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Season 1 – Lioness

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1:42

Season 1 – Lioness

Jul 2023

Action

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

54%

Tomatometer

35 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Joe attempts to balance her personal and professional life as the tip of the CIA's spear in the war on terror.

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Critics Consensus

Zoe Saldaña provides the energy of a Lioness, but these Special Ops are largely derivative and unconvincing.

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Natalie

Autostraddle

08/31/2023

That Lioness works at all, it is on the backs of its stars who are engaging enough to watch, even as the story fails them.

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Thelma Adams

TheWrap

07/25/2023

As the end credits rolled on Sheridan’s well-crafted thriller, I immediately wanted to discover what happens next.

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Boyd Hilton

Empire Magazine

07/25/2023

3/5

Despite occasionally stretching plausibility, Taylor Sheridan’s latest event TV series mixes explosive espionage action with domestic issues to mostly absorbing effect.

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Rick Bentley

KGET-TV (Bakersfield, CA)

01/26/2024

A-

Zoe Saldaña has already shown through the big productions of Guardians of the Galaxy and Avatar that she can handle any action role thrown at her. She puts an exclamation mark on that point with her work in the Paramount+ series Special Ops: Lioness.

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Jeff Beck

The Blu Spot

01/22/2024

2.5/5

Creator Taylor Sheridan simply never finds a way to tap into the show's remarkable potential, resulting in a show that mainly meanders and drags for the vast majority of its eight-episode premiere season.

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Aaron White

Feelin' Film Podcast

10/11/2023

4.5/5

A captivating take on female strength in military special ops & espionage. Light melodrama, keeping focus mostly on the high-stakes mission. Well-paced with great tactics & action, but depth of character building & ideological dilemmas make it special.

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jack F

@RT92103341 6d

Don't invest your precious time in this sloppy, illogical show. We watched so many good shows like Six which is so authentic. Lioness - illogical. For example, CIA being questioned by Cabinet Secretary and POTUS assistant and yet only a lowly Deputy Director showed up, not even the CIA Director. come on. do some research in the DC pecking order.

Joe D

@J-Derf Jun 17

Same old Taylor Sheridan or some AI that he is manipulating. Standard formula and predictable. If he didn’t have a deal with paramount, I wonder if he’d be successful. Skip this show. Good actors but lame story and predictable plot/dialogue/action sequences

Guilherme H

@RT57420875 May 25

Excellent series and incredible cast, intriguing story with a military intelligence plot that captivates the viewer.

sandy C

@RT43401200 May 12

I see a pattern with Taylor Sheridan shows: top notch actors and horrible storytelling. They are all bro centric, way too violent and misogynistic. I started watching Lioness because it was advertised as a show with strong women with interesting jobs. But I found it grueling to watch and quite boring. The main character seems like she hates her life and is always miserable. So much of the characters’ reactions to things are not even believable. It just feels like a big waste of time and talent.

David E

@RT54016182 May 11

A disgusting, despicable show. Torture is not entertainment.

Tsaki M

@tsaki Apr 22

Great show with a lot of potential. A realistic portrayal of the political games, financial motives and corruption within the army. The first season is more story-heavy; My favorite one so far being the tragic and powerful origin story of the Lioness Cruz, which gives insight into the nuances of the human psyche during their war against terrorism.

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Taylor Sheridan

Creator

Zoe Saldaña

Joe

Laysla De Oliveira

Cruz Manuelos

Michael Kelly

Donald Westfield

Morgan Freeman

Edwin Mullins

Nicole Kidman

Kaitlyn Meade

Episode 1

Aired Jul 23, 2023

Sacrificial Soldiers

Things go awry for Joe and her team during a mission out in the field; Joe is left devastated; upon her return home, Joe's family life presents it's own challenges; Cruz tries to escape a dangerous situation; Joe must choose an agent.

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Episode 2

Aired Jul 23, 2023

The Beating

Joe continues her training with Cruz; her methods are questionable; Cruz starts to build a relationship with Aaliyah; Kate gets into a fight during her soccer game; Neal has to deliver difficult news to a patient.

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Episode 3

Aired Jul 30, 2023

Bruise Like a Fist

Cruz is invited to spend the weekend with Aaliyah and her inner-circle; Joe keeps Kaitlyn informed of Cruz's progress; Kyle comes to Joe desperate for help with an asset.

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Episode 4

Aired Aug 6, 2023

The Choice of Failure

Cruz is put in a compromising position while out with Aaliyah and friends in the Hamptons, causing Joe and Kaitlyn to doubt her; Kaitlyn and Westfield confront Kyle over what happened at the border, complicating things further for Joe and her team.

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Episode 5

Aired Aug 13, 2023

Truth Is the Shrewdest Lie

Joe and Neal deal with the aftermath of Kate's accident; Westfield and Kaitlyn deploy Joe's team to subdue a terrorist threat; Cruz's cover may be in jeopardy.

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Episode 6

Aired Aug 20, 2023

The Lie Is the Truth

Aaliyah bonds with Cruz over a spa day; Bobby, Tex, Two Cups, Randy and Tucker confront a threat at the Safe House; Kaitlyn and Joe are scolded for the San Antonio mission in a debrief.

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Episode 7

Aired Aug 27, 2023

Wish the Fight Away

While shopping in Manhattan for the wedding, Aaliyah and Cruz get closer; Kate returns home only to say goodbye to her mom once again; Joe guides Cruz through internal struggle and doubt in completing the mission.

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Episode 8

Aired Sep 3, 2023

Gone Is the Illusion of Order

Unforeseen circumstances leaves the mission in jeopardy; a suspicious Eshan confronts Cruz before his wedding day; Joe and the team prepare for the worst.

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Special Ops: Lioness: Season 1 Trailer - This Season On