I never in a million years expected to become this invested in Lioness.
As a big fan of Taylor Sheridan’s work, you’d think it would’ve been right up my alley.
But for whatever reason, I never gave it the time of day until I realized it was available for coverage at TV Fanatic.
That’s one of the funny things about this job.
Sometimes, the shows you end up loving the most are the ones you only started watching because someone had to cover them.
Over the years, that’s happened to me more times than I can count.
I unexpectedly became obsessed with shows like UnReal, Under the Dome, and, more recently, Cape Fear simply because they landed on my schedule.
Lioness might be the biggest surprise of them all.
I tore through the first two seasons in just a few days, completely engrossed by the show’s relentless pace, larger-than-life twists, and surprisingly emotional character work.
Lioness Is a Thrill Ride
By the time I sat down to watch Lioness Season 3 Episode 1, I wasn’t just preparing to review another episode — I was genuinely excited to see where the story was headed.
What I wasn’t prepared for was the sinking feeling that Joe’s story might finally be nearing its end.
The Lioness Season 3 premiere immediately throws viewers into unfamiliar territory, teasing Joe’s kidnapping before rewinding to show the events leading up to it.
It’s an intriguing storytelling device, but it also feels deliberate.
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Get More of Our Coverage!Rather than simply building suspense, it feels like the show is preparing us for a defining moment in Joe’s life.
Reports have suggested Zoe Saldaña originally signed on for three seasons, and after watching the premiere, it’s difficult not to wonder whether this has always been the intended endgame for her character.
Since the beginning of the series, Joe has sacrificed almost everything in service of her country.
Every mission has pulled her further away from Neal and their daughters, yet she’s always managed to make it home.
This time feels different.
Lioness has spent two seasons asking whether Joe can continue balancing her family with a career built on impossible decisions.
Lioness Season 3 finally feels ready to answer that question.
Whether Joe ultimately walks away from the program, is forced out, or pays the ultimate price, the premiere suggests that she’s heading toward a crossroads unlike anything she’s faced before.
Walking away wouldn’t come naturally to someone who’s dedicated her life to the mission.
Joe has always put duty above herself, often at tremendous personal cost. But Lioness has never been interested in easy victories or fairy-tale endings.
The cracks have been forming for a while now.
Neal has stood by Joe through years of secrecy and danger, but every mission carries greater consequences than the last.
Is Joe’s Time on the Show Coming to a Close?
Even when she returns home, the emotional scars never truly disappear.
That’s why I can’t shake the feeling that Lioness Season 3 isn’t simply raising the stakes — it’s bringing Joe’s journey to its natural conclusion.
Whether that conclusion is tragic, bittersweet, or unexpectedly hopeful remains to be seen.
But after one episode, I’m convinced we’re witnessing the beginning of the end for one of television’s most compelling protagonists.
I never expected Lioness to become one of the shows I’d be most excited to watch every week.
Yet here I am, counting down the days until the next mission, and I’m hoping that whatever happens, Joe’s storyline reaches a satisfying endgame, if that is what Lioness is setting up.
What are your thoughts on the premiere’s setup?
Do you think it’s intentional to say goodbye to Joe, or do you think it is a storytelling device to shake things up?
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