Great show Lorts of action and good spy stuff. Weston helps people who need help like Robin Hood
Burn Notice
(Rated NR, Drama, Starring Bruce Campbell, Gabrielle Anwar, Jeffrey Donovan, Where to watch: USA, DVD)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Snide spy cracks jokes and shoots kneecaps.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 13–16
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Burn Notice was written by Sierra Filucci
Parents need to know that while this spy drama includes plenty of adult material, its tone is positive overall, and the good guys tend to beat the bad guys. Guns are plentiful and used frequently, and although violence isn't constant, it can be strong -- the main character shoots a drug dealer in the knee (with bloody results), a car is crashed intentionally, a group of guys beat up the main character and break his ribs, a boy punches and kicks bullies, and so on. There's some sexual tension between central characters, but it doesn't go much further than making out and some sexually tinged discussions. One semi-likeable character is a self-professed drunk, and another smokes cigarettes. Mid-level cursing ("bulls--t," "ass") is frequent.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the media's portrayal of spies and private investigators. What kinds of laws do these characters break in TV shows and movies? Do you think it's OK to break the law if you're fighting for the good guys? Who determines who the "good guys" are, anyway? How can you usually tell who's good and who's bad in shows and movies? Is that very realistic?
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More on Burn Notice
What’s the Story?
When spy Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan) is inexplicably fired, he decides to find out why. But first he has to use his tactical training to raise enough money to fund his investigation. BURN NOTICE (the term for "pink slip" in spy language) follows Michael through the bikini-speckled world of Miami as he takes on odd spying jobs, collaborates with friends and an ex-girlfriend (Gabrielle Anwar) -- all of whom may not be reliable -- and avoids his hypochondriac mother (Sharon Gless).
Is It Any Good?
Burn Notice is a lighthearted spy drama that combines thrills with laughs -- Michael's snide sense of humor takes the edge off the occasional bullet to the knee. Part nerd, part soldier, Michael definitely has a soft side, and despite his skill at breaking elbows, he prefers cleverness to brute strength ("Guns are stupid. Better to fight your wars with duct tape. Duct tape makes you smart."). That softer side plays a key part in how Michael approaches the cases he takes on. For example, in one episode he reluctantly takes a low-paying gig because he's desperate for the cash, but once he solves the case -- a rich bad guy is framing a working single dad -- he gives the job all he's got, even teaching the man's 8-year-old son how to battle the bullies harassing him at school.
Overall, Burn Notice is a lot of fun. It's got action, a unique lead character, and fun, MacGyver-esque techno-tricks. Despite some of the adult elements, teens should be able to handle most of the material. And even though Westen is capable of doing violent things, his heart is in the right place.
Our Members Say
See 10 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 15 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive consumerism
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
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I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Excessive consumerism
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
It is Great
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
A good show for responsible teens and tweens.
There is a lot of drinking, smoking, bikini-clad women, and some violence and swearing. However, I think it's a good show over all. The characters *do* break some laws (such as stealing cars and setting up explosions), but it's similar to Batman or Spiderman. Vigilantism is illegal, and the superheroes do some damage in the course of their fights. The team rarely ever kills the bad guys, generally preferring to put them in jail or lightly injure them. They often help people in trouble, not unlike Angel. The swearing, violence, and other negatives are pretty tame compared to the majority of spy shows. Fiona is a fun, strong female character with an affinity for explosives. It's just a fun series that I'd rate PG or PG-13 if it were a movie. Mature kids have probably seen worse in their video games or movies.
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
Amazing!!!
Best show on tv, bottom line, no argument. There are a few club scenes and curse words, some violence, 10+ easily though.
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I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
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