MovieChat Forums > Burn Notice (2007) Discussion > Season 6-7 Tone Ever Explained?

Season 6-7 Tone Ever Explained?

posted 9 years ago by ares600f4
6 replies | jump to latest

So, one of my favorite shows of all time. At least up until season 6 somewhere. My question is, was it ever explain, maybe by Matt Nix, Erik Lee (?), Tony Lara (?) (Hope I am getting those last names right), why the whole show went to absolute hell in season 6? Now before it happens, I already know, some Burn Notice fans think the whole darker tone thing was a great thing. I re-watch the show, usually in the summer months when I have time, every year for the past couple of years, and here's the deal...I have to quit about half way through season 6. Now, I am not judging on those who love the darker tone. Hey, we're all Burn Notice fans after all. I just really love the first four-five seasons with the clients of the weeks and the lighter, more personally enjoyable tone of the whole thing. I mean by season 7, it honestly doesn't even feel like the same show. So, if anyone knows, was it ever explained by the creator, producers, or anyone else involved as to why the show really switched tones during season 6?

Don't take my silence for confusion, [insert name] I was just trying to kill you with my mind.

[–] ih8tt 9 years ago

I don't know if this is an answer to that or not, but Nix & Donovan (and perhaps other members of the cast and crew, not sure) had decided it was time to end the series, and the network agreed, and gave them time to bring it to the conclusion they wanted. If you think about it, it couldn't really stay the light, client-of-the-week format, and really end, something had to happen, otherwise, it'd just be us leaving them, while they're still doing, and us wondering why we couldn't watch anymore. Heading down the road it did, gave the series, and the characters, real conclusions, not just an 'ending,' if that makes sense. It also wrapped up the over-arching theme of the series, Michael trying to 'get back in.'

full disclosure: I'm one of those who absolutely ADORES the last few seasons! I've come to enjoy the client-of-the-week episodes more, as I've watched them more (and more ), but the darker tone of the final seasons really suits me better, but I completely understand why many people didn't (the person who got me to watch the full series refuses to watch the 7th season anymore at all)

[–] ares600f4 9 years ago

Great answer. Along the similar lines of thinking I had but I did not know they were on a time clock for closing out the show. Like the person who got you interested, I also quit by season 7, sometimes even mid-season 6. Like I said, one of my favorite shows, one of the few I do an annual binge watch on, but quit when it goes dark.

[–] ShaftAlmighty 9 years ago

You owe it to yourself to finish the series, if nothing else than to find an end to it.

The other poster put it perfectly. The series was going to end, there was no way it could've ended on a light note without souring viewers opinions. Burn Notice is one of the few series that ended properly, in my opinion.

I completely understand your viewpoint, but for your own sake, follow through the series to the end.

I used to give a $h!t, then i took an arrow in the knee.  

[–] ares600f4 9 years ago

I did watch it all the way through on its original run. Now that I annually binge the show, I stop at mid-way through season 6 because I really just disliked the last season and a half that much to where I have NJ of desire to watch it again.

[–] mwgfgrey 9 years ago

Yeah Riley wrecked the show for me. I wish they ended it after season 6. 7 was jus meh. Although, i guess they had to at least tie the number of seasons MacGyver had. Still one of my fsvorite shows of all time.

[–] gillies 8 years ago

As I got to seasons 4, 5, I started wondering, "How can the keep doing all these perpetually dangerous things and everyone is always 100% okay at the end of each show, no consequences?" I think the creator and writers and Donovan realized it wasn't right, but then for him to be in the opposite situation and be a slave in the last 2 seasons and for his friends to be so supportive, also seems incongruous, Westin has a fabulous mind and should be able to think his way out of such a situation ...

I'm on season 7:7, I haven't seen the ending, but I think they should have sown the seeds of the ending through all 7 seasons, instead of 5 seasons of unrealistic no-consequence drama, and 2 seasons of perpetual jeopardy, injury, and frustration. Michael should have lost friends (minor but adorable multi episode guest stars) along the way until sometime in episode 7:12 he makes a vow, "If I lose one more friend I'm gonna retire" which of course he would lose in some gut-wrenching twist in episode 7:18, the series finale...

For the best series-ending shows of all time, watch Mash or Scrubs.