Series: Special Ops: Lioness Created by: Taylor Sheridan Main Cast: Zoe Saldaña, Nicole Kidman, Laysla De Oliveira, Michael Kelly

Special Ops: Lioness launched with all the elements required for a massive hit: the successful showrunner Taylor Sheridan (the mind behind Yellowstone), a tense counter-terrorism storyline, and an A-list ensemble cast, highlighted by Nicole Kidman (in a senior command role) and Zoe Saldaña (leading the operation). While the series brilliantly succeeds in delivering thrilling action sequences and high production value, it stumbles on a major hurdle: the lack of a deep, accessible emotional core.

1. Technical Strengths: A Taylor Sheridan Production

Lioness clearly bears Sheridan’s signature style—high cinematic quality and a fast pace. From the international settings to the detailed tactical action sequences, the show is meticulously produced.

High-Grade Production: The lighting is cinematic, and the scenes are elaborately staged, giving the feeling of an eight-episode feature film. The 45-minute runtime per episode also helps maintain engagement and continuity, ideal for binge-watching.
Bold Action Premise: The Lioness program, where female operatives infiltrate terrorist networks by befriending the daughters of high-value targets, is an inherently thrilling premise. This idea promises a blend of military strategy and psychological espionage.

2. Core Weakness: An Inaccessible Protagonist

The biggest issue with the series lies in its central character, Joe (Zoe Saldaña), the Lioness station chief.

Excessive Impassivity: Joe is constructed as a woman hardened and traumatized by the pressures of leadership and combat. However, Saldaña portrays Joe with an uncompromising severity and coldness, almost completely emotionless. This makes it difficult for the audience to empathize, especially when the show attempts to highlight her personal sacrifices.
Disjointed Family Subplot: Much of the effort to give Joe depth comes from her tense family subplot with her physician husband (played by Dave Annable). But because Joe lacks vulnerability, these domestic segments feel superficial, lacking the necessary connection and chemistry.

3. Missed Potential: The Relationship Between Cruz and Aaliyah

While the main character lacks emotion, the show finds its vitality and moral depth through two supporting characters:

Cruz Manuelos (Laysla De Oliveira): The newly recruited operative, carrying the burden of her own psychological trauma.
Aaliyah (Stephanie Nur): The daughter of the terrorist target, whom Cruz is tasked with approaching.

The relationship between Cruz and Aaliyah is the brightest highlight of the series. It explores moral ambiguity, cultural conflict, and personal sacrifice within a spy mission. However, the show postpones a deep dive into this storyline until the end of the season, dedicating too much time to tactics and dry, archetypal military supporting characters, which wastes the emotional potential.

4. Script Flaws: Manufactured Intensity

The script can be irritating at times due to its tonal and dialogue choices:

Overly Aggressive Language: The dialogue overuses profanity and coarseness, not to enhance realism, but to mechanically generate intensity.
Superficial Handling of Serious Issues: Heavy themes like trauma, violence, and sexual assault are introduced abruptly and resolved too quickly, lacking the necessary emotional reflection. This makes the narrative feel shaped by “cinematic trauma tropes” rather than genuine emotional experience.

Conclusion

Special Ops: Lioness is a well-executed, engaging, and fast-paced spy thriller. It succeeds in creating political suspense and tactical tension.

However, due to the lack of consistent character depth and an un-empathetic protagonist, the series fails to achieve its ambition of becoming a psychological drama that deeply explores the toll on covert operatives. It is a compelling piece of entertainment, but a missed opportunity to become truly impactful and emotionally resonant television.