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The Best Episodes of Burn Notice

Every episode of Burn Notice ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Burn Notice!

A formerly blacklisted spy uses his unique skills and training to help people in desperate situations.
Genres:Action & AdventureDramaCrime
Network:USA Network
Episodes
111
Avg. Rating
8.1
S1
S2
S3
S4
E1
E2
E3
8.0
7.9
7.9
8.0
7.7
8.0
7.9
7.9
7.8
7.9
8.2
7.8

Best Episodes Summary

"Reckoning" is the best rated episode of "Burn Notice". It scored 9.1/10 based on 887 votes. Directed by Matt Nix and written by Matt Nix, it aired on 9/12/2013. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Lesser Evil".

  • Reckoning
    9.1/10887 votes
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    #1 - Reckoning

    Season 7 Episode 13 - Aired 9/12/2013

    Michael must regain the trust of those closest to him in order to finish what he started.

    Director: Matt Nix

    Writer: Matt Nix

  • Lesser Evil
    9.0/10769 votes
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    #2 - Lesser Evil

    Season 2 Episode 16 - Aired 3/5/2009

    Michael gets to know Victor's motivation and his connection to Carla after capturing him. When the truth about Carla's organization is revealed, everyone is put in danger.

    Director: Tim Matheson

    Writer: Matt Nix

  • Bad Breaks
    8.9/10819 votes
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    #3 - Bad Breaks

    Season 2 Episode 13 - Aired 2/12/2009

    A federal agent with a knack for giving Michael trouble returns to Miami to force Michael to hand over blackmail materials; the two enemies must work together during a bank robbery.

    Director: John T. Kretchmer

    Writer: Michael Horowitz

  • Last Stand
    8.8/10547 votes
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    #4 - Last Stand

    Season 4 Episode 18 - Aired 12/16/2010

    Michael, Fiona, and Jessie try to keep the NOC list away from Vaughn and his strike team. Meanwhile Sam and Madeline try to convince Congressman Cowley to pass the list higher up.

    Director: Stephen Surjik

    Writer: Matt Nix

  • Shock Wave
    8.8/10550 votes
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    #5 - Shock Wave

    Season 6 Episode 6 - Aired 7/26/2012

    Michael finally gets a solid lead on Anson, but the plan to get Fiona out of prison hits a snag when an MI-6 agent tries to prevent her release. Across town, Sam must protect Barry after a cold-blooded assassin traps them in a secluded beach house.

    Director: Renny Harlin

    Writer: N/A

  • Friendly Fire
    8.7/10668 votes
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    #6 - Friendly Fire

    Season 3 Episode 11 - Aired 1/28/2010

    When Sam gets an unexpected visit from a former Seal buddy asking for help, Michael must infiltrate a protected urban barrio and hunt down a child predator. Michael also befriends a psychotic former spy runner in order to learn more about his destructive plans while in town.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Devil You Know
    8.7/10593 votes
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    #7 - Devil You Know

    Season 3 Episode 16 - Aired 3/4/2010

    International fugitive Simon is loose and Michael's on the run from the FBI for his role in Simon’s escape. When Simon confronts Michael and threatens to blow up a Miami Beach hotel, Michael must call on his friends and an old enemy to help him avoid disaster and put Simon back in the dark hole where he belongs.

    Director: Matt Nix

    Writer: Matt Nix

  • Tipping Point
    8.7/10449 votes
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    #8 - Tipping Point

    Season 7 Episode 11 - Aired 8/22/2013

    As Michael becomes ever more conflicted with his mission, he travels to Mexico with Sonya in order to help James with an important job. Anxious to finish the operation, Strong hires freelance mercenaries to extract James on site... but brings along an unexpected guest.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Long Way Back
    8.6/10636 votes
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    #9 - Long Way Back

    Season 3 Episode 9 - Aired 8/6/2009

    A dangerous man from Fiona's past resurfaces in Miami after years of hiding, with deadly intentions. Teaming up with Fiona's ruthless brother, Michael will do whatever it takes to save her... even if that means crossing a few lines.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Desperate Times
    8.6/10464 votes
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    #10 - Desperate Times

    Season 6 Episode 10 - Aired 8/23/2012

    The team travels to Panama to capture an assassin; Madeline tries to obtain difficult answers.

    Director: Renny Harlin

    Writer: N/A

  • Game Change
    8.6/10431 votes
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    #11 - Game Change

    Season 6 Episode 18 - Aired 12/20/2012

    Michael attempts to leave the country, but when the escape is ambushed, Sam and Jesse are taken captive. Racing against the clock to save Sam, Michael must also figure out how to rescue Jesse before time runs out.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Forget Me Not
    8.6/10491 votes
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    #12 - Forget Me Not

    Season 7 Episode 2 - Aired 6/13/2013

    Michael returns to Miami to track down someone who is trying to blow his cover; Michael is forbidden from contacting his crew.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Psychological Warfare
    8.6/10515 votes
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    #13 - Psychological Warfare

    Season 7 Episode 7 - Aired 7/25/2013

    Michael finally meets with the head of the organization he’s been assigned to dismantle, but things get dicey when the leader drugs him at gunpoint in order to learn his deepest secrets. In danger of exposing his cover, Michael soon realizes that in order to protect his future... he'll have to face his past first.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Means & Ends
    8.5/10429 votes
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    #14 - Means & Ends

    Season 6 Episode 12 - Aired 11/8/2012

    Fiona is surprised by a visit from a smuggler she met in prison, who needs her help bringing down a corrupt Miami detective. Meanwhile, Michael teams up with a former adversary in order to turn the tables on a more treacherous foe.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • You Can Run
    8.5/10415 votes
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    #15 - You Can Run

    Season 6 Episode 17 - Aired 12/20/2012

    Michael is nearly killed when a powerful enemy sends a crew of cartel assassins after his entire team. Michael realizes that in order to protect the ones closest to him, he must eliminate the threat once and for all.

    Director: Nick Gomez

    Writer: N/A

  • Sea Change
    8.5/10425 votes
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    #16 - Sea Change

    Season 7 Episode 12 - Aired 9/5/2013

    Michael must expose his identity to James and Sonya. Meanwhile, Fiona, Sam and Jesse form a plan to retrieve Michael.

    Director: Stephen Surjik

    Writer: N/A

  • Loose Ends (2)
    8.4/10736 votes
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    #17 - Loose Ends (2)

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 9/20/2007

    Michael must rescue Sam from heroin smugglers, who happen to be ex-Special Forces, while also evading agents who are out to get him.

    Director: Jace Alexander, Stephen Surjik

    Writer: Matt Nix

  • Good Soldier
    8.4/10661 votes
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    #18 - Good Soldier

    Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 9/18/2008

    Hired by Fiona's boyfriend's friend Henry, Michael poses as a disgruntled bodyguard to thwart a kidnapping plot masterminded by a ruthless man named Lesher.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Guilty As Charged
    8.4/10521 votes
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    #19 - Guilty As Charged

    Season 4 Episode 12 - Aired 8/26/2010

    Fiona attempts to find Jesse and convince him to meet with Michael. Meanwhile, Michael helps a criminal defense attorney rescue his daughter after she is kidnapped by one of his clients.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Matt Nix

  • Out of the Fire
    8.4/10478 votes
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    #20 - Out of the Fire

    Season 4 Episode 17 - Aired 12/16/2010

    Michael's enemy Brennen and Michael's former friend Larry team up to pressure Michael into killing the individuals on the stolen NOC list. Meanwhile, Sam, Jesse, and Fiona try to help Michael turn the tables on Brennen and Larry.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Fail Safe
    8.4/10500 votes
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    #21 - Fail Safe

    Season 5 Episode 18 - Aired 12/15/2011

    As the team reaches a breaking point with Anson and his sinister plans, Pearce puts Michael in charge of his biggest CIA mission yet.

    Director: Renny Harlin

    Writer: Matt Nix

  • Scorched Earth
    8.4/10562 votes
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    #22 - Scorched Earth

    Season 6 Episode 1 - Aired 6/14/2012

    Michael pursues Anson in Miami. Meanwhile, Fiona is taken into custody and interrogated by a former foe.

    Director: Stephen Surjik

    Writer: Matt Nix

  • Over the Line
    8.4/10406 votes
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    #23 - Over the Line

    Season 6 Episode 13 - Aired 11/15/2012

    Michael is accused of a crime at a local hotel. Elsewhere, Olivia questions Sam in an attempt to get to Michael.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Hot Spot
    8.3/10666 votes
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    #24 - Hot Spot

    Season 2 Episode 11 - Aired 1/29/2009

    Sam calls in a favor and asks Michael to talk to Sean Martin, a football coach who helps impoverished kids. Sean wants Michael's assistance helping one of his players, Corey Jensen, who's being targeted by gangsters.

    Director: Stephen Surjik

    Writer: Ben Watkins

  • Dead to Rights
    8.3/10449 votes
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    #25 - Dead to Rights

    Season 5 Episode 12 - Aired 9/8/2011

    With convincing from Sam and Jesse, Pearce begrudgingly lets Michael take drastic measures attempting to clear himself of Max's murder. Meanwhile, Larry returns, having kidnapped a government psychiatrist, and insists that Michael help him with a job.

    Director: Matt Nix

    Writer: N/A