TV-Reviewed

Haiti equals “a lot of bad things”–or is that tings? The side-job this time required some convincing on Sam’s part. Michael wasn’t all that keen to help out. Heck, the man has his own problems, right? Well, I knew it wouldn’t be long before Mikes heartstrings would be tugged and he’d end up helping out, anyway. Sam played it good, too. He poured on the guilt without hesitation. Of course, Michael knew what his friend was trying to do, but he knew he had no choice but to concede defeat, because if he didn’t, Sam might not help him out later on. Yet, I have the suspicion Sam would have gone along with any choice Michael might’ve made–though, he’d probably be grumbling the entire rest of the day (or, possibly, week).

Then, interrupting Michael’s thought processes, his mom called out of the blue to say there had been a break-in. Yeah, some break-in Madeline. I say that, but it’s always fun having her around. I’m glad the writers have worked her into the story more often of late. Sharon Gless is a talented actress, in my opinion. It’s good they’ve been putting her to use more and more. I’ve enjoyed the various interactions between her and Jeffrey Donovan. The two of them seem to have a good repoire. And this time around was no different.

A mother-son bonding experience like tracking down a group of amateur thieves–Well, what could be better? What could create stronger family ties? Right. The ‘together’ part was something Madeline was insistent on. I give her credit, though, she was able to figure out everything on her own.

Gabrielle Anwar as Fiona Glenanne

Back on the side-job, Michael and Sam tracked down Jean-Pierre Duman easily enough. And, like Michael said, “a lot of the worst monsters on Earth are just spoiled rich kids.” I think there’s some truth in that statement. If you look back through history there have been many spoiled brats who’ve turned out to be some of the world’s worst villains. So, who best to get close to Duman? Yep. That’s right. Fi. And, does she have a French accent down or what? In fact, there’s just something about Gabrielle Anwar speaking with a Parisian accent…Fi plays to Duman’s playboy style, too, and does it well enough to get into his study. However…

When Claude shows up unexpectedly at Duman’s, Michael is able to think quick and save the man from getting himself killed. Of course, Claude just doesn’t know when to let the professionals take over. Later on he gets in the way again, and only Michael is able to stop Duman’s hit squad from taking him out. The Duman/Claude storyline, of course, ended with Duman being sent back to Haiti, which I thought was appropriate. Though, I was surprised in the way in which Duman was “delivered” to authorities. The rope ladder gag, though, was awesome–so was Duman’s fall into the truck.

Yet, the action and surprises didn’t stop there. Back on the Burn Notice plotline, Michael chased down the man who tried to have him killed. The surprise was, of course, it being Victor he was chasing through the storage lot. I like how, again, they brought back another unique and memorable character. Victor was great the first time around, and I have a feeling we’ll be seeing more of him in the near future. He’s very much part of Carla’s bosses’ plans–whatever those are. We’re still not clear on that.

Truth and Reconciliation does move the Burn Notice plotline along. And it does answer a few questions. Just not enough to have a sense of where things with Carla and her group are going to end up. Which, it turns out, isn’t a bad thing. The episode had so much going on with the side-job: the unique way Michael Weston got things done, capturing Duman and sending him back to Haiti on a boat. I liked that. And the relationship with Michael and his mother being “reconciled” was something that needed to be touched on. In the last few episodes Michael and Madeline’s relationship has improved, and now I think it’s finally resolved here. It should be interesting where things head with Victor, though. What exactly is he up to? Why did he try to have Michael killed? Was he acting on his own? There’s no telling. I guess we’ll just have to wait things out.

Rating: 8.5