Burn Notice

Michael Westen was a top covert operative until a sudden "burn notice" blacklisted him and cut his ties to the intelligence world. Stranded in Miami with minimal resources, he uses his tradecraft, surveillance know-how, and improvisational skills to work as an unlicensed private consultant. While he takes on clients who need help with kidnappings, corrupt cops, and criminal schemes, he also quietly chases leads about who sabotaged his career. Along the way a former flame, a salty ex-Navy buddy, and his stubborn mother become his support network, helping him juggle casework, personal stakes, and the secrets that keep resurfacing.

The series premiered in 2007 on USA Network, created by Matt Nix. Jeffrey Donovan leads as Michael Westen, joined by Gabrielle Anwar, Bruce Campbell, Sharon Gless, and Coby Bell, combining TV regulars with guest stars over multiple seasons.

Over its run the show picked up industry recognition and several nominations across television and genre awards, with attention on its stunt work, guest performances, and overall production values. While it didn't dominate major awards season, the series earned respect within action and cable-drama circles.

Burn Notice left a mark on pop culture by turning spycraft into a useful storytelling tool, often including practical how-to segments and voiceover tips that fans mimicked and referenced. Its Miami backdrop, memorable one-liners, and recurring character archetypes helped the show become a staple of mid-2000s cable drama, influencing later procedural-action hybrids.

Critics and viewers generally liked the mix of episodic rescues and serialized mysteries, reflected in a steady vote average around 7.47/10. Reviewers praised the cast chemistry and the show's balance of humor with tense action, while themes of trust, identity, and the fallout from clandestine life ran through many episodes, keeping character choices as engaging as the set-piece scenes.