'Burn Notice' - 'Friends and Enemies' (Season Premiere) Recap

(S04E01) For Michael Westen, life has become quite a balancing act. Since the wrap up of the Simon situation at the end of the previous episode, in which Michael managed to save Management's butt -- i.e. John Mahoney's character -- he was treated pretty well. You could even say he's in the cat bird seat. For more on that and the sojourn to the jungle, read on.

The place where Michael landed was a beautifully-appointed office. It looked like it had been decorated by Martha Stewart, and it probably smelled nice with all those tangerines and bananas. The latest development for Michael is an opportunity to work with the people who burned him but now value his services. Consider it an offer he can't refuse because if he said no, would he have gotten out of the holding facility?

Vaughn (Robert Wisdom) took Michael on a quick trip to a jungle where they dodged automatic weapon fire from a drone, and Vaughn was wounded. Back in Miami, he demanded that Michael decide if he was in or out. Michael chose in, but on his terms. It's his investigation, which is better all the way around because that leaves him free to continue doing his Robin Hood work on the side.

Michael's initial reunion with Madeline was rather subdued and a little disappointing. Fortunately, the return at the end of the episode packed a punch. Michael lowered his shield and admitted to the one person who knows him like nobody else -- his mother -- that when Simon laughed at him, it hurt. In that moment, Michael needed his mother's hug. It was a side of Michael that has rarely been shown.

With Fiona, Michael's return included a quick kiss then it was back to work on a case. Michael was actually miffed that she wasn't more mushy about seeing him again -- and that she and Sam were back in business -- but what did he expect? Still, it was a nice reversal because usually Fiona's the one demanding emotion from him. Now, he was looking for her to give him love and kisses. Sweet. Of course, Sam was even less sentimental, but that's Sam.

Sam and Fi were up to their necks protecting Winston (Rich Sommer), a lawyer a biker club had marked for death. As Sam said, what they needed was a little Michael Westen. After what Michael had been through with Vaughn, facing down bikers seemed like a piece of cake. His nerve was impressive; mighty big balls.

Fixing the biker gang situation was a bit of a sticky scene. "It's not an exact science," was Michael's excuse. But saving Big Ed helped and the team managed to get the job done.

Finally, all that remained was Michael doing Vaughn's bidding by using someone else's pass to get into a top secret facility. In an interesting turn about that was anything but fair play, Michael wound up burning a spy. Yes, just like he'd been burned. That was the hook to get us to next week when Michael will find out what it's like to be the pursued instead of the pursuer.

Other points of interest

-- Barry was back, using his magic money laundering skills for Michael and company. It's good to have friends in low places.

-- Michael Ironside played Gregory Hart, an illegal weapons dealer hiding out in a tent, but if you blinked, you missed him.

-- Fiona's infiltration of the biker bar was nicely done, although it was surprising that she didn't need a password or something to get in -- or a howitzer. She strolled in, flirted and quickly broke into the room that was supposedly hard to enter. Maybe Fi's just that good.

Dialogue we like:

Big Ed: Who are you?
Michael: I'm a man of honor, just like you.

Winston: What now?
Michael: Plan B.
Winston: What's Plan B?
Michael: I'm working on it.

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