Alright, fellow Lioness fanatics, you asked for it, and here it is: a no-holds-barred, spoiler-heavy dive into everything that’s gone down in both seasons of this intense Paramount+ series. If you’re not caught up, stop reading now unless you want every shocking twist revealed!
Season 1: Cruz’s Initiation into the Lioness Program
Season 1 introduces us to Joe McNamara (Zoe Saldaña), a seasoned CIA officer leading the highly classified “Lioness” program. Her job? To recruit female operatives to infiltrate the inner circles of dangerous targets. The season kicks off with a brutal reminder of the stakes, as Joe loses an operative in the field, forcing her to call in an airstrike that kills her own asset to prevent torture.
Enter Cruz Manuelos (Laysla De Oliveira), a Force Recon Marine with a troubled past who joins the Lioness program. Joe immediately sees something in Cruz, putting her through intense SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) training. It’s grueling, both physically and mentally, and it establishes just how far Cruz is willing to go.
The primary mission of Season 1 is to take down Asmar Ali Amrohi, a powerful Iranian businessman and financier of terrorist operations. The key to getting to him is his daughter, Aaliyah (Stephanie Nur). Cruz, under the alias “Zara Adid,” is tasked with befriending Aaliyah and gaining her trust.
This is where things get complicated. Cruz and Aaliyah develop a genuine, passionate relationship. It muddies the waters for Cruz, who struggles with the emotional and moral implications of using her connection with Aaliyah to get to her father. Joe pushes Cruz, reminding her of the horrors these terrorists inflict.
The climax arrives at Aaliyah’s wedding in Mallorca, Spain. Aaliyah’s fiancé, Ehsan Al Rashdi, discovers Cruz’s true identity and confronts her. In a tense confrontation, Cruz kills both Ehsan and Asmar. She’s successfully extracted by Joe and the QRF team, but the experience leaves her shattered and deeply disillusioned. She confronts Joe, accusing her of turning her into a monster, and declares she’s done with the Lioness program and with Joe. Joe, too, is profoundly affected by the mission, contemplating leaving fieldwork for a desk job. The season ends with both women reeling from the high cost of their “success.”
Season 2: A New Threat and a New Lioness
Despite her desire to step back, Joe is pulled back into action in Season 2. The new threat hits closer to home: the abduction of a U.S. Congresswoman on American soil. This leads the CIA to identify the Los Tigres cartel in Mexico, led by Alvaro Carrillo, as the perpetrators.
With Cruz out of commission (at least initially), a new “Lioness” is introduced: Captain Josephina “Josie” Carrillo (Genesis Rodriguez). Josie is a highly decorated U.S. Army helicopter pilot, and, crucially, she’s Alvaro’s niece. The plan is for Josie to be dishonorably discharged from the Army, which will draw her uncle’s attention and allow her to infiltrate the cartel.
The season explores the complexities of working with various U.S. agencies, including the DEA, as the mission in Mexico expands beyond just drug trafficking. Joe and her team make a shocking discovery: the cartel is also involved in human trafficking, using their network to move women and children. This adds another layer of urgency and moral conflict to the mission.
While the focus is on Josie’s undercover work and the direct action missions of Joe’s team, we also see the continued strain on Joe’s personal life as she tries to balance her demanding job with her family. Nicole Kidman’s character, Kaitlyn Meade, Joe’s boss, also faces increased pressure and even a personal threat as someone breaks into her home.
The action in Season 2 is intense, often involving direct military clashes. The QRF team, including Bobby, Tucker, and Two Cups, are heavily involved in the operations, supporting Josie and Joe. The lines between intelligence gathering and overt military action blur, leading to more casualties and difficult choices.
While the cartel’s network is disrupted and the immediate threat addressed, Season 2, much like Season 1, doesn’t offer a clean, happy ending. The emotional toll on the operatives, particularly Josie and Joe, is palpable. The series continues to explore the idea that in this world, there are no easy victories, and every “win” comes at a significant personal cost. The ending of Season 2 leaves the door open for future conflicts, as the fight against these global threats is seemingly endless.
There you have it – all the major spoilers from both seasons of Lioness! What do you think will happen next? Let’s discuss!
