The TV show "Lioness," also known as "Special Ops: Lioness," is an American spy thriller created by Taylor Sheridan. It premiered on July 23, 2023, on Paramount+ and was renewed for a second season that began airing on October 27, 2024
. Premise:
The series follows Joe, an experienced CIA agent who leads an elite
paramilitary unit called the "Lioness." After a failed mission in the Middle
East that results in the death of an undercover operative, Joe teams up with
Cruz Manuelos, a Marine Corps soldier. Cruz is tasked with befriending the
daughter of a terrorist under CIA surveillance to prevent a major terrorist
attack on U.S. soil, the largest since 9/11
. Key Details:
- Genre: Spy thriller/action
- Creator and Showrunner: Taylor Sheridan
- Main Cast: Zoe Saldana (Joe), Laysla De Oliveira (Cruz Manuelos), Nicole Kidman, Morgan Freeman, among others
- Language: English
- Number of Seasons: 2
- Number of Episodes: 16
- Network: Paramount+
- Episode Length: 38–57 minutes
Reception:
The show has received mixed reviews. It holds an 80% audience score on Rotten
Tomatoes but a lower critic score of 56%. Praise has been given for its
cinematic quality, strong female leads, and credible military and espionage
elements. Criticism includes some clichéd dialogue and plot elements, with
some reviewers calling it overdone or propagandistic
. In summary, "Lioness" is a contemporary American spy thriller series focusing on female operatives in covert CIA missions, blending action and drama with a focus on counterterrorism
