As I find myself immersed in the gripping tale of Lioness, I can’t help but marvel at the resilience and determination of its protagonist, Joe. Her life experience is a testament to the indomitable spirit that lies within each of us, a spirit that refuses to back down in the face of adversity.
Good news, folks! Joe’s still with us. And then some. Just when it seemed our girl was staring down a permanent sunset, she’s alive and literally kicking the shit out of hospital staff in a blind rage. Turns out the shrapnel in her side was a piece of her cell phone, lacerating an artery that could take her out again real quick if she doesn’t take it easy for at least the next week. “All I’ll say is that the devil’s showing’ aces,” the doctor tells her. “Think it through before you play your hand.” Love when Sheridan gets a little cowboy lyric in via some side character you’ll never see again. Anyway, Joe’s response to this omen is about as cautious as you’d expect, and it bodes ill for the rest of the Lioness crew, who find themselves in a sinister game of international speed poker with no option but to play the cards you’ve got against the devil’s aces.
In the second-to-last episode of the season, Mullins delivers a lengthy explanation at Byron’s home, outlining the current predicament; this conversation appears somewhat contrived for the viewers, but it proves useful as we approach the end of the series. The theory is that the bomber at the border was controlled by Chinese intelligence to further destabilize the region and influence the election, and also to divert U.S. attention from two Chinese nuclear scientists stationed in Turkey, who are planning to move towards Tehran shortly.
Mullins starts his speech by asking a well-known question, “Where were you on September 11th?” Then he mixes facts with opinions that viewers of this show would find familiar, regardless of their political views. He suggests that George W. Bush (not named in the show but referred to as “the 43rd president who somewhat won the election”) stepped up as a real leader after September 11th, even if people had doubts about his actions afterward. However, he notes that this trust was lost over time. Mullins argues that strong leadership brought Americans together after September 11th but pushed them further apart during COVID-19. He implies that poor leadership from presidents, members of Congress, the media, and others has contributed to the loss of trust in American institutions over the years. In the end, he claims that America, with all its flaws, has no choice but to try and fix itself.
The situation is greenlit for the Lioness team, but the term ‘systems’ may not be the best choice given its uncertainty in this context. As it stands, the systems are as unstable as the rest of the operation. Meanwhile, Kyle and the team are interrogating Gutierrez with a polygraph, while his informant, the maid from the Carrillo household, is discreetly talking to Kaitlyn. The maid confirms what Kyle discovers in another room: Special Agent Gutierrez is a “Boy Scout,” covertly performing his duties to prevent any information leaking to Los Tigres through their numerous spies within the U.S. government. Furthermore, it’s revealed that he killed another DEA agent who attempted to turn him and this is also supported by official records. At present, they are dealing with a DEA agent who hasn’t contacted his superiors or home for more than 24 hours. Kyle and Kaitlyn discuss potential methods to dispose of the problem in hushed whispers (and after such discussions, your chances of survival under CIA scrutiny significantly decrease). However, a firm conversation between Kaitlyn and Gutierrez ensures his continued existence, at least for now. This isn’t new territory for Kaitlyn, and Gutierrez seems to accept her proposal to complete the mission with limited hesitation.
As Pablo Carrillo is taken into custody and transported to San Jose, Cruz and Josie arrive at their new hideout in Fort Liberty before the rest of the team, leaving them a brief window to address the question, “Are these two interested in each other romantically?” Though they don’t act upon it in this particular mission, the possibility has been established. One might have thought Cruz could have held back her feelings for another Lioness operation, given the painful romantic complications of the last operation. However, it seems that spies often find and seize moments of physical and emotional connection amidst the turmoil of their work, especially with fellow agents who are adept at managing their emotions to fit the demands of their profession. “It’s comforting to experience something other than guilt and fear,” Josie muses. “Let’s just forget about it for a while.” It appears that this soldier is quickly adapting to the lifestyle of a spy.
In my own words, as a devoted fan: Amid moments of calm amid the chaos, the solitary figure of Joe taking on the role of the lone gunman is no longer up for debate in her mind. Her marriage and family life are thriving, and she’s found a new ally in Cruz. However, the border suicide bombing has only intensified her determination to outwit the devil at every turn. Speaking with Neal in the hospital after being informed that her torn artery could be fatal if it tears again, she admits, “I’m struggling to accept walking away, but I have to find a way… and you can’t make me feel guilty, you can’t convince me, and you can’t persuade me with love.” This revelation must cut deep for Neal, who’s just expressed his fear of losing her on the job. Regarding her work-life balance, she’s unapologetic when discussing the next phase of the mission with Byron: “Our objective is to demonstrate that we’re not the only nation with an open border,” as per Mullins’ orders. And we plan to achieve this by intercepting two Chinese nuclear scientists at an Iranian airbase. The empire will respond.
As it turns out, the situation has been adjusted to match our Lioness’ abilities. The most discreet way to reveal targets in Iran appears to be by dispatching a helicopter for a nearby strike, and Joe is authorized to manage this operation on-site. Byron hesitates at the thought of letting Joe travel to Iran, even if she vows to stay within the base, but he softens his stance when she articulates her true motivation for being there: “I can’t afford to abandon this endeavor in defeat.
The sunk cost of these special ops. It’s enough to leave a pit in your stomach as the Lioness crew boards the plane to Iran. “This one’s going to be spicy,” Joe says, egging on her comrades’ bloodlust before making a devastating last phone call to Neal. The final stretch of this mission couldn’t be further from where it started, and the chances of finding any redemption in it are next to nil, even if they do “win.” Doesn’t bode well for the future of Joe’s family, nor for any spy aiming for order as the solution to all this chaos.
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2024-12-01 18:54