Our take
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 story
Cruz Manuelos, a rough-around-the-edges but passionate young Marine, is recruited to join the CIA's Lioness Engagement Team to help bring down a terrorist organization from within. Joe, the station chief of the Lioness program, is tasked with training, managing and leading her female undercover operatives.
In a bid to win the war against terror, CIA officer Joe (Zoe Saldana) recruits marine soldier Cruz Manuelos (Laysla De Oliveira) into the “Lioness” project, a special ops program that has its female agents go undercover and befriend the wives, sisters, and daughters of high-value targets.
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.
Gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss. ✨
The details
Streaming arrival
Who picked it
Renee Cuisia is the lead curator at A Good Movie to Watch. In her spare time, she likes to watch K-dramas and analyze them to death. She's also seen You've Got Mail one too many times but is still convinced it's one of the greatest films out there.
I’m suffering through this all-too-obvious chunk of propaganda. After all, isn’t this society already too militarized, in a day and age when climate change ought to be nearly our only priority?
First season was really good, second season just as great. This show is top 5 last 2 years. No way there are more than 5 others show in the last 2 years better than this.