So in the first episode of S7 we learn about Michael's deal with the CIA. In exchange for the release of his family and friends he is in deep cover as a version of himself. He is posing as an alcoholic ex-spy in the Dominican Republic to try and get himself recruited by Burke, a terrorist (played by Adrian Pasdar). He reports to the man who offered him the deal, Andrew Strong, played by Jack Coleman.
Meanwhile back in Miami Jesse has a high-powered security gig, Fi is bounty hunting with her new boyfriend Carlos and Sam is living the high life with Elsa (albeit while missing the missions). They are all approached by a spy asking questions about Michael. Unfortunately Madeline is the only one who falls for this and explains Mike is still working for the government while Dexter Gamble (the aforementioned spy) is posing as the official who may refuse to give custody of Charlie, Nate's son.
Michael's mission is almost compromised as it turns out Dexter Gamble was hired by one of Burke's men, Pablo. Michael causes a car accident that gets Pablo killed before Pablo can expose him to Burke and then he and Strong resolve to go to Miami and clean up the mess.
Tropes include:
- Characterization Marches On: Fi has been defined by her relationship to Michael as his ex or current girlfriend for most of the series but at the start of this episode she has a trigger happy new partner of her own named Carlos and isn't particularly happy about being dragged back into Mike's spy games.
- Choke Holds: Mike is on the receiving end of one in the fight club at the beginning.
- Chronic Hero Syndrome: Michael has given up his life to go live alone in the Dominican Republic drinking, fighting and brooding and his family and friends aren't even particularly appreciative.
- Drowning My Sorrows: There is an element of this with Mike. He doesn't only drink in public so the alcoholism is clearly more than just a cover.
- Flashback: One set nine months earlier, which has Strong making his deal with Michael and warning what will happen to his loved ones if he doesn't play ball.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: Mike's fight club opponent breaks a bottle over his head to get him on the ground and start choking him. Mike uses the bottle to cut the guy's arm and get out of it.
- Never My Fault: Very much averted by Madeline. When Fi asks her about the custody guy and more specifically whether he asked her anything about Michael, she goes straight from "Happy to get custody over her grandson" to "My God, What Have I Done??".
- The Scapegoat: According to Strong, Olivia Riley was held in such high-esteem that multiple intelligence agencies have all condemned Michael for her downfall. Michael did a number of questionable things last season, but he didn't make Olivia cross the lines she did (which included outright torturing Sam and betraying the CIA and DEA to a drug cartel).
- Throw the Dog a Bone: From Strong's perspective, his deal offers Michael and his loved ones a way out of spending the rest of their lives in a dark hole of a prison cell.
