--- title: "Lioness" year: 2023 canonical_url: "https://www.archytele.com/show/lioness-2023" media_type: "tv" tmdb_id: 113962 imdb_id: "tt13111078" status: "Returning Series" seasons_count: 3 episodes_count: 24 community_rating: 8.0 vote_count: 1239 content_rating: "TV-MA" --- # Lioness (2023) — Television & Cinema Intelligence Dossier > **Archytele Living Vault Canonical Record**: https://www.archytele.com/show/lioness-2023 ## Executive Summary & Cultural Positioning Lioness, also marketed as Special Ops: Lioness, is an American spy thriller television series created by Taylor Sheridan. The program premiered on Paramount+ on July 23, 2023. The narrative centers on the CIA's Lioness Engagement Team, a secret program that utilizes female undercover operatives to dismantle terrorist organizations from within. The series follows Joe, the station chief of the program, who is responsible for training, managing, and leading these agents. Cruz Manuelos, a passionate young Marine, is recruited into this unit. Zoe Saldaña portrays the character of Joe. The series explores themes of action, emotion, and difficult decision-making. Following its initial release, the show continued with a second season that premiered on October 27, 2024. In October 2025, the series was renewed for a third season. The production has featured various actors, including Bassem, who has appeared in the series alongside his work in other television projects. The show is distributed by Paramount+. ## The Hook & The Verdict **The Hook**: "A passionate Marine joins a secret CIA program to infiltrate and dismantle a terrorist organization from within." ### Why Watch - strong performances from the lead cast - engaging blend of action and conspiracy ### Caveats & Content Note - intense themes involving undercover operations - Tone & Suitability: The series features intense action sequences and themes related to espionage and national security. **Micro-Themes & Vibe Matrix**: spy thriller, action, suspenseful, dramatic ## Streaming Availability Matrix | Region | Stream (Subscription) | Free / Ads | Rent / Buy | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **United States (US)** | fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount Plus Apple TV Channel, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, Spectrum On Demand | None | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies | | **United Kingdom (GB)** | Netflix, Paramount Plus, Netflix Standard with Ads, Paramount Plus Apple TV Channel, ITVX Premium, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Basic with Ads | ITVX | Apple TV Store, Sky Store | | **Canada (CA)** | Paramount Plus, Club Illico, Paramount Plus Apple TV Channel, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Basic with Ads | None | Apple TV Store | | **Australia (AU)** | Paramount Plus, Paramount Plus Apple TV Channel, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Basic with Ads | None | Apple TV Store, Fetch TV | ## Season Architecture & Lore Primers ### Season 1 (8 Episodes) Lioness, also marketed as Special Ops: Lioness, is an American spy thriller television series created by Taylor Sheridan. The show premiered on July 23, 2023, on Paramount+. The narrative centers on the CIA's Lioness Engagement Team, a program focused on the war on terror. The story follows Joe, the station chief of the Lioness program, who is responsible for training, managing, and leading female undercover operatives. Joe must navigate the challenges of balancing her professional responsibilities with her personal life while serving as the tip of the CIA's spear. The program enlists Cruz Manuelos, a passionate young Marine described as rough-around-the-edges, to operate undercover alongside Joe. Together, they work to infiltrate and bring down a terrorist organization from within by targeting power brokers associated with state terrorism. The series is categorized under the genres of drama, war and politics, action and adventure, and suspense. It carries a TV-MA rating. The production is established as a multi-season series, with the first season setting the foundation for the operational dynamics between the CIA leadership and their undercover assets in the field. ### Season 2 (8 Episodes) Lioness Season 2 continues the overarching saga across eight episodes of the American spy thriller television series created by Taylor Sheridan. The second season premiered on October 27, 2024, on Paramount+. The series features a working group of covert female CIA agents embarking on dangerous covert missions as part of an American military program established following the September 11 terrorist attacks. Additional details regarding the specific narrative arc, character developments, and events of this eight-episode season are not provided in the source material. **Essential Lore Primer (Before Watching S2)**: - The series is an American spy thriller created by Taylor Sheridan that premiered on July 23, 2023, on Paramount+. - The narrative involves a working group of covert female CIA agents executing dangerous secret missions as part of an American military program following the September 11 terrorist attacks. - Cruz Manuelos is a rough-around-the-edges and passionate young Marine recruited to join the program. - The series is also marketed under the title Special Ops: Lioness. ### Season 3 (8 Episodes) Lioness Season 3 continues the overarching saga across eight episodes. The American spy thriller television series, created by Taylor Sheridan, follows the ongoing narrative of the program. As part of the series continuing storyline, the drama and war and politics genre elements drive the narrative forward as the saga unfolds through its designated episode count. **Essential Lore Primer (Before Watching S3)**: - The American spy thriller television series was created by Taylor Sheridan and premiered on July 23, 2023, on Paramount+. - The series is also marketed as Special Ops: Lioness. - Cruz Manuelos, a rough-around-the-edges but passionate young Marine, is recruited to join the program. - The second season of the series premiered on October 27, 2024. ## Filler vs. Essential Episode Classifier - **Total Tracked Episodes**: 24 - **Crucial Mytharc Episodes**: 9 (38%) - **Character Core Episodes**: 15 (63%) - **Side Quest / Filler Episodes**: 0 (0%) ## Creative Credits - **Created by**: Taylor Sheridan - **Networks / Studios**: Paramount+ ## Key Cast Continuity - **Zoe Saldaña** as *Joe McNamara* - **Laysla De Oliveira** as *Cruz Manuelos* - **Dave Annable** as *Neal McNamara* - **Jill Wagner** as *Bobby* - **LaMonica Garrett** as *Tucker* - **James Jordan** as *Two Cups* - **Austin Hébert** as *Randy* - **Jonah Wharton** as *Tex* - **Hannah Love Lanier** as *Kate McNamara* - **Nicole Kidman** as *Kaitlyn Meade* ## Canonical Frequently Asked Questions ### Q: Who created the show? The series was created by Taylor Sheridan. ### Q: Where can I stream the series? The show is distributed by Paramount+. ### Q: Who stars in the series? The cast includes Zoe Saldaña and Nicole Kidman. ### Q: When did the series premiere? The show premiered on July 23, 2023. ### Q: Has the series been renewed? Yes, the series has been renewed for a third season. ## Grounded Source Citations - [Lioness (American TV series) - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lioness_(American_TV_series)) - [the first political satire show in the Middle East. Originally a 5-minute ...](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZvAy6KCkx4/) - [Lioness (American TV series) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lioness_(American_TV_series)) - [Cast of Lioness (Season 1–2) | Zoe Saldaña, Nicole Kidman, Laysla De ...](https://castrumors.com/lioness-tv-series/) - [Lioness Season 3: Everything You Need to Know - Sneak Peak](https://www.paramountplus.com/sneak-peak/everything-you-need-to-know-about-lioness-season-3/?msockid=3f15a0f1650665fd0493b772641864d0) - [Billionaire's Daughter Caught Shoplifting | Dhar Mann - Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/dharmannofficial/videos/billionaires-daughter-caught-shoplifting/1661167878328940/) --- *Generated by Archytele Open Intelligence Systems. Data verified against TMDB and JustWatch APIs.*