One of my favorite shows of 2023 has returned, and it's better than ever!
A new mission lies ahead for the Lioness crew, despite the deep disillusionment experienced by the three main women in season 1. Rookie operative Cruz Manuelos (Laysla De Oliveira) suffered torture and was conditioned to kill. Lioness leader Kaitlyn Meade (Nicole Kidman) realized that their activities in the Middle East were driven more by financial gain than by the fight against terrorism, while lead officer Joe (Zoe Saldaña) struggled to convince herself that her terrible actions were warranted.
A Texas congresswoman is kidnapped and taken across the border into Mexico. The mission to retrieve her is wild to watch. Joe and her team of gray operatives successfully cross into Mexico without drawing attention to their weapons and neutralized a cartel patrol. As the kidnapped congresswoman was being transported, they managed to time a car collision just right which enabled the team to seize their target.
Numerous armed vehicles, including Mexican police then give chase. Joe and her crew stop in the middle of a busy road, taking cover inside their Suburban to engage their attackers. This scene was a stand-out of the first episode. They then jumped back in and raced toward the border on a dusty path that led to an eight-foot drop into the river. The pursuers set up on the riverbank and opened fire until U.S. air support arrived in the form of a badass helicopter pilot, giving Joe and her team the chance to swim to their extraction boats.
The firefight that had a surprise guest star - show creator Taylor Sheridan himself. Sheridan wrote all of season 2 himself and directed the first two episodes. Paramount certainly gave him a sizable budget, as Lioness feels very cinematic.
In the second episode of Season 2, Joe reunites with the QRF team from the Lioness program, which includes Bobby, Tucker, Two Cups, Randy, and Tex. Kyle introduces the group to the Los Tigres cartel, led by Alvaro Carillo. Alvaro has a brother, Pablo Carillo, who works as a government officer in the United States. Although they are siblings, Pablo was separated from Alvaro during childhood and built his life in America. While there haven't been any clear ties between them recently, Pablo’s lavish mansion suggests otherwise.
The CIA suspects that Pablo used money from his cartel connections to finance the mansion. His daughter, Josephina Carillo, is a highly regarded Army pilot with over eight hundred confirmed kills. Kyle and Kaitlyn Meade present her as a potential recruit for the Lioness program. Although Joe initially seems inclined to dismiss the idea due to her colleague's arrogance, her superior emphasizes that Josephina is the ideal candidate for the role. True to her leadership style, Kaitlyn prioritizes national interests and decides to bring the pilot on board. The plan involves publicly discharging her from the Army in a way that will attract the attention of her uncle, Alvaro Carillo.
After a fiery confrontation, Joe and Josephina officially meet and discuss Josephina's uncle. Joe repeatedly asks her if she loves her country, and Josephina dodges the question before Josephina confirms she does, and is then recruited into the Lioness program.
Lioness is incredibly dark, raw, and rough, tackling issues from various perspectives. I'm very excited to see the rest of the season!
