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Title: Split Decision (19 Jul 2012)
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| Episode cast overview: | |||
| Jeffrey Donovan | ... | Michael Westen | |
| Gabrielle Anwar | ... | Fiona Glenanne | |
| Coby Bell | ... | Jesse Porter | |
| Bruce Campbell | ... | Sam Axe | |
| Sharon Gless | ... | Madeline Westen | |
| John C. McGinley | ... | Tom Card | |
| Kristanna Loken | ... | Rebecca Lang | |
| Rick D. Wasserman | ... | Wes Foster | |
| Beth Curry | ... | Donna Foster | |
| Seth Peterson | ... | Nate Westen | |
| Wayne LeGette | ... | Greyson Miller | |
| Raymond Forchion | ... | Butch McCall | |
| Andrew Benator | ... | Clerk | |
| Ethan Henry | ... | Guard | |
 |
Jason Katz | ... | Cousin Robbie |
Michael decides to attempt turning Rebecca friendly by getting her brother Trent off the hook with crime lord Wes Foster. To this end, he impersonates his father's jail buddy to lead him to proof that someone else did set up father Foster, even if the result is trickier then either expected. Inexperienced Nate must team up with Jesse. Michael's mentor, Tom Card, offers to let Fiona earn CIA asset status to avoid extradition but the time window is very tight. Written by KGF Vissers
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Fiona not participating in the Burn Notice action so much this season has actually improved the series a great deal. The characters are more believable, expanded in depth and there's less time for what I call the "soap-box drama" whining, tantrum-ing and touchy-feely fluff. Perhaps the writers could have accomplished the same thing with the character still in the active mix; but, they didn't. The great thing about doing it this way is that we still get to see Fiona once in awhile, the writers still get to use their relationship/dilemma as plot points and we still get the faster action, more complicated plots and improved character depth.
This episode takes up where the previous one left off: Rebecca's dilemma with her brother needs solving; which, of course, it is -- somewhat. I say "somewhat" because, forgive me, although I thoroughly enjoyed the episode as a television drama, I can see so many flaws in the con that Michael pulled this week it's hard to overlook. IMDb won't let me disclose spoilers in this review under threat of being "burned" (blacklisted); but, once you have seen it, just ask yourself: "How many ways can you think of that Anson could undo what Michael accomplished?" And how easy would it be for him to do it? None-the-less, Card does keep his promise to help see that Fiona gets out of prison like the trailers told us - but, of course, with a price. There's no surprise that both she and Michael comply, but the writers had her do it just a bit too cavalierly to be compatible with the way she has established her character over the past five years. And what about Nate's dialog. Sure it was comedic, sort of. But, complaining about the "ride" in Jesse's car?!!! This was clearly either: poor directing or editing - not using the "take" that was said sarcastically; poor writing - so anxious to fall into the lazy exposition of whining that they ignored Nate's character; or, poor acting - not delivering the lines in a light-hearted, sarcastic manner like was intended. However, the dialog for the character Card – and the way he plays it – is absolutely great! He is in every way the knowledgeable mentor to Michael and he brooks no guff. He'd make a great permanent member of the cast if they can get him to do it.
I really like where the production has changed this season and hope it continues when/if Fiona actually rejoins the team on the outside. This one's plot just seems like the weakest this season, that's all.