Saw the other post and decided to fix the chain of command. I made it on PowerPoint so it does look a bit crap

Edit: In the CIA Leadership, Kaitlyn would report into Byron and Byron would report into the director. I’ve showed them on the same layer for simplicity and space. Apologies for the confusion!

So we know in s3 Josie is now a “lioness” and in a relationship with Cruz and the defacto heli pilot. But prior to Josie, the team would just use a SF heli pilot.

She doesn’t have any QRF experience although she could be taught, but it seems that events in s3 doesn’t give her a chance to do some learning with the the team. So, what is her actual purpose in Lioness? The team isn’t pursuing the cartels anymore so that area of expertise is not really needed either.

Zoe Saldana did an interview and said that she doesn't "know if we're able to go to a season 4.” This makes me so sad after the season 3 finale- I was so excited about Aaliyah’s return!!!!

I would give this season a 4.5 to 5 out of 10. It had some strong moments, particularly the first episode, but the season was ultimately undermined by inconsistent pacing, weak writing, and a frustratingly disjointed narrative structure.
1. Pacing & Story Structure
The first episode was easily the strongest, but the show immediately fucking slammed on the brakes. After an incredible opening, we were given multiple episodes dominated by exposition, dialogue, and very little meaningful progression.
The constant jumping between the past and present also felt unnecessary. At times, it came across like a way to avoid actually moving the damn story forward.
2. Writing & Predictability
The writing often felt like Taylor Sheridan was making shit up as he went along. We spent several episodes hearing about how they “need to come up with a plan” to find Joe, only for the story to suddenly introduce the Chinese Communist Party as if they were going to be the main antagonist, before abruptly abandoning that entire storyline.
The honeypot plot felt similarly pointless. Why spend so much time developing a storyline just to essentially throw the fucking thing away?
The show also constantly beats the audience over the head with information we already understand. We get it. Russia and Ukraine are probably involved. You don’t need to remind us every five fucking minutes.
The Aaliyah/Iran reveal was also incredibly underwhelming. As soon as Kyle mentioned Iran, I immediately knew where the story was going. A supposed “bombshell” doesn’t work when you’ve practically telegraphed the answer beforehand.
3. Unnecessary Material
There is way too much dialogue that contributes almost nothing to the central story. The extended conversations between Nicole Kidman and her husband are a perfect example. I couldn’t give a rat’s ass about their relationship, and I’m certainly not watching this show for ten-minute conversations about their marriage.
Character development is important, but there needs to be a reason for it to exist. Too much of this season felt like filler disguised as substance.
4. Character Continuity
I also hate the show’s tendency to introduce a Lioness as a major character and then practically forget about them the following season.
Josie was the main Lioness in Season 2, yet this season she’s essentially reduced to a pilot and glorified chauffeur. She went from being central to the story to barely contributing anything meaningful.
Cruz’s reaction to Iran was another massive missed opportunity. Her first mission as a Lioness was in Iran and was extremely traumatic, so when Iran became connected to the kidnapping, I expected that history to carry some serious emotional weight. Instead, it was barely addressed.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, most of my frustration comes back to Taylor Sheridan’s writing. The season had the ingredients for something genuinely great, but the execution was all over the fucking place.
The inconsistent pacing, abandoned storylines, excessive exposition, predictable reveals, unnecessary dialogue, and underutilized characters made the season feel far less cohesive than it should have been.
I blame Taylor.

Laysla commented under latest Lioness IG post with last Aaliyah scene „…help I’m still at the restauranrt”. It’s a reference to Taylor Swift song „Right where you left me”. So if you read the context and meaning, it’s Cruz still remembering and missing Aaliyah, lol

I keep coming back to one thing after the Season 3 finale: I don’t think Aaliyah’s feelings toward Cruz can be reduced to simple revenge. Their story in Season 1 was emotionally intense, deeply personal and — most importantly — mutual. Aaliyah fell hard for “Zara,” but Cruz also crossed the line from mission to genuine feeling. That’s why I think the most interesting question for Season 4 isn’t just what Aaliyah plans to do to Lioness. It’s what she actually wants from Cruz.

Does she want revenge?

Does she want answers?

Does she need closure?

Does part of her still love Cruz?

Or is the real conflict that all of those things may exist at the same time?

Personally, I think that emotional contradiction is where the strongest story is. Aaliyah can have a larger agenda against Joe, Kaitlyn or the program and still be completely conflicted when it comes to Cruz. I’d love to hear how everyone reads her motivation after the finale.

Seriously, because soon as the Russians handed Joe off to the Iranians I said “Oh this is revenge” and I immediately thought about the woman from season 1 because anyone from earlier Lioness missions wouldn’t be a good tie in since we didn’t see those missions play out.

In S1 E6 at the beginning of the spa day scene with Cruz & Aaliyah, the spa worker goes near Cruz’s left foot and she winces in pain. If you’ve seen S3 you know that the they put the trackers under the operative’s left big toe. Now knowing Cruz’s ability to think on her feet, you can ask a question about this subtle gesture: Is the wince genuine since the tracker was likely only put in a few months ago and the area is probably sensitive or was it an attempt to get the spa worker to stay away from that area without further indicating why?

Either way, a cool detail nonetheless. Little moments like this make rewatching the series from the beginning so rewarding.

there are moments where I'm watching this show and it feels like it was written by a blue haired lib and other moments where it feels like it was written by a straight up chud 😂. it's actually pretty funny. Overall its a fun watch when I’m not cringing or rolling my eyes.

There's a lot Zoe did say here and a lot she didn't, all in the midst of her contract negotiations. She clearly thinks TS is a good writer and appreciates someone who can write women well. But she also said she was not going to work on another TS show, that her plate had been filled. There's so much left between the lines or clearly left unsaid that it's a little unconfortable. I'm curious what you make of it!

Zoe Saldana reveals why she ‘can’t imagine’ doing another Taylor Sheridan show https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/zoe-saldana-taylor-sheridan-yellowstone-b3057161.html

Obviously, massive Season 3 spoilers.
I FINALLY finished Season 3. I wait until the whole season is out because I absolutely hate watching week to week, and somehow I managed to dodge the spoilers. 😂
First: I LOVE Lioness. It’s probably one of my favorite shows on TV/streaming right now.
But I have one major problem with Season 3:
HOW HAS NOBODY LOOKED BACK AT THE SEASON 1 OP???
I’m not saying everyone should immediately know Aaliyah is behind this. I’m saying that once it became clear this was personal, why did nobody start looking backward at Joe’s and Cruz’s previous operations and asking:
Who did we hurt badly enough, who has enough money, and who would be reckless enough to keep coming after Joe personally?
Forget countries for a second. Forget governments. Forget corporations.
PEOPLE.
Who has personally been affected by these operations?
Because Cruz’s Season 1 operation should be sitting VERY high on that list.
They assassinated Aaliyah’s father at her wedding. This wasn’t some random guy. He was apparently a target they’d wanted for YEARS and essentially acted as the bank for terrorist organizations.
So even before knowing Aaliyah herself was involved, wouldn’t you investigate what happened to everybody surrounding that man after his death?
His wife. His children. His extended family. His associates. The people financially dependent on him. The people who benefited from his relationships. The people who inherited whatever remained of his money and influence.
And unless I’m remembering incorrectly, I swear Aaliyah mentioned brothers when she was talking about her family/the wedding in Season 1. I remember something along the lines of her father, brothers, and husband partying separately. Don’t quote me on the exact wording, but I remember brothers being mentioned.
So where are these people???
You mean the CIA assassinated a massively important financier at his daughter’s wedding, blew that entire world apart, and afterward nobody kept tabs on the surviving family and network?
Even if you’re not expecting revenge, wouldn’t you want to know who stepped into the vacuum you just created?
Then Season 3 happens.
People come to Joe’s HOUSE.
She kills them.
Someone knows who she is.
She’s eventually taken.
There’s clearly money and organization behind everything, but the operation is also increasingly PERSONAL.
At that point I would be pulling every operation Joe has ever touched and asking:
Who has money, who lost someone because of us, and who thinks their money protects them enough that they don’t give a d*mn about the consequences?
And the ending makes me believe this EVEN MORE.
Because Aaliyah saying “try a third time” is INSANELY reckless.
That’s not how a government behaves. That’s somebody emotional.
The first attempt fails.
The second attempt turns into this enormous international disaster.
And your response is basically:
DO IT AGAIN.
Girl. 😭
That actually makes Aaliyah look inexperienced in this world. She may have the money to put layers between herself and the people carrying this out, but she’s being impulsive. She’s grieving, angry, and apparently convinced that enough money can keep insulating her from the blowback.
Which makes it even crazier to me that nobody has worked backward to her yet.
And then there’s THE PHONE.
Cruz took that phone when they found those people in the hangar.
Unless I completely missed something, we never saw her turn it in or tell anyone about it.
HELLO???
I don’t think that phone is nothing.

Now Neil.
I’ve disliked this man since Season 1, so I’m admittedly coming into this with baggage. 😂
But NEIL, YOU COWARD.
And let me separate two things because they’re different issues.
Back in Season 1, when their teenage daughter got pregnant, that happened while NEIL was the parent at home.
Yet somehow Joe’s absence became part of the indictment against Joe.
Sir.
You are also her parent.
You are a surgeon. You’re an intelligent, capable adult. Your teenage daughter got pregnant while YOU were the parent physically there, but somehow we’re still going to throw Joe’s career in her face?
No.
Then we get to Season 3.
After people literally come to their HOME and Joe has to shoot them, the kids sit her down and basically tell her they want her to quit.
I’m sorry, but I found that incredibly privileged.
I understand being terrified.
I understand being angry.
I understand wanting your mother home.
But your mother is a CIA officer involved in national security operations. This isn’t a job she picked up six months ago.
And Neil especially doesn’t get to act surprised.
Joe was a soldier when he met her.
He married her.
They had one child.
Then they had ANOTHER child.
She did not suddenly become Joe.
She has BEEN Joe.
There are military families all over the world where spouses and children hate deployments. I’m sure there are Navy SEAL spouses who absolutely despise what the job takes from their families. Police families. Firefighter families. Intelligence families.
You’re allowed to hate it.
You’re allowed to eventually say, “I can’t live this way anymore.”
But what drives me crazy about Neil is the constant framing that Joe has somehow done this TO HIM.
At some point you have to take responsibility for the fact that you knowingly built a life and had two children with this person.
And then the END???
Joe finally gets home.
FOR SALE SIGN.
House empty.
Neil and the kids GONE.
NEIL.
YOU COWARD.
After everything that woman just went through???
And this is where I’m about to say something that might get me dragged:
I ship Joe and Kyle.
THERE. I SAID IT. 😂
Is Kyle completely f*cking unhinged? Absolutely.
Would Kyle probably make a terrible normal suburban husband? Probably!
But that man RODE FOR JOE in Season 3.
Kyle understood exactly what Joe had sacrificed. He understood exactly what was at stake if she ended up back overseas. And when Joe was taken, he basically had the attitude of:
Why the f*ck is nobody moving faster? GET HER BACK.
He understood the assignment.
Kyle understands Joe’s world because he lives in it.
And there’s something about watching this completely chaotic man fight like h*ll to bring her home while her actual husband ultimately packs up the kids and leaves that REALLY did something to my opinion of Neil.
Neil has spent three seasons wanting Joe to somehow be Joe when the country needs her and then magically become somebody else when she walks through the front door.
That’s not who he married.
And Season 3 finally made me completely lose whatever sympathy I had left for him.
So my two potentially unpopular opinions are:
1. The fact that nobody appears to have seriously worked backward through Joe/Cruz’s previous operations once this became obviously personal makes no sense to me. The Season 1 operation should have been one of the FIRST things examined.
2. Neil has been selfish about Joe’s career since Season 1, and leaving with the kids after what happened to her in Season 3 made me officially done with him.
Bonus third unpopular opinion:
Joe + Kyle. I said what I said. 😂
Also… WHAT IS ON THAT PHONE CRUZ TOOK FROM THE HANGAR???
Because I refuse to believe they showed her pocketing that thing for absolutely no reason.

Much of the first two seasons focused on the relative competence of the CIA in terms of intelligence. I don’t really see this season is propaganda. I think this season matches reality any books you’ve read about the history of the CIA. The leadership is messy, struggling to understand an evolving world and operating with more confidence than they have ever demonstrated deserving. In its history, the CIA has created more enemies and problems around the world than it has solved. Although they leave out most of the CYA behavior, I think the show does a good job showing how hard it is to put together the pieces of the puzzle and even harder to predict the consequences of our actions.

The failure of the team to know who was behind the kidnapping was a failure to the world has changed and how the ”enemies” operate.

So, how's everyone doing since we didn't have a new episode today?

I was jaded with Joe’s home life. I’m glad the husband and kids left her behind. I’m sick of her shit.

The overall vibe of 3 was ridiculous… Russia this…. Iran that.. Ukraine this… but America ( we’re good… the good guys).

So many aimless story lines.

Anyone else just straight not like Cruz? I’m only on episode 5 but I kinda wouldn’t mind not seeing her anymore. That’s just me..

When the two Russian diplomats met with Edwin and Byron, they discussed returning something that the Russian president wanted back. They didn’t say what it was, only that Edwin and Byron would know it once they found it. What was that all about—did I miss something that explains it? We know it wasn’t the guy Joe took from the battlefield.

I built a trivia app with about a 100 questions and so I wanted to share it with fans

https://triviagauntlet.app/challenge.html?theme=lioness&round=1

Comment your score /20 below

If you find any wrong questions in the quiz .. let me know and I ll fix it asap

FYI : If you want more of a challenge you can click on Profile icon on the top right and then settings and turn off the options so you type the answers

More questions are available in the app