SerpApi.Org
Leave it to Taylor Sheridan to make an action-packed series. Even Yellowstone, which should be about a bunch of Montana cowboys looking after cattle and building fences, spent five seasons delivering tense stories about revenge and protecting the family business by any means necessary. The new spin-off, Dutton Ranch, maintains the formula (this time with a Texan setting), while Marshals leans more heavily into the action, putting the cows on the sidelines (poor cows). But, in 2023, Taylor Sheridan released his most action-heavy series so far, one that even rivals his 2015 movie Sicario. With a new season fast approaching, the hit action thriller is already one of the biggest shows on streaming.
With a fantastic cast, led by Zoe Saldaña, Spec Ops: Lioness (or, just Lioness) is currently one of the biggest shows on Paramount+. Unlike some of his other shows, where Sheridan takes an executive producing role and hands the reins off to somebody else, Taylor Sheridan created and showruns Lioness, taking a more hands-on approach to the production. After two fantastic seasons, Lioness Season 3 releases on Aug 2, and fans are already re-watching the series in preparation.
Taylor Sheridan is completely taking over Paramount+, as several of his high-profile shows are trending on the streamer. Dutton Ranch is currently the number one series, also pushing Yellowstone and Marshals up the streaming charts, and Landman remains one of the streamer's biggest hits. It might not be his most high-profile series, but Lioness is certainly one of Taylor Sheridan's best, and it's the ninth most popular series on Paramount+ right now. Not only is it one of the biggest shows, but it has also remained in the top 10 for over four months. That's an impressive feat in its own right. But, considering how many big shows Paramount+ has (it's the home of all the new Star Trek releases), that's a major achievement.
'Lioness' Puts the Action in Action Thriller
Unlike Rip Wheeler's fist fights or Kayce Dutton losing his temper in Yellowstone, Lioness is an action thriller through and through. The series follows CIA operative Joe McNamara, who leads one of the CIA's most important missions against the war on terror. But the stress of the mission and her complicated personal life often intertwine, complicating things for everybody involved. The series also stars Laysla De Olivaria, Genesis Rodriguez, Stephanie Nur, Nicole Kidman, Jill Wagner, and Morgan Freeman.
Season 1 got off to a rough start, holding a 54% Rotten Tomatoes score. But the series quickly found its footing, improving its critics' score to a tremendous 90%. As well as its fantastic cast and Taylor Sheridan's character-focused writing, the series also has a Paramount-sized budget. The action is done practically, with intense shootouts, standoffs, and tense confrontations filling every episode. If you wanted to see Kayce Dutton put his Navy SEAL skills to use more in Yellowstone, then you need to watch Lioness.
Can 'Lioness' Season 3 Continue the Growing Trend?
There's a lot riding on Season 3 of Lioness. The series is already one of Sheridan's most underappreciated shows, so maybe the third season can push it into the mainstream. Given the growth between Seasons 1 and 2, the third season will confirm whether the series really is one of Sheridan's best, or whether Season 2's fantastic run was a one-off.
