TV-Reviewed

I knew Nathan Westen would have to show up again at some point, I just couldn’t come up with a feasible angle for it to happen. Last time we saw him he was just starting his own limo company. Of course, that…was the angle: He needed investors, and they just happened to be in Miami. Right…that should have been a red flag for Michael. Why, if Nathan’s business is in Las Vegas, would he have to come all the way to Miami? That is unless HE had been approached by these so-called investors.  Otherwise, he could’ve dealt with people much closer than Miami. I’ll admit, though, it was pure genius to misdirect attention from this obvious plot ploy by using Detective Paxson. I think that was both for us, the audience, and Michael. It seemed innocent enough–just another way for Paxson to try and get more info on him, right? Yeah.

It was obvious Nate was going to get used, and used good in this episode. Heck, doesn’t he always get the short end of the stick? Doesn’t big bro always have to dig him out of trouble? Of course. So, it was no surprise that when the infamous Brennen reared his ugly head again, demanding Michael’s help, Nate would be the man’s leverage. I thought it only ironic that Brennen would have to be the bad guy. Last time we saw him, he was wanting to harm another person sort of close to Michael. Again, they have him up to his old tricks–only now it’s even more close to home, if you will–it being Mike’s brother, and not just some past fling. This time its even more personal. And, I knew, from having seen the previous episode with this guy, Brennen is not someone easily fooled. Plus, the guy is unpredictable. None of it boded well for either of the Westen brothers. In fact, it was obvious that, when everything was said and done, Brennen had plans to kill them both anyway.

Seth Peterson as Nate Westen

However, in the end, Brennen WAS outsmarted. Last time it was more of a draw, but this time he was truly bested. It’s amazing that even a guy like him has someone that he cares for–someone that he couldn’t stand to lose. It took Michael a little doing, though, to push Brennen just into paranoia. Brennen was pretty sure he thought he knew Westen, right? But, I’m sure there was that nagging part of him that told him it might not be a bluff–that part of him said why take the risk. He couldn’t risk letting his work get his daughter killed. Even still, there needed to be something to really push him over the edge. Fi blowing up his house in Miami was only the beginning; convincing him the funds in his bank account were now gone, and convincing him an assassin was ready to take out his daughter at a moment’s notice were the two things that made him fully back off. My favorite part here, though, was when Brennen said Michael Westen wasn’t capable of harming a child, to which Michael replied that he wasn’t but Brennen was–as Mike pointed out, they were playing by Brennen’s rules. That was simply classic.

The side-job itself, though, wasn’t actually as fun as normal–I think it might’ve been because it was painful knowing that at any moment the Butcher might be employed to kill Nathan if Michael didn’t cooperate. Having to act drunk (having to cut himself with a sharp piece of glass in order to sell it) in order to steal the key, then having to collect the voice pattern of a gun-making, gun-wielding psycho, and, finally, having his brother shot right in front of him (knowing that Brennen had slipped another wild-card in that might just result in Nathan’s ultimate death)…Well, the situation had appeared desperate. All might’ve been well in the end, but those last few moments before Michael came up with his spur of the moment plan were simply…painful to watch, like I said. Plus, even though Mike semi-defeated Brennen, it wasn’t a…conclusion. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for bringing back past acquaintances–but, honestly, it would have been nice to have concluded things here. It would’ve been nice to  have seen Brennen really get it stuck to him–maybe get arrested and sent to prison by Michael’s new detective girlfriend. That would’ve been cool. Oh well.

Jay Karnes as Brennen

Of course, I couldn’t forget to mention Detective Paxson again. Throughout this episode Michael, Fi and Sam, along with the help of Barry, put a plan in place that’d hopefully get Paxson to lay off of him for a bit. Too bad that didn’t exactly work out as planned. It’d figure that Detective Paxson’s partner would be the one to investigate the “mysterious bank account.” Ugh! Michael just can’t get a break sometimes.

End Run was yet another twist on story concepts that have been used before on Burn Notice. I know, there’s only so much you can do with Michael’s predicament, and I believe the show’s writers do do their best to compensate. One thing I am glad to see is the way in which the episodes’ conclusions are being handled in this season so far with the use of family and friends at the end. For example, Michael and Nate and Madeline with the candid discussion. That was great–especially the part where Madeline says her and Barry are getting together to have a “product party.” Good stuff.

Rating: 8.0