Burn Notice 2.16 - Lesser Evil

Plot: This one's all about Victor and Carla. Carla starts by trying to show Michael what he could get back if he plays ball, which raises the question of whether Mike had much opportunity to eat chocolate-covered pomegranate seeds in the deserts of Afghanistan. Seems like a luxury item. Anyway, Carla wants progress fast, because Management is on the way.

Leaving that, Michael pays Victor a visit, avoids being killed - again - and they have a chat. Wherein Vic reveals how he came to work for Carla, and why he's trying to wreck the organization. As Fi and Mike confirm that, Sam gets a bit more out of Victor. Enough to confirm they're up against a very powerful force. One which has found their location and we're off to the races.

Sam's left to protect Madeline, while Fiona helps Michael and Victor elude capture and reach Victor's back-up plan. Carla uses operative for personal errands, and Victor figures he can use this to blackmail her into backing off. This seems a little dodgy, as long as they aren't being caught at it, why do the higher-ups care? I suppose the logic is if Victor could uncover it, so could someone else.

The plan doesn't work out terribly well for Victor (or maybe it does), but Fi gets to do something she's wanted to for quite some time, and Michael gets some face time with Management (John Mahoney) himself. Michael even gets him to agree to get out of Michael's life. Which may not be the blessing it sounds like, especially as it leaves Michael floating 5 miles out in the ocean.

The Players: Victor (The Client), Management

Quote of the Episode: Michael - 'Why don't we start with why you tried to blow me up?' Victor - 'You make it sound so personal.'

Does Fiona blow anything up? 2 cars

Sam Axe Drink Count: 1 (46 overall). It's worth noting that when he was trying to get Maddy to leave with him, she asked if he wanted a beer, and he loudly said No. What's better is that finally got through to her about the seriousness of the situation.

Sam Getting Hit Count: 0 (11 overall)

Michael's Fake Laugh Count: 0 (7 overall)

Other: There were like 5 other quotes I wanted to use up there, so to heck with it. It's the season finale, let's intersperse them as we go along..

Sam (to Madeline) - 'Because it's a magical kingdom with lots of witnesses and great security.'

I enjoy how easily the group communicates tactically. Fi knows her phone's being tapped just by how Michael describes what he wants her to do. Fi and Sam don't even need to talk to know who they're going to look after between Maddy and Michael.

Carla - 'Enough. It's time for you to learn actions have consequences.' Michael - 'Funny, I was about to tell you the same thing.'

It's nice that immediately after that conversation, Victor knows exactly what Carla told Michael. It really sells the idea that he's been under her thumb for some time, and that he's what Michael could be in a few years even if he doesn't get out from under this.

Fiona - 'Putting a bullet in Carla sounds awfully good.' Victor - 'It comes to that, you'll have to get in line.'

At times I think the shift of Victor from foe to tragic figure/ally comes awfully fast. But when I think about it, Michael was already looking to work with Victor, and Fi has always been the sort to let her emotions run her decision-making process. Plus, she knows a bit about losing family to evil. And, if nothing else, helping Victor helps Michael, which is her primary concern.

I do like how different Victor's priorities are from Michael's. Michael wants to know things. Who burned him specifically, and why. Victor doesn't care about any of that. He wants to destroy them, and it doesn't concern him who they are, beyond their involvement in wrecking his life. It could be as simple as the difference in how they were burned, that Victor lost his family at the same time, and Michael didn't. It could be more about who they are as people. Michael seems to regard things as problems, puzzles to be solved. Victor seems to look at them as more like barricades to be smashed. Whether that's something that was true before being burned, or it developed out of anger and bitterness later, we don't know.

I've watched this episode with the commentary before, and Michael Shanks said they didn't want him leaping off the roof of a car, into the back seat of Fi's ride. He did it anyway, because that's how Victor would do things, but looking at it, I can't believe they were worried.  It's hardly any sort of a drop, and the cars were right next to each other.

Madeline - 'I take care of myself and you go save my son. They sent men to me with guns. God knows what they sent after him.'

Tricia Helfer really sells Carla as being desperate throughout this episode. She is terrified of Management, far more than of the Victor or Michael. She figures she has the manpower to handle them, especially once she knows who she's after. Management is her boss. He has more authority, more power, and she knows it. Which is probably why she increases the obvious show of force. When she and her people pursued Michael at 2.9, they were in plain clothes, regular vehicles. Now, it's all black SUVs, sedans, and tactical gear. Subtlety is out the window, likely to reassure herself, and possibly cow Vic and Mike into submission.

Management - 'You have no idea what hell will rain down on you if we stop looking out for you!' Michael - 'I'll take my chances.'

Careful what you wish for Michael.