Lioness Recap: Just Do It (Brought To You By The CIA)

As a veteran intelligence analyst with years of experience under my belt, I must say that the latest episode of “Lioness” was nothing short of riveting. The intensity and emotional turmoil portrayed by the characters felt so real, it made me feel like I was back in the field again.

Starting fresh and making a strong comeback, the revamped season of Lioness, having shed its Special Ops label this year as a sign of self-assurance in the series’ character, is all set to introduce us to its latest… well, lioness. Steering clear from Middle Eastern espionage plots – a region marred by the ongoing turmoil of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where US military aid is heavily involved with no foreseeable end – we find ourselves in a narrative that’s geographically closer but still far from the contemporary political realities it subtly echoes.

In our latest operation, we have a new team member: Captain Josephina Carillo, portrayed by Genesis Rodriguez, who is the U.S.-born relative of Alvaro Carillo, head of the Los Tigres cartel. Known for her daredevil helicopter piloting skills reminiscent of Brett “Maverick” Mitchell (“Anything north of Major sits behind a desk,” remarks Kaitlyn about our new recruit. “She sure seems to enjoy action.”), Captain Carillo is our top choice for infiltrating the Los Tigres and locating our target within the tight timeline of this mission. The objective isn’t Alvaro Carillo directly, but a Chinese agent secretly manipulating events from behind the scenes. The plot revolves around the assumption that China is Mexico’s primary oil consumer, providing the mysterious Chinese agent with significant influence for their covert scheme.

As a fervent admirer, it’s no secret that in the real world, the United States of America stands as Mexico’s largest oil purchaser. This fact places us squarely on a continuum that, unfortunately, echoes familiar themes of questionable morality and military propaganda, often seen in Hollywood productions. It’s just as troubling in its real-life political complexity and ethical ambiguity as any suspenseful international thriller from the mind of Tom Clancy, and even more so when considering the volatile socio-political climate of 2024 that seems to be overlooked or skirted around.

Interestingly, our latest episode featuring the new lioness recruitment brings us to a setting reminiscent of Iraq, although slightly different from the fictional Mexico seen in the first installment, with a subtle adjustment in the intensity of sepia tones. This brief return is strategically timed for the integration of our new team member into the program.

Alvaro Carillo, the head of Los Tigres, has a brother named Pablo who is an immigration lawyer based in Dallas. Pablo migrated to the U.S. at age five, served in the army, and became a citizen during the Gulf War. His daughter, Kyle, is a remarkable helicopter pilot with two bronze stars and multiple tours in Afghanistan under her belt. Despite Joe’s reservations about someone selecting his lioness for him, Kaitlyn values Josefina Carrillo’s recruitment due to her unique skills.

Byron suggests they should view her as a disguised threat, similar to the Trojan horse, during their strategic meeting. Once they identify her location, she can be used to infiltrate our enemy’s ranks. Depending on the message the President wants to convey, we will either capture or eliminate this team. Keeping in mind the impending election and the pressure to act according to the President’s electability, Mullins acknowledges the trigger event for this operation – the attack on the congresswoman’s family – and gives them the green light, using American vernacular: “Proceed with it.

Before we know it, we find ourselves in Northern Iraq alongside the Lioness team, and on our way to Josephina Carillo’s base, we suffer an explosion caused by a mine. A gun battle erupts until Carillo arrives swiftly to intervene. Fittingly named for her directive nature (even for a call sign, it’s quite accurate), Carillo unleashes a furious barrage of heavy artillery fire upon the Iraqi soldiers. In an instant, she becomes a one-woman force of terror, with her precision strikes being too eerily precise to be greeted with approval.

As a dedicated cinephile, I must say that the intensity of the scenario is underscored by the heated argument that flares up within the base. Rodriguez, in his debut as Carillo, leaves an indelible mark with his aggressive demeanor towards Joe, questioning her audacity to sneak into a region under intense Iraqi scrutiny, particularly near the airport. Predictably, Joe doesn’t take this well and before you can blink, they’re engaged in a physical altercation – Carillo screaming, “I swear I’ll kill you, you bitch!” as the scuffle is separated. But what truly stood out to me was when Zoe Saldaña channeled Al Pacino’s intensity in Heat, fiercely challenging the commanding officer – “Where’s your office? It’s my fucking office now!” – a scene that left me utterly enthralled. Simply put, it was a powerhouse moment.

Later in the seized office, Carillo says to Joe, “I’ve been cautioned about individuals such as you.” She’s encountered numerous women who joined the Lioness program, but none who left it. The discussion grows more ominous as time goes on, with Joe offering yet another deal-with-the-devil, his gaze steady, weary, and tormented — aware that her new “asset” has no other option but to comply.

Unwilling to accept her role as both a pawn and an active participant in her family’s downfall, which she has been thrust into by her distant relatives, Carillo argues that she is already serving her nation, but the nature of her service involves remote killing. Confronting the enemy face-to-face is the job of other U.S. military operatives. “Your country needs more from you,” Joe counters. “Do you truly cherish it?

Is there a strong sense of patriotism within you? However, as this query echoes, it seems to amplify a disturbing subtext: your country sees you as the ideal candidate for tasks that may not align with your moral compass. Would you care to sign off on this?

The Debrief

In this week’s field lesson from Kailtyn Meade: “It undermines the secret nature of the covert group if they start branding themselves with catchy names, referring to the secret organization.” This statement sounds so unbelievable that it seems like a genuine dialogue between two actual secret intelligence groups in the U.S.

As a movie enthusiast, I’m utterly astonished by the frequent use of “clandestine organization” in this series, especially since it seems to be one of Nicole Kidman’s catchphrases. It feels like a fresh drinking game idea for Lioness.

It was amusing that Joe came close to harming those visiting her daughter’s lemonade stand at the stand. However, it’s utterly irrational to lure a child into your suspicious-looking vehicle and shut the door. She should have at least given them a good scolding out of principle.

Among the Lioness crew members, it’s Jill Wagner’s Bobby who consistently shines (particularly singling out one standout member). She infuses the storyline with a vibe reminiscent of Bruce Willis, and handles the “oh dear, here comes the last trouble I ever had to deal with from that guy” subplot with flair.

In this week’s emotional conversation with her daughter, Kate (Hannah Love Lanier), Joe candidly expressed a sentiment that echoed her grandfather’s words: He had fought in WWII for a nation he barely knew; his grandfather had questioned why he should learn German or Japanese, saying “I just learned English. Why do I do it?” Joe continued, explaining that this was so future generations wouldn’t have to learn Chinese or Russian – they were fighting against the burden of investing one’s life into any colossal power controlling the world at a given time.

• Acknowledging proper recognition: Kudos go out to interimbanana for heeding Martin Donovan’s suggestion from the last episode about researching where Mexico primarily exports its oil and discovering it was indeed the U.S. Normally, I don’t delve into comments; but this time I’m glad I did a quick check.

2024-10-29 04:54

Lioness Recap: Just Do It (Brought To You By The CIA)

The Debrief

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