With tensions running high between Michael and Fiona, Fiona and Sam take a job providing security for Christian Akins (Steven Culp), who believes thieves are after his company’s prototype super-efficient lithium ion battery. Akins is caught by surprise when the thieves show up posing as caterers and kidnap his wife. Fortunately, Fiona convinces the kidnappers she, too, is worth ransom money.
For the better part of three seasons, Burn Notice had centered on Michael. Michael knew the value of teamwork and trust, but Sam, Fiona, and Maddie were clearly secondary characters. The addition of Jesse in Season 4 has allowed Sam and Fiona to take the lead more often, fleshing out their characters independent of Michael. The timing seems right for this.
We’ve seen hostage situations on Burn Notice, but not with Fiona in the lead. Once the kidnappers showed their faces to Fiona and Mrs. Akins, Fiona knew there would be no point paying them. She cleverly relayed this to Michael, Sam, and Jesse when the kidnappers made their ransom demands. I was confident Fiona would get herself and Mrs. Akins out of trouble. Still, I enjoyed seeing Fiona juggle her performance as the frightened, passive trophy wife and her natural confident persona. The wild card to the plot was Christian Akins, who managed to contact the kidnappers even with Jesse watching him.
In the B story, Michael and Jesse staked out and broke into the bank previously targeted in a botched heist. They stole a safe deposit box containing a Bible. On closer inspection, Michael realized the Bible was a cipher. He and Jesse saw that the book belonged to Michael’s old enemy, Simon, but Michael lied to Jesse, saying he didn’t know who Simon was.
In the final voice-over, Michael revealed Jesse was more than an asset to him now; he was a friend. Jesse has developed feelings for Michael at the same time. I don’t think he’ll simply turn on Michael when the time comes. We’ll see.
