Lioness Season-Finale Recap: Wasteland of the Free

by

As a seasoned movie reviewer with a penchant for international intrigue and a soft spot for gritty dramas, I found myself utterly captivated by the second season of “Lioness.” This show is a raw and unapologetic reflection of our fractured empire, serving up a cocktail of red-and-blue signifiers that leaves you questioning the true nature of justice.

Despite its eccentric blend of symbolic signals suggesting institutional mistrust, often tinged with militant, cowboy-style, dark-Brandon patriotism, Lioness mirrors our own disjointed and fragmented empire perfectly. The second season concludes explosively, yet eerily quietly. As Cruz remarked to Joe at the end of last season’s special op, “All we did was change oil prices.” By the finale this year, the Lioness squad has left a trail of destruction on two continents that is even more gruesome. However, their actions ultimately result in nothing more than swapping cartel leaders and boosting a president’s chances for re-election. There is no feeling of triumph over the old and wicked forces.

In the opening, the Lioness team revisits Josie’s former base at the Turkey-Iraq-Iran border junction for their final mission, where they prepare themselves. We gain a clear understanding of the potential dangers Joe might face if the mission goes awry and she has to leave the base. A scene is also shown where Joe, Cruz, and Josie all rebuke the same base commander whom Joe had harshly criticized in the second episode. The Lioness team undeniably commands the war on terror like no other. Simultaneously, in San Jose, Costa Rica (indicated by a shift in sepia tone from bright-yellow to reddish-orange), Kaitlyn and Byron engage in some old CIA/cartel negotiations with Pablo Carrillo. This is a particularly intense performance by Michael Kelly and Nicole Kidman, blending their House of Cards and “Anti-Everywoman” personas effectively. The proposal they make is classic – to take control of an illicit empire under the protection of the U.S. government. Pablo’s brother poses a threat because he developed relationships that endangered U.S. intelligence. Their aim is to have a trustworthy leader at the head of Los Tigres who will refrain from collaborating with their adversaries and inform them when enemies make contact. Kaitlyn suggests they should work towards eliminating the influence of these enemies wherever possible.

Pablo eagerly embraces the notion, ready to take immediate action as soon as they arrive at his house with the Chinese intelligence agent. The new leader may have changed, but the old problems persist. It’s acceptable when the new boss is in the hands of the U.S.A. Kaitlyn comments to Byron after he vomits in their private jet bathroom, “The longer you stay away, the harder it becomes to watch.” She reminds him that maintaining peace can be ugly and unforgiving. The disheartened tone in Kidman’s voice gives “keeping the peace” a hollow ring. However, it’s not the assassination of a drug lord or the installation of another that upsets Byron; rather, it’s the realization that little will truly change.

In a broad, selfless sense, “change” does not appear to be on Secretary Mullins’ mind, as he watches the escalation of the mission in Washington, particularly concerning the Middle East. True to the nature of our U.S. intelligence operatives, Mullins gives a brief acknowledgment of the more diplomatic reason for intervention: Two Chinese nuclear scientists are traveling to Isfahan Nuclear base with potential information or supplies that could enhance and activate Iran’s nuclear capabilities. However, it takes only a small push from Mason to prompt him to reveal the true objective behind this mission: it’s a demonstration of raw power. If China and Iran pose a threat to U.S. borders, we will retaliate disrespectfully, magnifying their actions tenfold. Dominance is the only acceptable form of stability for the most powerful force in the West. Interestingly, Mullins is willing to accept the blame if this entire operation were to fail.

After hearing “the bird has fallen” and witnessing Josie’s helicopter crashing into the undergrowth, it appears the demise of this mission. However, Cruz and Josie manage to survive the crash, but Josie’s injured leg hinders her movement significantly. Simultaneously, Joe leads the rest of the team in armored vehicles towards the crash site, a scene that seems to be Taylor Sheridan’s signature self-indulgent display as a TV auteur. The ensuing chaos sees our entire crew trapped and under attack from all sides. It isn’t until the very last moment that we witness an overwhelming barrage of artillery raining down from above, a stark reminder of the dramatic power our military reserves for critical moments.

Mullins exhales deeply in relief back in Washington as the Lioness team returns to base, appearing more battered, bruised, and exhausted than ever before. Joe surveys her team, giving the impression that she’s still searching for a way out of their high-risk field operations, with no sign of finding it anytime soon. When Joe arrives back at Neal’s house in the final scene, he tells her, “You’ll always have a place to return to.” Given the intense emotional tension from the previous episode, this moment seems somewhat out of place and suggests a hasty resolution for the upcoming season three. However, there’s an eerie sense of foreboding about Joe making it home without any major incident to disrupt her family life. If the Lioness team and Joe appear on our screens again for another Special Op mission, they will face no obstacle between Joe and her tragic devotion to her work – whether the operation is successful or unsuccessful, it’s all shades of gray.

Read More

2024-12-08 17:53