The opening episode of Lioness season three, titled The Spider and The Fly, saw Joe McNamara (Zoe Saldaña) abducted close to her home as she set out for work. She was kidnapped while on the phone with her boss, Kaitlyn Meade (Nicole Kidman). The episode flashed back six months to a mission in Ukraine, where Joe was inserted into a team to capture Aleksi Yurimov, head of Putin's hybrid warfare Special Services Department. Creator Taylor Sheridan made a cameo as soldier Cody, who headed up the mission.
The season three opener ended on a tense note, with Joe's cover appearing to be blown, leaving fans desperate for the rest of the outing.
How many episodes are in Lioness season 3?
There are eight episodes in Lioness season three, matching the previous two runs. Episodes air weekly on Sundays on Paramount+. The season premiered on Sunday, August 2, and, according to the release schedule, will conclude on Sunday, September 20.
Here is the full release schedule:
- Episode 1 – August 2
- Episode 2 – August 9
- Episode 3 – August 16
- Episode 4 – August 23
- Episode 5 – August 30
- Episode 6 – September 6
- Episode 7 – September 13
- Episode 8 – September 20
Fan reaction to the premiere
Viewers took to social media to praise the opener. One person wrote on X: “Lioness is back for season 3 and that 1st episode was amazing from start to finish. I love Zoe Saldana #Lioness.”
Another said: “This is how you start a new season #Lioness episode 1 was so good!”
A third fan commented: “Well I’ll be damned Joe! That’s how u feeling this season. U couldn’t ease us into things?! I need the whole season NOW! #Lioness #LionessSeason3.”
Another viewer added: “Now I'm irritated cause they could have released the first 3 episodes of lioness this might be their best season premiere thus far. Incredible! #lioness.”
What to expect in season 3
According to Paramount+’s synopsis: “In Season Three, from creator and writer Taylor Sheridan, hidden networks, foreign operatives, and personal betrayals collide. Joe (Zoe Saldaña) walks the line between duty and home as unseen forces circle her world. Patterns appear where they shouldn’t, names vanish, and paths rearrange. Guided by Kaitlyn (Nicole Kidman) and Westfield (Michael Kelly), Joe confronts enemies operating in the shadows, leaving her to reckon with a war that now reaches into every part of her life.”
Lioness season 3 airs on Sundays on Paramount+.
