We’re only three episodes into Lioness season 2, and we’ve seen a ton of surprises. In the two-episode premiere, creator Taylor Sheridan not only appeared for a cameo (twice!), but he also crafted an incredibly complex mission involving Mexican cartels, black-market oil exports, and China’s current standing with NATO. Believe it or not, the Yellowstone creator figured out a way to weave all three plots together.
Episode 2 also introduced viewers to the season’s new agent, Josephina Carrillo (Genesis Rodriguez). Last season’s Lioness, Cruz Manuelos (Laysla De Oliveira), made the only smart decision I’ve seen on this series and left this crazy program behind. But Joe (Zoe Saldaña) and Kaitlyn (Nicole Kidman) remain dedicated to the cause—no matter how bird-brained or nihilistic they find the task at hand.
The current mission is certainly a doozy. Here’s what we’ve worked out so far: The U.S. plans to use helicopter pilot Josephina Carrillo as a Trojan horse. She’s the niece of a Mexican cartel leader who is allegedly hiding a Chinese spy within their midst. Allegedly is the key word here. Lioness season 2 has yet to provide any proof that China is behind the premiere’s kidnapping of a Texas congresswoman (who is safe now, by the way). But if Josephina can place the Lioness team safely inside her uncle’s compound, Joe believes that they can eliminate the Chinese agent from within.
So, what does Secretary of State Morgan Freeman think will happen if the mission fails? World War III, of course! They could simply abandon the mission and spend Christmas with their families, but no one discussed that option. According to the U.S. government, the show must go on.
The Lioness team begins the episode by bugging up the Castillo’s mansion in Texas. Joe expresses her concerns in trusting Josephina to essentially betray her own family, but Kaitlyn reminds her that she “can’t trust any of them.” Joe is scared—and a visit with her family at home doesn’t quell her fears. Last episode, she returned home and thought her daughter was kidnapped. In episode 3, the house is empty. So, she starts scrambling. Maybe they’re just out seeing a movie, Joe! They can have fun, unlike you. She finds her husband (Dave Annabele) in the bath wearing headphones. Then, her daughter walks in on them having sex. Awkward!
Joe is in over her head.
Kaitlyn also has an awful time at home. Her husband is one of the most insufferable people I’ve ever seen on TV. He just talks about oil prices in an unwavering monotone. Their relationship confounds me. Kaitlyn somehow has an even worse time at another meeting with Secretary of State Morgan Freeman and CIA Deputy Director Byron Westfield (Michael Kelly). “Outrage over the incident is only polling at 38 percent,” they tell her. “The rescue is polling as overreach and Mexico is outraged.” Of course! The CIA is finally punished for killing a dozen cops in Mexico.
“You are wrong,” Westfield tells them. Maybe I was wrong. The kidnapping was simply a test that the enemy will base the next operation on. According to the CIA director, “This was the U.S.S. Cole and our lack of response to that was the green light to 9/11.” I don’t even have the brainpower to fact-check all that warmongering, but it works for Secretary of State Morgan Freeman.
Schmoozing has neer looked so manipulative.
Kaitlyn attempts to spin the story even more at dinner later. A government official orders a bourbon at the bar and tells the bartender, “If I can tell what kind of bourbon it is, you made it wrong.” Damn, these people are all the worst. Talking to any character on this show for more than five minutes sounds like a nightmare.
I was about to defend Joe’s husband as a potentially cool guy, but then he has a conversation out of nowhere with his daughters about how he “disagrees” with people who identify as trans. They tell him he’s transphobic. “If the only way to promote an idea is to eliminate any argument against that idea, then you have no idea,” he says. Umm… what’s happening here? Joe enter the room and sadly doesn’t give them a better answer. “There are nations where that right [to agree or disagree] doesn’t exist, and those are the places you do not want to visit,” she tells them. I don’t have time for this nonsense. After promoting the importance of trans representation in Emilia Perez this year, I’m surprised that Saldaña would even touch this scene with a ten-foot pole.
Josephina is bullied the second she arrives at the CIA camp.
Moving on! The mission is paramount, so we need to train our next Lioness. The team has Josephina falsely discharged from the army and shipped to their grimy secret base. Sadly, no one in Joe’s camp is friendly when she arrives. They barely acknowledge her and shoot her dirty glances. Hell, they won’t even serve her food when she lines up for supper. I thought she was a vital member of this mission, but it seems as if camaraderie is off the table for some reason.
In the morning, Josephina watches the team run drills. “You ever play Call of Duty?” someone asks her. “It’s like that.” Then, Joe places her in some VR simulation that has the most realistic graphics I’ve ever seen. The game is surely called CHAOS WORLD because she’s dropped in the middle of the street as people run around her while holding guns. Josephina has no directive. She has no idea who is on her team or what she is even supposed to do. So, she fails. Joe informs her that the objective of the game is to kill anyone in your way, even if they’re unarmed. “That’s murder,” Josephine says. Joe replies that murdering innocent people—even hostages—is A-okay in her book. In fact, she encourages it.
When the team catches Josephina lying about her relationship with her family, they yell at her and call her a traitor. Everyone chill! She doesn’t even really know why she’s here yet. “I joined this program because I love my country, just like you asked!” Josephina screams as tears fall down her face. Not good enough. As Joe warns, “We’re about to find out how much.” I’m not sure I want to anymore.
