It was the most memorable critical reversal I have encountered recently. Mike Hale, a television critic at The New York Times (whose preferences I greatly respect), initially criticized Special Ops: Lioness upon its premiere in July 2023. He wasn’t the only one. Critics were harsh on this counterterrorism action program on Paramount+. The series features Zoe Saldaña as a CIA agent named Joe, who mentors female assassins—including a formidable marine named Cruz, portrayed impressively by the relatively lesser-known Laysla De Oliveira.
Lioness was an apparent target. Its originator and author, Taylor Sheridan, is the mastermind behind Yellowstone, a dominating Western on television, along with several other shows that serve as nostalgic military-focused entertainments (such as Mayor of Kingstown, 1883, 1923, and Lawmen: Bass Reeves). Lioness echoed typical Sheridan elements. Robust armed men, intense firefights, and serious debriefings. The number of women in Lioness might have been noteworthy—but so too was the danger they encountered and the violent fatalities they were subjected to. Critics like Hale were provided with only one episode beforehand—and it happened to be a harsh one. The evaluations, including Hale’s, carried a hint of disdain. Sheridan’s inaugural female-focused series appeared somewhat… exploitative?