Zoe Saldana and Nicole Kidman lead a starry cast in this drama about an elite all-woman unit of marines. It’s absolute nonsense, but it’s solid, action-packed entertainment
Blimey, but Special Ops: Lioness is some brilliantly executed nonsense! This is nothing but a compliment, by the way. Full-blooded, uncynical nonsense is a vital part of a well-balanced TV diet, but it is difficult to do. There’s only so much Succession steak and fibrous slices of documentary you can eat, you know.
Lioness is inspired by a real-life CIA programme that used female military personnel, first simply to search local women during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and then to distribute information among them and gather information. Creator Taylor Sheridan (Mayor of Kingstown, Yellowstone and its prequels, Tulsa King, among much else) takes that premise, adds a starry cast led by Zoe Saldana, including Nicole Kidman and Morgan Freeman, and runs with it.
Special Ops: Lioness is on Paramount+
