The ending of ‘Lioness’ season three explained: who was behind Joe’s kidnapping?

The Lioness season three finale brought back a character from the past to answer the season’s biggest mystery.

Created by Taylor Sheridan, the spy thriller series follows senior CIA officer Joe McNamara who enlists female operatives, known as Lionesses, to go undercover in the war on terror.

• READ MORE: ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ review: Nicole Kidman’s wellness retreat fails to soothe the soul

A synopsis for the third season reads: “Joe walks the line between duty and home as unseen forces circle her world. Guided by Kaitlyn and Westfield, Joe confronts enemies operating in the shadows, leaving her to reckon with a war that now reaches into every part of her life.”

Zoe Saldaña and Nicole Kidman lead the show’s cast, alongside Morgan Freeman, Michael Kelly, Laysla De Oliveira, Dave Annable, Jill Wagner, LaMonica Garrett, James Jordan and Genesis Rodriguez.

WATCH

All eight episodes of Lioness season three are available on Paramount+.

Who planned Joe’s kidnapping in Lioness season 3?

In the closing scene of the finale, we discover Aaliyah Amrohi (Stephanie Nur) is the one who ordered Joe’s (Zoe Saldaña) kidnapping.

If you need a refresher, Aaliyah was affected by Cruz’s (Laysla De Oliveira) actions in season one. Cruz befriended Aaliyah to get close to her father Asmar Ali Amrohi (Bassem Youssef), who was a terrorist financier, in order to kill him. Cruz eventually killed Asmar, but in the process, she also inadvertently killed Aaliyah’s fiancé Ehsan (Ray Corasani).

The reveal in the season three finale proves Aaliyah is out for revenge against Joe and Cruz, both for the death of her father and her fiancé.

What else happens in the finale?

In the emotional gut-punch of the episode, Joe arrives home only to find a “For Sale” sign on the lawn. The bedrooms have all been emptied, and a note from her husband Neal (Dave Annable) makes it clear her family has decided to leave.

Joe collapses in her daughters’ bedroom, realising that while she’s spent her whole career trying to protect the country, it’s come at the cost of her own family.