Burn Notice

Super-spy Michael Westen has a rough day at the office

Burn Notice has been a huge success for the USA Network, pulling in a total of over 5 million viewers each week and scoring strong ratings in key 18 to 49 as well as 25 to 54 age demographics. Who would have thought that a quirky, fun, and hip series about a blacklisted spy would garner such critical and ratings success. Burn Notice is wrapping up the second half of its second season with its finale airing on Thursday, March 5. Recently, TVOvermind got to participate in a phone interview with Jeffrey Donovan, who plays spy Michael Westen in the hit series.

The second season of Burn Notice has had Michael Westen searching for the man who tried to kill him at the end of season 1, and who botched a mission Carla (Tricia Helfer), Michael’s forced handler, was leading. Though Michael’s real goal has always been to use any information he comes up with as leverage against Carla to help him discover just who it was that blacklisted Michael in the first place. But with Tricia not returning for next season, the lingering question going into the finale is what is going to happen to her character, and is Michael going to be responsible for her demise?

“Well, you know, I think it’s no surprise that Carla and Michael were going to eventually be in each other’s crosshairs,” Donovan confirmed. “And in the final episode literally that happens. Without giving too much away the eventual outcome was necessary. What’s going to happen is that she gets basically - she has powers above her that control her and she basically relies on Michael to save her butt at the end. And he tries but it doesn’t go as well as expected for her.”

With that kind of information it’s tough not to be excited about the upcoming finale, but after two season of Michael searching for the person who burned him, the question of whether he will ever find the man responsible looms large over the series.

“I think that the actual person who burned me, you’re actually going to meet in the season finale,” Jeffrey Donovan said during the interview. “And he’s going to have answers that only - will satisfy people halfway; dealing anytime with any kind of covert organization they can’t ever spill the beans totally. But what you’re going to see in the finale is pretty exciting because though Michael does find out who burns him it doesn’t release him from the perils of his career choice.”

Those perils, and the information Michael is able to get from his nemesis will ultimately lead the show into its third season.

“…this will be the guy who burned me. And he’ll explain what happened and what’s going to happen to Michael Westen if basically he keeps making trouble,” Donovan said, elaborating on the discovery of who burned him. “And that’s what season 3 is going to really focus on is who in his past is a threat to his livelihood. And that’s what basically you’re going to find out in season 3.”

Donovan was also asked about the future of Michael and Fiona’s (Gabrielle Anwar) relationship for season 3. Donovan claimed to know nothing specific about their future but said that he assumes, “you’ll probably see more of Michael and Fiona trying not to be together,” confirming that we should in no way assume that their romance is about to blossom yet again.

Jeffrey Donovan recently renegotiated his contract on Burn Notice, which extends his commitment through 8 season of the show, if the series is lucky enough to get renewed for that many seasons. This is exciting and shows the commitment that Donovan and the creators have for the long term development of this show, and all we can do is hope that they continue to deliver.

For a transcript featuring the highlights of the conference call with Jeffrey Donovan, please proceed to the next page. He had some great tidbits to share with fans on staying healthy, doing his own fight scenes, and working with Bruce Campbell.