Paramount+’s new espionage drama Special Ops: Lioness, created by Taylor Sheridan and starring Nicole Kidman alongside Zoe Saldaña, has arrived with a buzz that suggests the streaming world has a fresh contender for high-stakes spy thrillers. From its explosive premise involving female-led counterterrorism operations to a star-studded ensemble cast, the show promises suspense, intrigue, and jaw-dropping action. Yet, beneath the cinematic gloss and tension-filled set pieces lies a critical flaw: its emotional core, anchored by Saldaña’s portrayal of CIA Station Chief Joe, often fails to land in the way viewers might expect.

A Female-Led Mission with Global Stakes

The series immediately stakes its claim as ambitious television. Joe, played by Zoe Saldaña, is tasked with leading the secretive “Lioness” program, a covert initiative designed to train young female agents to infiltrate and dismantle terrorist networks. The premise, while familiar in spy-fiction terms, is elevated by its focus on women in positions of authority within the traditionally male-dominated world of international intelligence. Kidman plays Kaitlyn Meade, a senior program overseer whose calm, controlled presence serves as a foil to Joe’s unrelenting intensity. Meanwhile, Michael Kelly’s Donald Westfield adds the necessary bureaucratic gravitas, operating in the shadows of high-stakes espionage.

At the heart of the narrative is Marine Lance Corporal Cruz Manuelos (Laysla De Oliveira), who is sent undercover to befriend the daughter of a high-value target. Her assignment is simple in theory but nearly impossible in execution: gain the trust of the target’s family, uncover the inner workings of an extremist organization, and neutralize a threat that could destabilize regions halfway across the globe. The potential for tension, moral conflict, and human drama is immense.

When a Star-Packed Cast Can’t Save Emotional Gaps

Saldaña’s Joe is crafted as a figure of relentless determination and hardened professionalism. However, critics and viewers alike have noted that her performance often borders on emotionally inaccessible. While her character is meant to reflect the personal cost of espionage—the sacrifices, moral compromises, and psychological toll—the series rarely gives her moments of vulnerability. Scenes exploring Joe’s strained domestic life with her husband (played by Dave Annable) are underdeveloped, leaving audiences disconnected from the personal stakes that are supposed to humanize her.

By contrast, Laysla De Oliveira as Cruz offers flashes of nuance. Her interactions with Stephanie Nur’s Aaliyah, the young girl at the center of the mission, become the series’ most emotionally resonant moments. Nur’s performance, tender yet conflicted, injects humanity into what is otherwise a procedural-heavy narrative. Yet these storylines arrive late, meaning that much of the season passes without fully exploring the potential depth of these characters.

Balancing Action, Espionage, and Character Development

From a structural standpoint, Special Ops: Lioness attempts to juggle multiple genres: spy thriller, political drama, military procedural, and character study. Unfortunately, the series struggles to balance these elements. While Sheridan’s direction ensures that action sequences are slick, high-intensity, and visually arresting, the supporting cast often feels underwritten. Characters outside the main trio of Joe, Kaitlyn, and Cruz often serve as functional plot devices, with little depth beyond archetypal roles: the tech whiz, the field operative, the by-the-book officer.

Visually, the series impresses. The cinematography spans international locations, blending sleek surveillance setups, dimly lit safehouses, and meticulously choreographed action scenes. Lighting and color palettes are cinematic, highlighting Sheridan’s signature style, while the production design ensures that every set—from covert headquarters to bustling airports—feels grounded in reality. For viewers accustomed to the polished world of Slow Horses or Homeland, Lioness delivers in style.

Where the Series Stumbles: Dialogue and Tone

Despite its technical strengths, the writing often falters. Dialogue is heavy with profanity, sometimes feeling inserted for shock value rather than character development or realism. Scenes that should explore trauma, ethical dilemmas, or the consequences of violence are occasionally undercut by rapid pacing, leaving little room for reflection. Moments involving sexual assault or psychological manipulation are treated with abrupt resolution, risking the impression that the narrative prioritizes spectacle over authenticity.

Highlight Performances and Character Dynamics

Stephanie Nur’s Aaliyah emerges as the unexpected emotional heart of the series. Her character grapples with fear, trust, and identity while navigating life under the shadow of both terrorist threats and CIA oversight. De Oliveira’s Cruz, meanwhile, embodies the tension between duty and conscience. These characters provide glimpses of what Lioness could have been if it committed fully to its human elements. The dynamic between the two offers viewers a layered depiction of moral ambiguity rarely seen in spy dramas, particularly when viewed through the lens of gender, culture, and age.

Nicole Kidman’s Kaitlyn Meade serves as the seasoned overseer whose calm authority anchors the program’s high-stakes operations. Although she is often relegated to background guidance rather than front-line action, her presence is magnetic. The contrast between her composed, strategic mindset and Saldaña’s relentless field intensity should be central to the drama, yet the series does not fully exploit the tension between these approaches.

Michael Kelly’s Donald Westfield represents the bureaucratic machinery behind covert operations. While not central to the story’s emotional arc, his presence reminds viewers that espionage is not merely about action—it is a web of politics, risk management, and interpersonal negotiation.

The Tactical Thrills Are Real—but Not Enough

Action sequences in Lioness are executed with precision. Explosions, high-speed chases, and undercover stings are all filmed with the clarity and suspense that Sheridan is known for. Yet, as critics have pointed out, action alone cannot compensate for a lack of character depth. Episodes often feel like a checklist of spy-thriller tropes: reconnaissance, infiltration, interrogation, extraction. While these elements are exciting, they rarely leave a lasting emotional impression.

This is particularly true in scenes involving Joe’s family. The narrative hints at personal sacrifices, but domestic and romantic subplots lack chemistry and resonance. Without investment in the characters’ inner lives, the show’s most intimate stakes fall flat.

Cultural Commentary and Gender Perspectives

Lioness distinguishes itself from other espionage dramas through its focus on female operatives navigating power structures that are both hierarchical and patriarchal. The series explores themes of identity, moral compromise, and cultural negotiation, particularly through Cruz and Aaliyah. Their arcs highlight the intersection of youth, gender, and operational responsibility, offering viewers a glimpse of the moral complexity inherent in intelligence work. Unfortunately, these explorations arrive late and are often secondary to the plot-driven focus on missions and tactical maneuvers.

The Finale: A Glimpse of What Could Have Been

The final episode of Special Ops: Lioness elevates the narrative, providing emotional weight that was largely absent in earlier installments. Key character arcs are resolved, and the relationships between Joe, Cruz, and Aaliyah achieve the resonance viewers had been waiting for. By the season’s end, the series hints at the potential for a truly character-driven spy drama, suggesting that future seasons could expand upon these storylines more effectively.

A Series of Missed Opportunities

Ultimately, Special Ops: Lioness is a technically accomplished, fast-paced spy thriller with a compelling premise and strong performances from secondary cast members. Yet the series is held back by an emotionally distant lead and underdeveloped supporting characters. While visually stunning and action-packed, it struggles to balance spectacle with the human depth that modern audiences crave in high-stakes drama.

The Verdict: Entertainment With Caveats

For viewers seeking a glossy, action-oriented spy drama, Special Ops: Lioness delivers plenty: explosions, covert missions, international intrigue, and star power. But for those hoping for the nuanced emotional storytelling of Slow Horses or The Night Manager, the series may feel unsatisfying. Its greatest triumph is its potential; its greatest failure is underutilized human drama.

The show is streaming now on Paramount+, and while it may not fully live up to its promise, it remains a watchable, engaging series for fans of espionage thrillers and political intrigue.