Taylor Sheridan's Gritty 3-Part Spy Thriller Refuses To Back Down on Streaming

Published Oct 4, 2026, 6:44 AM EDT

Dyah (pronounced Dee-yah) is a Senior Author at Collider, responsible for both writing and transcription duties. She joined the website in 2022 as a Resource Writer before stepping into her current role in April 2023. As a Senior Author, she writes Features and Lists covering TV, music, and movies, making her a true Jill of all trades. In addition to her writing, Dyah also serves as an interview transcriber, primarily for events such as San Diego Comic-Con, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Sundance Film Festival.

Dyah graduated from Satya Wacana Christian University in October 2019 with a Bachelor's degree in English Literature, concentrating on Creative Writing. On March 2026, Dyah graduated with Master's degree in English Literature Studies, with a thesis on intersectionality in postcolonial-feminist studies in Asian literary works.

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Nearly two weeks after Season 3 of Lioness streamed its finale, the hype around Taylor Sheridan’s spy thriller still isn’t dying down. While Sheridan made a name for himself on television thanks to his neo-Western Yellowstone and its spin-offs, Lioness marks a return to his Sicario roots. Instead of cowboys and cattle ranchers, Zoe Saldaña plays CIA senior case officer Joe McNamara, who leads the effective yet provocative Lioness program.

Still, even the strongest people, like Joe herself, can end up crushed. Lioness doesn’t shy away from showing just how dangerous these missions can become, even for those who seem most prepared to handle them. That constant sense of danger is one reason why the series continues to draw record-breaking attention on the streaming charts, keeping audiences hooked even after the latest season ended.

'Lioness' Has Passed a Major Streaming Milestone

As of this writing, Lioness has now hit the 200-day mark on Paramount+'s most-watched shows in the U.S., and it's easy to see why. The spy thriller series is one of Sheridan’s darkest and most daring projects, featuring not just the CIA, but also its involvement in global conflicts that mirror the real world. Inspired by the real Lioness program, the show follows Joe as she carries out the program by recruiting female Army personnel to infiltrate the inner circles of state enemies who pose a threat to national security.

Season 1 introduces Marine Force Recon Cruz Manuelos (Laysla De Oliveira), who is assigned to get close to the daughter of a powerful oil tycoon who is supposedly funding terrorist groups. Season 2 builds on that foundation with reluctant recruit Josephina “Josie” Carrillo (Genesis Rodriguez), who has second thoughts about carrying out her Lioness mission when she realizes the true target is much closer to her than she realizes. But as the missions become more personal, Lioness doesn’t glorify the work these women are asked to do. With much of the protocol kept off the books, there is no guarantee they will be saved when their covers are blown, as any rescue risks a major blowout for the CIA’s public image.

'Lioness' Season 3 Takes a Bold Risk by Changing Its Formula

Over the past two seasons, Joe has been watching from the sidelines as she tails Cruz and Josie through their missions. However, Lioness Season 3 completely changes the show’s formula to avoid becoming redundant. One major change is how Season 3 shifts between past and present, showing how Joe’s past decisions and experiences eventually catch up with her in the present. By connecting these two timelines, the season shows that certain incidents in Lioness are never isolated.

Another major Season 3 change is that the series finally puts Joe in direct danger. She is ambushed at her own home—an act that even CIA officers would find blasphemous—and kidnapped by forces she knows nothing about. It’s the ultimate “the tables have turned” situation. For the first time in the series, Joe has absolutely no control over the situation, leaving her completely helpless.

'Lioness' Is Still Awaiting a Season 4 Renewal

Image via Paramount+

Although Paramount+ has yet to confirm a Season 4 renewal for Lioness, the massive Season 3 cliffhanger leaves plenty of questions for the show to explore. Joe finally comes to terms with the toll her job has taken on her and her family, showing her at her ugliest breaking point. But even more shocking is the return of a familiar face in the finale who seemingly reveals themselves as the puppeteer behind Season 3’s conflicts. The twist only highlights how futile government power can be against the ultra-rich, who have enough money and influence to move covert operatives from Russia, Ukraine, Iran, and beyond to do their bidding like pawns on a chessboard.

Speaking with Collider, Nicole Kidman, who plays senior CIA supervisor Kaitlyn Meade, shared her thoughts on a potential Season 4, explaining that she “doesn’t want to leave it there” because “they’ve only tipped the iceberg.” Season 4 might not be confirmed yet, but 2026 certainly isn’t the end of Sheridan’s television empire. In the months to come, Season 2 of Marshals premieres on October 4, while Season 4 of Tulsa King premieres on October 16. Sheridan has also been tapped to work on Season 3 of Landman and the Tulsa King spin-off Frisco King, among other projects. With Sheridan's track record, Season 3's cliffhanger, and Lioness’s record-breaking run on the streaming charts, an official Season 4 renewal seems like the natural next step.

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  Joe McNamara

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  Laysla De Oliveira

  Cruz Manuelos

Special Ops: Lioness is a Paramount+ original series starring Zoe Saldana and Nicole Kidman. The series centers on a marine and a CIA agent who work together with the daughter of a dangerous terrorist group to destroy the organization. Taylor Sheridan (Yellowstone co-creator) and Jill Wagner created the series, which was directed by Paul Cameron and Anthony Byrne.