If Special Ops: Lioness seems like one of the many muscly, male-targeted shows out there but, you know, girlified, that could be because it’s created by Taylor Sheridan, the mastermind behind such hypermasculine epics as Yellowstone, Tulsa King, and Mayor of Kingstown. Lioness could have been a chance for Sheridan to prove his versatility by showing us the female side of things for once; he could’ve explored the unique and complex situation female members of the military go through, and maybe jump into that rich discourse of intersectionality, but the show never really digs far beyond its spy thriller surface. Filled with soapy cliches, I’m-not-like-other-women takes, and what could only be product placements for the US Marines, Lioness doesn’t really seem like anything other than generic fare. 

The big budget. Crisscrossing between Syrian deserts, European cities, American suburbs, and sky-high offices, all while touting a stacked cast of a-listers that include Morgan Freeman, Nicole Kidman, and Zoe Saldana, Lioness makes it abundantly clear that it has loads to spend. And to its credit, it looks like it too. This is as prestige as TV can get, what with its crisp soaring visuals and heady performances. If only it could’ve allotted some of that budget to the writing, then maybe we could be on to something.