Season Analysis

Lioness

Season 1 Analysis

Season Woke Score

4.6

out of 10

Season Overview

Joe attempts to balance her personal and professional life as the tip of the CIA's spear in the war on terror; the Lioness Program enlists Cruz to operate undercover alongside Joe among the power brokers of State terrorism.

Season Review

Lioness is a high-stakes military thriller that attempts to balance traditional patriotic themes with modern social sensibilities. Created by Taylor Sheridan, the series follows Joe, a CIA operative leading an all-female undercover program. While the show retains Sheridan's signature grit and focus on the brutal reality of warfare, it shifts the focus almost entirely to female leads in roles traditionally occupied by men. The narrative centers on the physical and psychological toll of the job, particularly Joe's struggle to maintain a family life while operating at the highest levels of the intelligence community. The series avoids blatant vilification of the West, but it leans heavily into gender-swapped dynamics and explores sexual identity through its secondary lead, Cruz. The action is grounded and the characters are flawed, preventing them from becoming untouchable archetypes, yet the show unmistakably prioritizes a female-centric lens on global conflict.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics4/10

The cast is intentionally diverse, and the backstory of the lead recruit focuses on her history as a victim of domestic abuse and her status as a minority woman. However, the military environment emphasizes merit, physical toughness, and the ability to endure brutal training over political lectures.

Oikophobia3/10

The series depicts the CIA and US government as cold, calculating, and often morally gray, but the mission itself is framed as a necessary defense against terrorism. It critiques the bureaucratic machine rather than the foundational existence of the nation.

Feminism6/10

Women occupy every position of power and combat agency, while Joe’s husband remains at home to manage the domestic sphere and emotional labor. The show portrays motherhood as a significant burden that conflicts with professional greatness, though the characters are shown to be physically vulnerable and capable of failure.

LGBTQ+7/10

A central plot point involves a lesbian relationship for the main character, Cruz. This storyline is not incidental but serves as a primary driver for her character development and emotional arc throughout the season.

Anti-Theism3/10

The show is largely secular and does not actively attack Christianity. It treats the conflict with Islamic extremism as a matter of state security and power dynamics rather than a theological critique, though it lacks any positive representation of faith.