User reviews

Special Ops: Lioness had me hooked from the very first episode. This is the next great series by the mastermind of Taylor Sheridan (Yellowstone, 1923, 1883, Mayor of Kingstown, Tulsa King, etc). I would watch this series if I knew nothing more than Sheridan created it. Then add in the fact of all the star power starring in it...Zoe Saldana, Morgan Freeman, Nicole Kidman, Michael Kelly, Laysla De Oliveira, etc. While this isn't the best show from Sheridan, it's still very entertaining and worth watching. Yes, some of it's unbelievable but if you can just turn your brain off and enjoy it for what it is you'll have a good time watching this. The only negative so far is that you have to wait a week between episodes, I like it better when they release the whole season at one time so you can binge it.

Being a Taylor Sheridan fan I've been looking forward to Special Ops: Lioness ever since I first heard about it. Then I saw the trailers and my excitement grew. This is definitely another hit in a long line of hits for Sheridan. It seems like whatever he does is terrific. This follows the story of Joe (Zoe Saldana) who works for the CIA and their war on terror. As she struggles to balance her personal and professional lives she recruits an undercover operative named Cruz (Laysla De Oliveira) into the Lioness Program to work alongside her in stopping some terrorists. Morgan Freeman, Nicole Kidman, Michael Kelly, Jill Wagner and LaMonica Garrett also star in the terrific series.

Why, why do they always insist on having one teen character who is continuously angry and acts irrationally? It has *never* done any TV show any good. Zoe Saldana's daughter is full-on stereotype, all the sorry-arse angry teenager tropes bundled in one character. One minute you are watching a show about secret operatives in the Middle East, the next you are subjected to never-ending scenes of family turmoil caused by one selfish teenager that *no one in the world cares about*.

My advice: fast forward all the scenes where she appears. They add absolutely nothing - zip - nada - zilch to the storyline. Skipping them will do wonders for your blood pressure.

Authors of the appallingly negative reviews of this thrilling series are entitled to their opinions. However, they appear driven by a particular agenda and seem unduly fixated on minutiae. E.g., how realistic is Laysla de Oliveira's pull-up sequence? Many of the negative critics claim direct subject matter experience. Well, so do I. While Lioness may contain enough technical misses to keep it from qualifying as a special operations documentary, there are so many more details that it gets right - some of them startlingly so - so that it stands head and shoulders above most of the programming that one would compare it to. For example, I, myself, switched to Lioness after starting out watching Heart of Stone. I usually enjoy Gal Gadot, but I wanted to see something with a bit more red meat. Lioness delivers, and how! From the action and plot to a relatable cast of characters embodied by a truly stellar cast, it's all eminently bingeable!

I'm halfway through season 1 and got hooked from episode 1, which is rare to me. The premise of the show appears, at a first glance, to be quite heavily cliched. But every turn it takes sheds the cliche due to excellent script writing, casting and acting. There is a clear and present intelligence behind this. The intimate dialogue in the family settings is at points even breathtaking. Every key character becomes credible and events playing out becomes plausible. The basic thrill of the gunfights and battle scenes is satisfying and I thoroughly enjoy active development of the storyline. Well done. Very bingable.

Why the hate people, it's a tv series.

It's fictional and says so on the tin so why the hell people are posting " women ain't operators in real life".

So bloody what if they are making themselves into somebody they are not.

Men do it real life and get away with it so why can't women pretend?

Ridiculous how every single thing is picked at these days instead of just watching.

People posting essays?

It's a tv show and I'm liking it.

It's had a lot of money go into the production and it shows.

Really good actors and that CIA mick from jack ryan sure does get around.

Overall, just watch for yourself and remember it's not real so the reality doesn't matter.

ITS A TV SHOW.

Not sure I understand all the <5 reviews, I am only 2 episodes in and the show does a good job at what it aims to do: Infiltration-type action-filled tv show. It keeps the tension going and seems to be going somewhere. Yes there are a lot of actresses but so what? There are all doing a solid job (well, I am still confused as to what has happened to Kidman's face). Yes the main recruit is a one-dimensional mad racoon so far and we are not quite sure how she turned into that, but give it a second. Yes it is not realistic but it is not trying to be Zero Dark Thirty, it aims to entertain, and it does that better than the latest Jack Ryan reboot in my opinion. It is good Sunday night TV and I would have continued with ep 3 if I could have.

No matter how good a show is. They is always a person saying how it's the worst show they have ever seen. Just check for yourself. In any show. But as we all know Taylor's stuff. You just need to give them time and they will catch up. We have seen yellow stone, and it's prequels. They started slow and now you can't just keep your eyes of those characters. So don't listen to what others try the series out and Judge for yourself. I can say its a story worth waiting for it to build up. They started slow and now you can't just keep your eyes of those characters. So don't listen to what other people are saying. It's worth a watch.

It's sad to see so many one-star reviews from military members and others who clearly can't stand having strong, female leads. This is a fictional show, people. It's made for entertainment. It's not going to get everything about the military exactly right, and it's clearly not pretending to. Do iyou think Yellowstone is an exact portrayal of ranch life? Definitely not. No need to be so easily offended about it. We don't see ranchers up in arms over the dramatization over their industry. For those offended by the language, violence, and nudity, have you ever seen Taylor Sheridan's shows? Lol

While I do find the writing around De Oliveria's character severely flawed, it's clearly done so they can speed through laying the groundwork for the show.

Saldana is a power lead, and I'm loving every minute of it. Her character's relationship with Annable is well written, and it's nice to see how two flawed people navigate a very completed relationship with demanding careers.

Overall, the characters are likable and well developed, though with some gaps from the writers. There's a great balance of dialog and action and some really great fight and chase scenes.

Is it 100% realistic? Of course not. Suspend your disbelief and enjoy the show. It's great!

3 episodes in and I'm really enjoying it. The first two episodes I watched back to back because it got me hooked, though the 3rd is a little slower. This is now the scene setting stage though, so I'd expect it.

It's up there with other US based espionage thrillers, such as Jack Ryan, The Night Agent, etc.. in fact it's probably better than those as it's a little more believable. It's not door to door action, but the scenes are visceral and intense. It has a similar presentation to Taylor Sheridan's other recent work and you can see some elements from Sicario too.

I struggle to understand all of the negative reviews. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions on what they enjoy, but given the number of strongly negative ones I suspect there's something else at work here, so take them with a pinch of salt. If in doubt I'd recommend watching the first episode and making your own mind up (unless you're offended by the idea of a strong woman).

8.5/10 but rounding up to 9 to counter the negativity.

Mr. Sheridan knows how to bring us into testosterone-fueled, macho worlds without cliche and, seemingly, without agenda. It is what it is. No apologies necessary. His characters are always grounded and he's extremely adept at casting. But to be great you need to write good parts for women. The writing needs to be as good, if not better, than it is for men. Dudes are simple. Women are smarter, more complex. Beth on Yellowstone (great character and performance) the barrel riders, the lone female ranch hand (the fantastic Jen Landon as Teeter) all great female characters that fit in the world of the story in a natural, unforced way. They're strong and compelling. Not just 'the partner of...' or T & A. He stepped up his game with the excellent character Faith Hill crushed in "1883" followed by Dame Mirren in the misfire that was "1923". Now we have Zoe Saldana, doing some of the best work of her career. I absolutely buy her as CIA boss in an open marriage (nice touch). I buy De Oliveira as a broken woman with burning rage that won't quit and thank you, thank you, thank you writers/Dir./producers for NOT letting her get the best of a fellow male soldier with an additional one-hundred pounds of muscle. Veracity first and foremost! I think her character is way more interesting if she is someone who has to be knocked out cold or just overpowered on the ground before she'll quit. Now let's talk about Jill Wagner or should I say her hair? What an about face! From schmaltzy Hallmark dreck to super-badass special forces? I'm buying it. Special mention: Ms. Lanier as the nasty teen daughter. I await the arc laid out for this loose canon as long as they continue to steer clear of teen angst cliche. Good actor, it could get interesting...

Wow, so many b-hurt men are crying over a couple of women being in the center of this show. I watched two episodes, and there was hardly any action there for you all to be so whiny. Again, this is a TV show about the special ops crew of a CIA. Would someone be able to create a close-to-reality show about a secret agency? I do not think so. Yet, you all probably think that Bond or Mission Impossible have believable plots.

This is a decent TV show with a believable premise. There are some gaps in the plot, though, as CIA agents have to undergo more thorough training before being sent to the field. Also, getting close to such a high-stake target will require more time as well.

Anyway, do not believe oversensitive men in the comments about a girl being able to do pullups or pushups. This is not what this show is about.

Best new show around, After a disappointing 4th season of Jack Ryan, and all around lackluster shows everywhere, this felt so much better in every way. Looks truly well done and action/fight scenes look awesome. Great acting by all. I feel most of the criticism of this show in the comment section seems to boil down to how unrealistic it is because of the whole Female operator thing, and me for one, a guy, don't mind a good female led action show that is an original IP that doesn't go and turn a male lead into a female lead. Also i haven't seen any red flags so far like making every man look incompetent or anything like that. Also at first i thought it was gonna be a more action-first no-nonsense show but then they kinda dove a bit into the family and i usually cringe at that, but i didn't dislike what they did there.

My only criticism is that the plot of what this specific operator group does is very story limiting, and might kill it moving past a season's plot/villain...needs to be more encompassing so they could possibly do a new more action intensive fast-paced Homeland, otherwise it risks becoming too episodic like a Blacklist

PS: So far Nicole Kidman's part is incredibly small and uneventful and could have been done by anyone else...We'll see what the great Morgan Freeman brings to the show...But from what i've seen so far the show could stand on its own with Zaldana without any other A-Lister.

TLDR Overall Cautiously optimistic but i like what i see so far, everything is incredibly polished and well done. Its entertaining even without being the History Channel show that some commenters seem to prefer.

It's excellent...watch it! Although different in many ways, if you liked Homeland, you should like Lioness. Zaldana is amazing. The story and script are tight and exciting, and the show gets better with each episode until you reach a very satisfying finale. I enjoyed the personal aspects of the show as well such as Cruz's back story early, and the ongoing problem's with Joe's (Zaldana) family, and the balance of her career.

A lot of familiar actors, including a good Kidman even though she is losing control of her face, and some new faces like the actresses playing Cruz and Aaliyah. Anyone who does not like this show just does not like spy/special ops stuff, or has some kind of social issue. Season 2 has just been greenlit, so there will be more.

Technically very good, but it's so pretentious...or the main character is. With two children at home, whom she always abandon because her job is so important...bla bla. Even when one of them almost dies in an accident, she must travel abroad for work. Which it's not. She actually doesn't do a very important job, but she is a control freak and obviously think nobody can do her job.

So that is for me not a credible story.

I'm disappointed by Zoe Zaldana in every way. Here she had a chance to make something good, but blew it. And her acting is also no very good. Very limited repertoar. Same voice, same look, same expressions iver and over. Very boring actually. Nicole Kidman does a much better job in her role.

It is Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan wanna be make over.

The plot is the weakest i have seen in ages, the girl who is supposed to "blend in" always looked like she just out of a bar fight and somehow the highly secured target detail didnt think anything of it like what??????

Even the idea of questioning the intentions and implications of the mission at the end was just there to make you give it 2 stars instead of one.

Dialogue is weak, characters are weak, and the plot is the worst.

If I was you I wouldn't even waste my time.

The one star really was for morgan freeman (for the two minutes of screentime he god anyway)

If you're looking for an action-packed series with strong female leads, then Lioness Special Ops is a must-watch! This show follows the harrowing experiences of a group of elite female soldiers, as they navigate their way through dangerous missions with grit, determination, and courage. The series manages to balance intensity with character-driven moments as we see these women grow and evolve through their struggles.

The writing is well-crafted, and the acting is top-notch, with standout performances from the entire cast. The action sequences are skillfully choreographed and executed, making every moment of the show a thrilling ride. Overall, Lioness Special Ops is a captivating series that's a must-see for anyone who loves action, strong female characters, and a gripping storyline. Highly recommended!

I mean its a TV Show, and its super entertaining. Who cares if in real life there are no women at this level? I mean how many of the viewers would have been in the military to know this, maybe 0.01 percent????? Even now reading the reviews, now that i know, i still dont care, its still a good show.

I enjoy its much more than say Jack Ryan, the action here is much much better and also the characters are much more likeable.

It's a really really good show and I'm not even a fan of Taylor Sheridan so.....

Seriously who are those that gives all the below 5 stars for these??? Surely you have no clue how much involved in making a series like this, its a lot of work for your dumb ratings!!!!

In short: if you like intense and suspenseful shows that take you to beautiful locations throughout, noticeably fantastic writing and acting all around, spy shows, and shows centered around women in military, you'll like this a lot. Try it out!

Longer review: A new favorite of mine! Feels like I stumbled upon a gem. I love the meaningful writing and the layered characters and the impressive, genuine, intense story! The settings and locations and action all take you on an adventure. On top of that, the music stands out in a big way which only screams quality. This show is a lot of fun to watch, and also I've never seen a woman-centered spy thriller show before. Very cool, it means something to me.

Why I watched: (1)Zoë Saldaña, (2)Morgan Freeman, (3)Military spy thriller.

My only complaints: (1)Can't binge immediately, (2)Wish the episodes were 1 hour each, (3)Wish there were more episodes than 8, (4)Want more time with Cruz and the mission.

I'm hoping for: (1)Season 2 with same and new characters, (2)More military tactical situations, (3)More action and "gasp" moments haha, (4)They don't kill off my favorites haha.

This is a show I will be recommending to people! 10/10.

I'm a fan of yellowstone & most of Taylor Sheridan's work.

This however is a step too far.

Now obviously things need to go wrong to develop the plot, but wow! This group of apparent Special operatives are inept. They muck up every op they undertake. From the opening scene of letting the insurgents start attacking before they realise they might be bad guys to the ridiculous decision to use an unlikeable miserable woman (the main character) to make friends with a lively party going target.

I would happily just go along with it if it wasn't for the fact this stuff is supposed to be taken seriously.

Others here have already stated the main lead is painted as some kind of supergirl. And that is correct. She's like a terminator!

My main issue though is that she's really unlikeable.