Taylor Sheridan has built a television empire on Paramount+ with hits like Yellowstone, Tulsa King, and Mayor of Kingstown. But buried beneath all the cowboy hats and crime dramas lies his most overlooked series: Lioness. Originally released as Special Ops: Lioness in 2023, this spy thriller never reached the cultural fever pitch of Sheridan's ranch sagas. Yet over two seasons, it has quietly become one of the platform's most compelling action series.
The show centers on Joe McNamara (Zoe Saldaña), a senior CIA agent running a covert program that places female operatives close to high-risk targets. While the premise sounds like standard post-9/11 espionage fare, Lioness distinguishes itself by focusing on the human cost of these missions. Season 1 follows Cruz Manuelos (Laysla De Oliveira), an ex-Marine recruited to befriend Aaliyah (Stephanie Nur), the daughter of a terrorist financier. The emotional weight of Cruz's deception—and her growing bond with Aaliyah—drives the story more than any explosion or tactical briefing.
That emotional core gives Lioness a bite missing from many modern action thrillers. Cruz isn't treated as a disposable asset, and Joe's fractured home life becomes just as important as the missions. Some of the show's most powerful scenes are quiet moments: arguments in kitchens, exhausted phone calls, and Joe realizing she's becoming a stranger to her own family. Sheridan, known for his hyper-masculine dramas, here crafts a surprisingly heartfelt narrative about women navigating a male-dominated world.
Saldaña delivers one of her best performances as Joe. Known for leading billion-dollar franchises, she brings a raw, unglamorous intensity to the role. Joe is brilliant but angry and exhausted, living on adrenaline. Saldaña plays her as someone whose every muscle has been tense for so long she seems like a puppet. There's no romanticized version of Joe—her obsession with the job has taken a massive personal toll, and Saldaña makes every consequence feel real.
De Oliveira matches her as Cruz, selling the vulnerability that cuts through the show's tactical elements. The supporting cast is equally strong: Nicole Kidman and Morgan Freeman bring sharpness to the political intrigue, while Michael Kelly slides naturally into Sheridan's world of morally compromised officials. Lioness proves that Sheridan's universe can thrive beyond the ranch—as seen in 'Marshals', another hit that defied early skepticism.
Season 2 is where Lioness truly finds its identity. After mixed reviews for Season 1, the show gained confidence, expanding its political scope and deepening character arcs. The action sequences—staged with documentary-style intensity—rival anything Sheridan has done outside Sicario. The rescue mission that opens Season 2 is a standout. Yet the show also slows down when needed, exploring Joe's growing disillusionment and her family's questions about the life she's chosen.
Beneath the gunfire and covert operations, Lioness is about burnout, patriotism, sacrifice, and the emotional damage of endless war. It may never reach Yellowstone levels of fame, but it deserves far more attention. Few streaming thrillers move this fast while giving characters room to breathe. With Season 3 officially announced, now is the perfect time to catch up on this hidden gem. For fans of Sheridan's work—or anyone craving smart, character-driven action—Lioness is a must-watch on Paramount+.
