort of. i remember that u'd like to see more 'character development'. if u read or looked for spoilers, u would have known that we're gonna know alot more about Fi by the end of the mid-season finale. dun dun dun!! her family shows up!! and michael has to take on the persona that Fi fell in love with in Ireland!! isnt that what you wanted? but maybe you ALREADY knew that considering how dedicated to the show you were before season 3?

and plus, BN is to be slated for 7 seasons, at least. writers and creators dont like to give away everything at once. it's the beauty of suspense, if one can handle it for that long... seeing it as that you arent able to, i wont even try to persuade you to keep watching. and you're only one person. Of the 10 million viewers... i dont think that your viewing shall be missed, if and when you decide BN is no longer bareable to watch.

I don't read..... spoilers that is. I like to be surprised! Thanks! because I dont like the new season I must have just started watching, implying this from your -----------> but maybe you ALREADY knew that considering how dedicated to the show you were before season 3? How you mentally challenged? Seriously? Lets get some informatio straight to since you are a HARDCORE liar! Burn Notice premiered with 6 million viewers, thats 4 million shy fatso! Not to mention this new crummy show, Royal Pain, that takes on the whole "I was burn, help get back!" story line open with just as many viewers! The USA Network should be very concerned with thier ratings and their viewers. All it takes is one, then another, and one more and before you know it that will be announcing the season closer. 7 seasons? Man you are a loser! Did you make this up to? Yea ya did! Fi's botox isn't going to last another 4 years!

Please extend respect and common courtesy to all members by refraining from namecalling. Thank you.

Aussie you need to relax and get a life. I get that this newe season is not as good as the ones before but this is still a pretty good show to watch. You are taking this too hard it is just a show and that comment about the cop's name was not good at all.

I could've sworn this thread was locked earlier in the day. In any case:

PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE TROLLS.

Thank you. (NatashaFatale - relock please?)

Oh please! I was very respectful until I was called dumb and a troll! I wonder if they got this message and a personal message to boot? I will refrain from the name-calling NF as it is obvious.........

Did you not read Natasha's post when she said NO name-calling? Geez! Why would it be locked anyway because I have an orginal valid opinion. Okay, dont listen to the viewers who arent happy, that always works! Works in getting the show canceled that is!

You should relax and get a life first honey! She isnt a cop, she is a detective and what was wrong with the name? There are many respectful/powerful people with the last name Rodriguez.

OK this is one of the only messages that I actually had problems with in this thread. Granted, we may not like what Aussie is saying regarding season three and perhaps he or she could have used a bit more tact when dealing with the topic and his or her fellow posters but is it OK to not allow him or her to voice his or her opinion simply because we don't like it or agree with it? Granted this thread did get a bit out of hand and perhaps things could have gone a bit more smoothly or handled a bit better by everyone involved but I cannot see how "locking" a thread or censoring someone's posts would help that. IMHO the day that the board starts doing that we're all in danger of having our posts edited or deleted if not out right locked if say a moderator doesn't agree with what we're saying or how we're saying it. That to me is a very, very scary thing, the mere notion that if I write something that could cause someone to become offended and instead of addressing me about it another person, who may or may not have been a part of the original discussion can suddenly decide to get rid of what I wrote or stop the discussion all together before it could possibly be resolved bothers me to no end. I may not agree with what this "Aussie" person wrote and I may not like what he or she wrote but I still think that he or she has the fundamental right to express him or herself but perhaps in tone that may be more conducive to discussion than the one he or she has adapted so far.

Free speech philosophizing now, are we? Don't get me wrong, it's a lot of fun, but you've picked the wrong target. In this case, I don't think you quite understood my reasons for writing "NatashaFatale - relock?".

1. This thread was locked once already. Someone - I'm not particularly concerned who - had some reason for doing so. As far as I'm concerned, that reason is still valid. But more importantly...
2. I don't think that the sentiments expressed by the original poster warrant moderation. I do think that expressing those sentiments with the goal of baiting forum members does, however. This isn't USENET, after all - there's a thread lock function for a reason.

In short, an open exchange of ideas is fine by me. Trolling is not. And I think it's blatantly obvious which bucket this falls under. Believe me, I'm not offended by anything anybody's written here, nor would I be presumptuous enough to ask for a thread to be locked simply because I was. The only reason I suggested doing so, in fact, is because 1) someone's clearly trolling and 2) people have responded (i.e. troll is succeeding). Practically speaking, this is exactly what moderation was intended for.

I can see you're trying to channel Voltaire's (attributed) "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it", but I think we can agree that practically, there isn't going to be a whole lot of productive BN discussion in this thread.

Just bc it was locked does not mean it was a VALID reason! I called someone a name you started the mudd slinging! I have been on this forum and someone else had a negative comment about the show and was called a HOMO. To me that is simply terrible! To make matters worst others started laughing and copying an dfurther degrading the original poster. I saw not one Natasha message to them to tone down their language.

Baiting other memebers? Why would I do that? I a not a writer, I am not an actor, I am not attempting and will not attempt memebers to watch another show instead. i see there is a common misconception on this forum! I am a FAN! I am in college and since day one have canceled outing to faithfully watched not to mentioned the days i stayed in my pajamas for a marathon. I simply think that this season is not good! When season 2 ended I was so invigorated and excited. I immediately wanted to know what next but now I am like "When is the next commericial break so I can make a call?"

Why must I be a troll?

I appreicate you backing my right to express my opinions. I really do not hate the show, I am a TRUE fan who simply doesnt like the new script. I hate to tell you this but if you remotely side with me you will become a target and they will try to verbally assinate you. Its like communist control around here. Your gesture was very noble FiRocks. So often people come online and have the choice to be who they want to be and as bad a$$ as can be but when you find someone who still takes up for someone with no idenity and you dont have to makes you a great person. I know behind this screen you are equally great in real life.

Wow... that's just - wow.

The only label that I've seen applied to you - and certainly by me anyway - was that of a troll. For that, truth exists as a defence against libel. The original post was a classic form post (posting "this show is boring" on a fan forum) that tends to attract predictable responses; in that vein, it clearly qualifies as flamebait. It's therefore up to you to clarify and prove you *weren't* trolling, i.e. deliberately attempting to provoke members of this forum.

The prosecution rests.

(Though, I think I'm just going to redirect further responses on this thread straight to /dev/null...)

i think fi would have a problem if that cop has a crush on michael very interesting i bet fi will shoot her too that will be funny!!!

Well I hope that happens soon!

WHY DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND---------> I AM A FAN! I just dont like this new season. Oh, I get it if you have something good to say you must be a fan but if u say something negative you are a troll.

We live in a democracy buddy!

Actually, I'm a HUGE BN fan and I am not that excited about season 3. It is a let down after the season 2 finale. I used to come home on Thursday and that would be the first thing I watch. After 3 snoozer epis, it's one of the last things I watch.

What I didn't like about the last epi, is that they've dumbed down Nate again. How did he really think that someone would contact him out of the blue and want to invest in a one man/one car limo service in Miami or Vegas? Two of the places where there is definitely NO shortage of limo services?

I felt this way during the first couple of epis of season 2; though it wasn't this bad. The season then kicked it up a notch. Hopefully, this will happen. I'm not ready to turn it off by any means. I LOVE the characters. It's the writing that is a little too routine and off this season.

Omg! Finally who understands. I am a great big fan. I didnt come to the forum to "bait members" I came to see if anyone else felt the same way. It has been such a snooze. I felt the same exact way about Nate! Like seriously! No way he can be that dang slow with a brother like Mike and a quick tongue savy person like his mother. Season 2 ender was EXCELLENT! Carla dead. Mike is alive and swimming in the ocean. Life is good. Season 3 -----> eh.

Hi V.

I, too, am not "thrilled" about this season,but as a fan I'm sticking with it. I LOVE the character of Brennen, but when I saw he was coming back, I figured "pun'kin" aka Fi, would be more prominent. Or even visible. But I did love the tete-a-tete we saw with Michael and #1 bad guy.

Aussie--I don't really care for your tone. but hey, what the heck. I did think it hurt your assertion that you were a fan when you dissed Ms. Anwar with the botox crack. Welcome to the board.

WHOA! What's up with all the hostility, where on earth did that come from, serously! I didn't see any of the name calling and baiting until I read through the thread again just a few minutes ago, seriously I just saw Aussie's first post going up to rebecee's post then a whole bunch of other posts weren't there but then your post popped up TheProject and I was wondering why you would want to lock the thread just because Aussie didn't like season three. It was like the Disney version of "Cinderella" where the stepsisters don't cut off part of their feet to fit into the shoes, you know? I had this whole other Disney version of the thread and didn't get why you wanted it locked. I apologize, I totally get where you're coming from now. I mean I still think things could be worked out if everyone is willing to do so, but calling board members names like "hos" and "fatso" and being derogatory towards a character's perceived ethnicity is not a way to win friends and influence people, Aussie, I'm just sayin'. . .

BTW: TheProject, just so you know Voltaire never said that, it's misappropriated to him. It was actually in a book called The Friend of Voltaire in which the author literally puts words in Voltaire's mouth.
Who says TV message boards aren't educational!

Well, I learned something! Love those quotes!

MaSully

I hate to say it, but I feel the same way. The first 3 episodes were just not...what I had come to expect. Although, I have been told I have impossibly high standards! For me, the cop chick is so cliche and boring. (The "Michael Westen Daily Activity Log" was genius though). She's all "I'm going to do whatever it takes to get you, blah blah blah" but then he's out, let's be honest, committing crimes all day long, and she has no idea? I'll stick with it, but so far, it's very, mehhh.

PS...Constructive criticism and intelligently voicing opinions are one thing. Acting a fool fits into neither of those.

Yeah. The lady cop thing is so NOT working. I want it to, though. She's a bit edgier than Carla and hopefully they will be able to get her on board. I just think the writing is just not as crisp as the previous season.

Well, at least it's not awful. That's a word I'd reserve for the show that follows Burn Notice.

She is only in this for 4 epis. I wonder if the writers picked up on this...I am going to reserve judgment until after Fearless leader...that is her big epi.

I do think it is a tough gig to be dropped in the middle of show like Moon Bloodgood.

I also think there has been a bit of change of direction or change in the formula, or whatever. I definitely can pick up on the different styles of the different directors and writers. Tim M. has a very different style than Bronwyn or Craig.

Hostility? I dont have a hostile bone in my body. seriously. I felt attacked coming out the gate when I was called names and accused of biating memebers and asked why did I make this post to a fan forum and well they wont miss my view. It just goes on and on and I made some not so savory comments. But fatso, hoe- ok I was wrong and cant even justify this at the moment. Oh having a Spanish accent does not count as ethnicity. There are many Spanish people who either consider themselves white, black, or other. Hispanic on the other hand is an ethnicity.

I apologize to anyone I may have offended by the name calling. It is never right and so often than not your point will not be heard. This was a terrible mistake on my part. I, however will not apologize for disagreeing with the new direction of the season. I started this thread hoping other like-minded individual agreed and some attention and action could be given to change it before its too late. I will stick with the season but if the majority of the episodes are similar to what I have seen thus far I will leave. i have seen to many of the shows, such as Desperate Housewives, start out strong and once it becomes big fizzle out. Its very diappointing. I mean the season closer was thrilling! When my friends are watching Bones I am texting them: Turn to USA network quick before you miss it! Last Thursday I actually walked my dog when the commercial break came on and came back 12 minutes later. I just want to be passionate about the show again and thought by posting this my concerns may be heard. If otere memember and the producers and the writers dont listen to the complaints then how can they fix them. I say address it now so we can keep our show BN later. Thank you

Well that kind of makes sense since they're different people and all. I think overall the show has a "look" and whoever is directing an episode sticks to that formula, but of course a different director is going to take a different track than another director if not IMHO the show would get really boring really fast if every episode was a carbon copy of the previous one and we all had the thing to look forward from week to week, you know?

Whatever it's worth, folks, I still like the show, however slow it's come out of the gate, and, God willing, will watch it faithfully for the rest of the season. With that in mind, I won't post any more on this topic, because I STILL LIKE THE SHOW, perceived (by others) bad acting, bad writing, bad writers to the contrary notwithstanding. "Oh, ye of little faith!"

Your apology is greatly appreciated, Aussie. Your opinions are as valued as anyone's here. Just wanted you to know, though, that Natasha was not responsible for the locked thread yesterday. Upon a report from Admin concerning namecalling on the thread, I had the option to lock it until the other moderators were available to discuss it. It was not at all due to any opinions given, it was because of the namecalling reports. Again, thank you for the apology to the members involved.

I think many of us may have been disappointed in the season premiere. We talked a lot about that on that thread. But IMHO, I think each episode has gotten better! They had a lot of ground to cover in the premiere, a lot of set up. It was hard for me to sell it to some of my friends I'm trying to get into the show. But they all said the second and third eps were better. It may have been a let down too because the season 2 finale was so awesome, as Aussie I think mentioned. This show continues to set very high expectations. So, I'm keeping the faith!

JennaV, thanks for clearing everything up, and your apology is appreciated Aussie.

Yeah, having different writers for each epi can cause some problems. As far as Moon Bloodgood is concerned, I didn't even know she was in Terminator. I saw the movie but it sucked so that I tried erasing it from my memory. I do think I could like her as a character. She's more imposing than Tricia Heffler. I hope the script issues are worked out. It will be a shame to write off another female actress without properly showcasing her talents.

Anyway, it's not that the actors are not doing their job. They have the talent for this show, it's just the scripts are becoming too routine.

I still look forward to Thursdays, but I find I don't wish to RE-watch the episodes. I LOVED the birthday party AND the return of evil Brennen was terrific-but now that Michael is not fighting an "all powerful, evil genius we love to hate"-the stakes aren't as high. I mean, why hate Det. Paxson? She's a good cop working from bad information. In all good stories our hero needs to be the victim of outrageous misfortune--Michael certainly qualifies--but the trick is to keep raising the stakes, and I don't see it at the moment.

Having said that--I'm still excited about Fearless Leader .

Hi! I just want to first say SORRY for calling you a TROLL. The reason i did was because i thought i was strange that on the same day you joined the board the first post was to criticize the show.I think it that has happened on other boards before when someone joins just to slam the show.Anyhow sorry if i offended you.
I do think you might have a point about the name of the cop. I don't know if you watch 24 or not but Carlos Bernard(Tony Almeida) said in a interview that when he first started on the show the name of the character he played was not Tony Almieda.I forgot the name he gave but he said it was a Jewish white guys' name and he told the writers "do i look like i could play a Jewish white guy? I'm Hispanic"! My point is he knew his character's name didn't fit his heritage,so they changed the name to Antonio Almeida to fit Carlos. Maybe Burn Notice did not have time to do that with this character because it was a emergency recast.Who knows, but i don't think we have to worry about her being a big part of the show.

shoulda, coulda, woulda, we should be happy with what we've got. if the show was canceled tomorrow, we would ALL be screwed!

Awww, that's big of you friend. No, I honestly love the show but something is going terribly wrong. Its seem like there isnt enough of Fi and alot of the air is used worrying about the detective and fixing the damages to Mike's mom's house. I just wanted/expected more.

the problem is BN is a fairly new show and has gained many of its viewers during the mid of season 1 towards the beginning of season 2. So when they come and check out season 3 these people are more apt to leave. If they leave you run into problems such as changing the day and time the show comes on to make room for a better rated show or to move hoping to get more viewers during the prime time. Which screws us regular viewers bc we may not be able to watch at those times, leading to a canceled show anyway. I just thik that if the script is not tighten up the viewers may run loose.

I wish there was more Fi, too. I'm a lover of spoilers and I read that you are not, BUT believe me when I tell you--I think you are going to get much happier, very soon.


See ya on the boards.

Yes. I know what the spoiler is. Found out in a JD interview. This is a direction I actually mentioned they would take with the story. I hope it happens with Sam too.

While I'm a big Fan of BN and have no intention of not watching, I do have to admit that so far this season my feelings are lukewarm towards the episodes shown thus far. Last week's with Brennan was by far the best we've seen, but I just feel like some key elements have been missing. First, imho the interactions between Fi/Sam, Sam/Maddie and Fi/Maddie seem to have a lot more depth than any interactions mike has had with these characters. Second, I just can't see Det Paxson as any kind of real threat to any of them (she's more like an annoying fly buzzing around). I mean its hard to take seriously and IRA agent, a Navy Seal and a covert Op if they can't deal with the local law enforcement fairly easily. Finally, Fi and Sam both seem more like props to me so far rather than an integral part of the fabric of the show. While there had been some very funny moments and good scene's as a whole this season so far does not leave me waiting with baited breathe for next Thursday to get here like I was during season 2.5.