Magnum P.I. Meets The Blacklist In 111-Episode Spy Drama Now Streaming For Free

Published Aug 30, 2026, 6:45 PM EDT Misty Layne started as an actor and sketch comedy writer before deciding to concentrate mainly on writing. Utilizing both her love of television and film and her behind-the-scenes knowledge, she began a website reviewing films in 2013, with a focus on horror and indie media. Eventually, she began writing about all things television and film for other sites as well. Misty shares a home with five cats, a ton of books, and a fairly impressive vinyl collection. Spy dramas and detective shows are a dime a dozen these days, though they have certainly evolved throughout the years — and one of the best is now streaming for free. Quite a few of these shows, during the 1980s in particular, were set in beach-laden locations or had unique spins, such as youthful cops pretending to be teens to investigate youth crime. Magnum P.I., for example, set the private investigator the show was named after in Hawaiʻi, where he lived an indulgent life on the private estate of a famous author. Then, over two decades later, TV introduced several more serious shows that covered the darker aspects of spy life or featured more dangerous, wanted criminals, such as The Blacklist. While these shows were fun in their own way, one of their more appealing aspects was the complicated mysteries that would unravel over the course of a season or more. Burn Notice, though, which premiered in 2007, took the best of both these worlds to create a spy show that stood out from the rest. Set in Miami, it offered audiences more relaxed vibes — some of the time, at least, as it did have bleaker moments, too — a more colorful atmosphere than many spy dramas' dreary settings, and a long-term mystery the protagonist was actively trying to decipher. More than that, the show had a dry sense of humor that critics consistently praised, storytelling that didn't get bogged down by too much exposition, and a focus on family that set it apart from the competition. Frankly, it was no surprise that Burn Notice became so successful, and luckily, it's now streaming for free on the ad-supported platform, Pluto TV. Burn Notice Ran For 7 Seasons On USA Network Image via MovieStillsDB Burn Notice ran from 2007 to 2013 on the USA Network, and starred Jeffrey Donovan (Law & Order), Gabrielle Anwar (The Tudors), and the icon himself, Bruce Campbell (The Evil Dead). The show focused on Michael Weston, played by Donovan, a spy who suddenly finds himself burned (fired) in the middle of a mission. He lands in Miami with nothing to his name, as all his assets have been cut off, leaving him to rely on only a handful of people still willing to talk to him. Mostly, this included his trigger-happy ex-girlfriend, Fiona (Anwar), an old, double-crossing buddy, Sam (Campbell), and his chain-smoking mother. Michael can't leave Miami without risking being taken into custody, but he's desperate to figure out who burned him and why. While he's dealing with that, he reluctantly becomes an unlicensed private investigator to pay the bills. The show juggled the overarching narrative of Michael's desire to figure out who wanted to take him out with a new case each week, exploring everything from common criminals to gang members and drug traffickers. What made the show truly unique was its DIY spycraft. Michael often narrated the show, mostly when he was in a situation a non-spy would know nothing about. He would give instructions on how to make it out of a deadly situation alive or detail the steps for assembling a fake bomb. This breaking of the fourth wall was a much-beloved part of the show, and it helped avoid confusion for viewers who might not know what some random spy gadget or lingo was. The characters themselves contributed greatly to the show's popularity, as well. Fiona was a spitfire in a male-dominated world, ready to brawl at a second's notice. She also had a lingering affection for Michael that made their relationship electric (and she had some of Burn Notice's best quotes). Michael and his mother, Madeline (Sharon Gless), had a complicated relationship. Still, she proved immensely helpful to him throughout the show. Bruce Campbell's turn as Sam Axe, the guy with plenty of sugar mamas and an endless list of helpful contacts, was so fantastic he earned his own spinoff. Without its cast of well-rounded characters, all of whom had amazing chemistry, Burn Notice might not have fared so well. Burn Notice's Popularity Led To A Prequel Movie Starring Bruce Campbell Image via MovieStillsDB Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe came out in 2011. Set two years before the Burn Notice pilot, the story followed Sam's last mission in Colombia. Told he is meant to hunt down a dangerous terrorist group, he discovers that the group is nothing more than a handful of sheep farmers standing in the way of a corrupt official who wants to use their farm as a meeting point along a drug transportation route. The film was the 23rd most-watched show on cable television the week it came out, with 3.57 million people watching its first broadcast (via TV By The Numbers). It currently boasts a high 90% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes. Recently, in an interview with ScreenRant's Grant Hermanns, Campbell hinted that he would be open to a revival of Burn Notice: "I mean, the world is even more complicated now than it was before. All the main characters are still alive. Yeah, you could easily do it." Whether a revival actually occurs remains to be seen, but it wouldn't be unheard of, as other USA Network shows have been revived, one way or another. Psych received several films after the show ended, and Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie came out as recently as 2023. Until that happens, though, Burn Notice is available to stream for free via Pluto TV.