‘Lioness’ Season 2 Assessment – Zoe Saldana Is the Finest Asset of Taylor Sheridan’s Thriller Collection

It is no secret that Taylor Sheridan has made waves within the leisure trade, particularly at Paramount. Having pushed himself into the tv sphere again in 2018 along with his hit neo-Western drama Yellowstone, the previous few years have seen the filmmaker and author broaden his pursuits. In 2023, he added the drama sequence Lioness (previously titled Particular Ops: Lioness) to his repertoire, proving that long-form navy and spy thrillers are alive and effectively. With a strong forged that features Zoe Saldaña and Nicole Kidman — each of whom additionally function government producers — it is no marvel that Lioness was renewed for a second season. Having seen the primary 4 episodes of this sophomore outing, it is clear that Sheridan and firm have managed to increase the narrative as organically as attainable, providing hope for the way forward for this sequence.

‘Lioness’ Season 2 Thrives When It Blends Nation and Household

Final yr, I wrote a bit about why Lioness doesn’t need a second season. The irony of that assertion is that now I am the one penning this Season 2 evaluation, which has pressured me to eat no less than a few of my phrases. The best way Season 1 concluded, with an emotionally wrecked Joe (Saldaña) within the arms of her husband, Neal (Dave Annable), was certainly “a harrowing image to finish on.” Whereas there have been nonetheless some unfastened ends in want of tying up regarding Joe’s household, the primary plot was successfully completed. The mark that the season’s occasions left on these concerned, particularly Laysla De Oliveira‘s Sergeant Cruz Manuelos, was highly effective. Lioness had one thing actual, one thing harsh, to say about the best way navy operations are typically dealt with, and the profound impact that they will have on those that carry them out. In brief, Lioness Season 1 felt largely self-contained, and that was to the present’s profit. But, now right here we’re, with a Season 2 that goals to do the identical.

This season of Lioness goals increased than earlier than, and (if the primary 4 episodes are any indication) will hopefully stick the touchdown. Chief among the many present’s strengths, which has confirmed weightier this time round, is the conflicting relationship that Joe has with each her work and her household. On the one hand, there isn’t any one like her. She is the Lioness program, and with out her, it might not operate or perhaps even exist. Her willingness to throw herself within the hearth repeatedly and make it out nonetheless respiration is exceptional. As one of many present’s new characters places it within the Season 2 premiere, “Beware the previous soldier, he is previous for a motive.” Joe may not be that previous, however she’s definitely well-worn and battle-hardened. However, her household means every thing to her. They’re why she fights, even when each mission dangers turning her husband right into a widower and leaving her kids and not using a mom. It is a highly effective juxtaposition that little doubt feels actual to many navy households throughout the nation.

This stress between responsibility to nation and responsibility to household makes Lioness such a gripping sequence to look at. Certain, the gunfights are thrilling, and the camaraderie between Joe’s QRF is all the time pleasant — Jill Wagner, LaMonica Garrett, and James Jordan play off each other in addition to ever this season, with extra characters added in for good measure — however Lioness is such a compelling drama as a result of we perceive why Joe should proceed to place herself within the line of fireside, at the same time as we want greater than something that she would cease. However the place Season 1 largely centered round solely Joe’s struggles on this particular division, Season 2 ups the ante by spreading this theme out amongst a couple of character, particularly by way of newcomer Genesis Rodriguez, whose personal interpretation of this theme is much more lethal.

‘Lioness’ Season 2 Challenges Joe in Ways in which Echo Taylor Sheridan’s ‘Sicario’

Once more, Zoe Saldaña is the simplest asset on this sequence. The best way during which she switches from Joe the soldier to Joe the spouse and mom is very spectacular, at the same time as one identification begins to bleed into the opposite. Joe’s wrestle to reassimilate into on a regular basis life after having simply executed a number of enemy operatives is an impressed image, and Saldaña proves that she was the one lady for this function. There is a second within the first episode, after her workforce completes a mission, when she calls her household to test in. Whereas they’re again dwelling having a traditional breakfast, she’s out within the desert, holding again tears on the sound of their voices, wanting greater than something to carry them at that second. It is scenes like these which can be the true meat and potatoes of Lioness, with Sheridan giving his actors probably the most emotionally wealthy set of circumstances to work with. Frankly, Saldaña deserves an Emmy.

However that is not all there may be to like about Lioness this season. In my aforementioned article concerning the risks of giving Lioness a second season, I likewise famous that the present can be higher off following the instance of Sheridan’s most profound movement image, the 2015 Denis Villeneuve thriller Sicario. In some methods, the Paramount drama listened. Not solely does the central plot of this season contain the identical kinds of Mexican legal enterprises that Sheridan explored within the 2015 movie (full with a border crossing scene that, if one has seen Sicario, may need been anticipated to go one other course), however the hazards really feel way more actual, and extra private, than the international terrorist plot of yester-season. Joe’s wrestle to work extra intently with CIA colleague Kyle (Thad Luckinbill, who was, paradoxically, a producer on Sicario) feels considerably akin to Emily Blunt‘s relationship with Josh Brolin. Little doubt, it is an attention-grabbing dynamic so as to add to the present. To this point, Joe has solely ever had superiors or subordinates, however Season 2 pushes her into an unwelcome partnership with Kyle that solely makes an already delicate scenario all of the extra uneasy.

‘Lioness’ Season 2 Struggles With Pacing and Character Improvement

After all, Lioness is not an ideal sequence. There’s an argument to be made that the present runs at too sluggish a tempo at instances, particularly provided that that is meant to be a navy thriller. Whereas maybe not a good comparability, when put up in opposition to the Prime Video sequence The Terminal List, Lioness does not have the identical constant rise in temperature that retains one absolutely engaged. Having already watched half the season, it solely now feels as if the plot is beginning to transfer alongside once more after the premiere, which, when translated right into a weekly launch format, will seemingly really feel like an eternity. Whether or not that is intentional as a commentary on the slow-moving forms that’s the military-industrial complicated or just over-indulgent storytelling is unclear. If the previous, then the present is doing an excellent job by inserting extra authorities conferences into the narrative and, successfully, giving Michael Kelly, Morgan Freeman, and Martin Donovan somewhat bit extra to do. If the latter, and I extremely suspect that that is the case (as Sheridan tends to belabor his plots), then the hope is that the again half of the season will be capable of reconcile with that. It makes one marvel if Lioness Season 2 would have been more practical as a film or perhaps a shorter miniseries.

Moreover, the present does not appear fairly positive what it needs to do with a few of its supporting forged. Neal is nice at any time when Joe is dwelling, or he is doing one thing dad-like with their women, however the second the present pivots again to his work as a surgeon (one who offers with cancer-ridden kids), we marvel why the present introduced it up in any respect. Did Sheridan simply wish to remind us what Neal does for a dwelling? Is that this going to one way or the other issue into Joe’s household struggles in a while? Or was it simply an excuse to present Annable one thing to do? Likewise, whereas Bobby (Wagner) will get somewhat extra improvement this season, we nonetheless know little or no about Tucker (LaGarrett), Two Cups (Jordan), and the others on the Lioness QRF. Possibly we actually do not want to know that a lot about a few of these guys (particularly since they’ve made a degree to not share private histories with sure newcomers), however given how a lot of Season 1 targeted on exploring Joe and Cruz, wouldn’t it kill the sequence to present us greater than caricature troopers right here? Now that Kyle and members of his workforce have additionally been added to the combo, it is getting more durable to maintain a few of them straight.

Then there’s Nicole Kidman, who’s phenomenal as all the time right here, and so far as the problems with Season 2 are involved, her efficiency just isn’t one. The best way her character can mentor Joe with out ever belittling her is simply flawless, and her scenes with Saldaña are all the time a spotlight. However Kaitlyn is extra concerned in Joe’s operation this time round, or, no less than, the present tells us she’s extra concerned. What that truly means continues to be a bit complicated, since she solely ever steps foot on Lioness base camp as soon as within the first 4 episodes. Greater than that, when Joe asks if Kaitlyn goes to be overseeing her “on the bottom,” her superior responds with an ominous “everybody’s watching on this one,” however then spends many of the season nonetheless participating in closed-door or D.C. restaurant conferences. Possibly Kaitlyn’s place within the company offers her a go on the subject of her function on the sequence, however given that Kidman is an EP on this present, it is virtually a disgrace she is not given extra attention-grabbing materials to work with.

‘Lioness’ Is Headed within the Proper Path With Season 2

Lioness generally is a robust present to look at. Its real-world violence and darkish geopolitical overtones are definitely not for everybody, neither is a few of the TV-MA materials riddled all through. But, no less than these first two issues are important in reinforcing the sequence’ most compelling themes of twin identification, the battle between nation and household, and the hazards concerned with maintaining the American public secure. Lioness is predicated on the real-life workforce, in spite of everything, and whereas the series differs from the true story, its dedication to analyzing the real psychological results of those operations is each admirable and daunting. As civilians, it may be difficult to attempt to perceive the kinds of hardships these within the U.S. Armed Forces face, and Lioness does its finest to point out how all of that performs out — each within the discipline and off it. Season 2 is definitely a step in the proper course for this sequence and leads us to hope Sheridan will pursue extra thriller tasks sooner or later.

Lioness Season 2 premieres on Paramount+ on October 27.

Watch on Paramount+