Lioness

Synopsis

Follow a CIA Ground Branch Operative that is called in to take part in specialized missions. Specifically missions where a female combatant is the best way in. She must continually make choices to sacrifice the Lioness and save her team, or to save to make the play for all of them.

Review

This show is infuriating. There are so many things wrong with the gun fights, the Lionesses, the [demographics], and writing. However, it is a wildly entertaining story that you enjoy because the season is short. Only 8 episodes, therefore there aren't a lot of filler episodes which is so nice.

So my complaints about the gun fights are pretty simple. There are people using a semi-automatic weapon but the sound coming from them is full auto, and they aren't changing magazines at all. Burned through 300+ rounds and nothing. Then there is the time that the sound from the pistol is a suppressed sound, but it doesn't have a suppressor. It happens all the time, almost every episode. Plus there are times when they are aiming at rocks and getting hits…

So let us talk about the Lionesses and that will lead us into the demographics. So between season 1 and season 2 there are two different Lionesses. The first one almost compromises the mission by "falling in love" with the person they are supposed to exploit to get close to the father. In season 2, that same person shows up and sleeps with the mark and in turn almost compromises the mission. Also, the two characters have the same temperament, just different background, and somehow are both bisexual. I have no problem with that, but it is just a lazy bit of story that played no part in the second season. The second season also focused on Mexican cartels which required them to have a Latino/Mexican lioness. The first season the target was from an Arab country, and they choose a Latino to play an Arab since they "look" close enough. LAZY.

All of this leads into the writing. The first season Zoe's character is this ice block of a warrior. She plays her character well, and it doesn't miss. The second season, she flips back and forth between being "the highest ranking person on any f-ing base that I am on" to someone who cries every episode. I have no issues with people crying and them having an emotional side, but EVERY woman, minus one, cries in each episode. It just wasn't needed to make people believe that they are something other than operators. Also, the main stories of each season have paralleled Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan so far. Does it bother me? No, if you are going to copy a show, that is a great one to copy, but you could at least tried a bit harder to diversify the season line up.

All of those gripes out of the way, this show is so good. Each episode has great tradecraft, suspense, espionage, and action that you really do get dragged into the show. It isn't until they focus on some of the characters that you lose interest. Then the next episode happens and the action is heavy, kick-ass, and in your face. That is what keeps you involved. There isn't a time when you don't think the main characters are going to die, or be wounded for more than a sneeze, but you still enjoy the story.

One more thing. Cruz is a Marine, but they give her an Army rank in the second season. She then still calls herself a Marine. Personal pet-peeve.

My Rating

I absolutely have issues with this show. However, that is because I spent 10 years in the Marines and 5 years as a contractor. I know what should happen, the sounds weapons make, the way things should be done, etc. We also have movies like the John Wick Series and TV shows like Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan that prove you can have more realistic gun fights without it taking away from the show. You can have people get hurt and have them down and out. I have worked with some amazing Female Engagement Teams and know that they are hard chargers and this show does a great job of showing their capabilities and strengths. However, it also does a shit job of showing them to be more than just a tool for senior leadership to use at times. Then we flip back to the action, and I am in. My wife and I were yelling at the TV watching this because things were just stupid, but then we would start the next episode because it is a good show. The crap I complain about doesn't take away from the spy thriller this show is. I would like a bit more depth to it, as the episodes are 45–52 minutes, but I still enjoy it. This is an 8.

Parental Rating

Hmmm. I am not sure how to rate this for them. The second season works hard to show the ups and downs of Zoe's character's home life. How she tries to balance work and home. Is it well done, yeah, but is it enough of focus for my mom to watch? No. There is a crap ton of language, and either heavy petting or nudity on multiple episodes. There is blood and gore throughout the show. I am going to say "Rejected" by my mom. While my dad would be angry at the show and complain the whole time, I think he would enjoy it. I am going to say approved by him.

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