If you're on the hunt for a new series to binge, look no further than this pulse-pounding thriller starring Zoe Saldaña, Morgan Freeman and Nicole Kidman – season one is available on Netflix right now.
Special Ops: Lioness Returns for Season Three
Recently, Paramount Plus unveiled the trailer for series three of its original programme Special Ops: Lioness. The show's return is scheduled to premiere on August 2 - with the inaugural series currently streaming on Netflix.
The adrenaline-fuelled drama claimed a position in Netflix's prestigious top 10 chart last October. And, boasting a lineup brimming with Hollywood stars including Morgan Freeman, Nicole Kidman and Zoe Saldaña, I quickly grasped why.
If you're seeking something brisk, uncomplicated and gripping, without demanding extensive contemplation, this engrossing series might be precisely what you need. It came recommended to me by my parents.
When they revealed they were viewing a programme titled 'Lioness', I initially presumed it concerned the England women's football team. However, as thrilling as clinching the Euros twice consecutively was, Lioness is an altogether different form of thriller.
It follows CIA operatives as they embark on a dangerous undercover mission to stop the next 9/11.
It is available on streaming services like Netflix, ITVX, Amazon Prime Video and Paramount.
Star-Studded Cast and Gripping Plot
The principal character is played by Avatar star Zoe Saldaña, who additionally serves as executive producer on the programme, and it focuses on the operative juggling motherhood with her job leading an undercover unit on high-risk missions as she sends her new marine recruit out onto the field.
The first season launched in 2023 and was written by Taylor Sheridan, the mastermind behind Yellowstone.
Similar to Yellowstone, Lioness skilfully portrays the intricacies of family dynamics and relationships, although Taylor's CIA thriller also provides considerably more explosive action sequences, especially throughout its high-octane military operations.
While being a fictional drama, Lioness takes its inspiration from an authentic CIA programme which deployed female military operatives on assignments in war zones including Iraq and Afghanistan.
Nicole Kidman also stars in the show.
Within the series, the previously mentioned Zoe Saldaña, who plays Joe, manages Lionesses who penetrate terrorist organisations by forming connections with the relatives or daughters of high-priority targets.
Numerous scenes are brilliantly tense, and this reviewer discovered it equally as gripping - perhaps even more so - than Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan featuring John Krasinski on Prime Video.
While it might not secure its position in television history alongside timeless classics such as The Sopranos or The Wire, Lioness turned out to be a thoroughly entertaining watch, and amongst the best programmes I viewed last year.
Additional standout series from 2025, which is when I watched Lioness, include Adolescence and Say Nothing, both of which were arguably deeper, more emotionally resonant and more nuanced than Taylor's programme.
However, as a parent of two children aged three and under, the infrequent moments I manage to sit down in front of the television at night require something readily bingeable that doesn't demand excessive mental energy.
The show features some tense moments.
That's exactly why Special Op: Lioness proved ideal - it needed minimal concentration following an exhausting day, yet remained fast-paced and gripping enough to maintain my interest throughout all eight action-filled episodes. Without divulging any spoilers, one of the most captivating elements of Lioness was that it steered clear of the oversimplified formula of villain vanquished and virtue victorious.
Its ending was far more subtle, leaving it to viewers to decide whether the resolution was ultimately positive or not.
The groundbreaking series, which convinced me to sign up to Paramount+ for season two (equally successful), provided a satisfying ending, with the closing scenes feeling genuine rather than manufactured purely for entertainment purposes.
The trailer for season three has amassed 4.4 million views, suggesting I'm far from alone in holding high expectations for its comeback.
