Action, Drama, and Humor All Together This show has the best of everything: action, drama, suspense, humor, and fun. Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan) is a burned spy, AKA "blacklisted," by the CIA. He has three close friends; Samuel "Sam" Axe (Bruce Campbell), Fiona Glenanne (Gabrielle Anwar), and Jesse Porter (Coby Bell). The team takes odd jobs helping people while they investigate who burned Michael. Sam once informed on Michael to the FBI, but eventually quit. Now, they are like brothers. Jesse was accidentally burned by Michael during the investigation. Throughout the series, people who started out friends and later became enemies, have come along. All promised Michael something in exchange for favors and later either betrayed him or abandoned him.
I first saw Jeffrey Donovan on an episode of "Monk" and later "Law & Order." I thought he was a good actor, but could not understand why he was always playing "bad guys" when I saw him. He was also great in "Changeling" as an uncaring and corrupt police captain. Now, Jeffrey is a "good guy" character. His character here tries all he can to prevent hurting anyone, even the criminals. He will do anything for his friends, even if it lands him in jail or an extremely dangerous situation. He is pragmatic and can use anything he finds lying around to his advantage. He is the new MacGyver!
Bruce Campbell is superb as Sam. Nobody could do better! If they were to kill off Sam, I would quit watching this. Sam is a retired US Navy SEAL. He once informed on Michael to the FBI, but quit as he and Michael became great friends. He likes mojitas, beer, overeating a little, Hawaiian shirts, and women. Finacially strapped, Sam dates older wealthy women in exchange for food, shelter, and cars. He gives us great one-liners, some sarcasm, and a softer side of the team. Sam is an expert marksman and knows his way around a gun. Like Michael, he does not want to harm anyone at all. He often refers to his friend as either "Mike" or "Mikey." Sam is very forgiving, even forgiving and offering to help a woman who kidnapped him and threatened to kill him.
Gabrielle Anwar is an actress that I had seen little of until she started this role. As Fiona Glenanne, she does a great job. Fiona is a tough tomboyish woman, petite, and loves her guns. She was once with the IRA in Ireland, where she met Michael. She never calls him anything else. Fiona is not the type of woman who is looking for a man to settle down, have children, a house, a dog, and a swing-set in the backyard. She is also caring, but is impulsive. (Once, she wanted to shoot a greedy womanizer in a nightclub. Sam had to stop her forcefully.)
Jesse is the newest member of the team, burned by Michael. At first, he was angry at Michael and even wanted to kill him. The only thing that had originally stopped him was at the time, Michael was trying to rescue a kidnapped 5-year-old child. Jesse later saved Michael and joined up with the team. Jesse is sensible, thoughtful, and not as quick to move as the others.
Madeline is Michael's mother, but she "mommies" all the team. For her, Sam and Jesse are also her sons and Fiona is her daughter. She knows all of them very well. Once, she was shocked when Sam punched a man unprovoked and worried that something was wrong from the change in Sam's behavior. She recently put herself at risk to obtain something that Fiona needed and ended up with a black eye. Sam, Jesse, and Fiona have all put themselves at risk to rescue her at times. She allowed Sam to sleep in her guest room for awhile. She is outspoken and never holds back. Once, she felt that Sam had lied to her and threatened him "I will smother you in your sleep." Maddie is tough, a chain-smoker, and an abuse survivor. Her late husband had abused her and Michael and his brother (Nate).
I really love these characters. My favorites are Michael and Sam. Their friendship is obvious and they would do anything for one another. In a recent episode, Sam drew the police away from Michael by getting the police to chase him instead. Fiona and Sam seem to patronize one another a lot. Fiona had disliked Sam at first, but now considers him a friend. Sam has shown great chemistry with a new character (Rebecca). We don't yet know if Rebecca is a new permanent character or a temporary one. I hope she is permanent. I think she will make the show slightly better.
I believe the show's ratings would drop dramatically if Sam, Michael, or Fiona were killed off. It might do well without Jesse, but many fans seem to like him now. I don't think too many new permanent characters need to be added, but Rebecca needs to stay. We'll see!
I think anyone would like this. It's Renegade, MacGyver, CSI-Miami all rolled into one. It's usually rated TV14 or TVPG. Some may not be suited for younger children. Forget "Law & Order SVU" and "Castle"! This is the best thing on TV!