‘Groundbreaking’ thriller with Hollywood A-lister enters Netflix top 10 as season 3 confirmed

As autumn arrives in full force, there’s nothing like a star-studded thriller to cosy up to in the evening.

That’s exactly what you’re signing up for with Netflix’s Special Ops: Lioness, starring and executive produced by Zoe Saldana.

The Avatar actor plays Joe McNamara, a CIA operative ‘juggling motherhood with her job leading an undercover unit on high-risk missions as she sends her new marine recruit out onto the field’.

First airing in 2023, the series is from the mastermind behind hit shows like Yellowstone, Taylor Sheridan, and has featured huge names in the industry, including Nicole Kidman and Morgan Freeman.

Now, after racing up Netflix’s top 10 rankings, the series has been renewed for season three by Paramount+.

The long-awaited formal renewal comes 10 months after season two of the drama ended its run on Netflix, Deadline reports.

There’s no doubt that the high-octane show, that also stars Laysla De Oliveira, Jill Wagner, and Dave Annable, who plays Joe’s husband, Neal, has proven a hit with viewers who have praised it for its unique way into a military drama.

‘In a world where military dramas often tread familiar ground, Special Ops: Lioness emerges as a groundbreaking series that not only captivates with its gripping storyline but also challenges conventional notions of what it means to be a soldier,’ Shiron wrote on Google Reviews.

Zars Acebedo echoed that the show had them ‘hooked right from the start’, adding that ‘the story is intense yet surprisingly relatable’.

‘Lioness is nothing short of phenomenal. From the very first episode, it had me completely hooked, and I haven’t been able to take my eyes off the screen since,’ Kassy Reyes declared.

‘Such a gripping action-drama that masterfully intertwines high-stakes missions with compelling personal conflicts,’ Dogbaa shared.

Critics have also had glowing words to share with Yahoo!, calling it a ‘slow burn thriller’, TheWrap dubbed it ‘well-crafted’, and Empire praised Sheridan for ‘mixing explosive espionage action with domestic issues to mostly absorbing effect.’

Although there has been some criticism of the series, with CNN calling it ‘as basic as it gets’, Financial Times labelling it ‘cliche-riddled’ and Hollywood Reporter describing it as ‘lacklustre’, so you’ll have to watch to make up your mind.

In an interview with Deadline, the Guardians of the Galaxy actor – who also acts as a producer on the show – shared why her character is so aligned with the woman she likes to portray on screen.

‘She doesn’t fight men for the sake of fighting men. Her big battle isn’t to get men out of her way.

‘And I love the fact that Taylor Sheridan didn’t make these women waste time in always constantly putting men in their place and he didn’t create one-dimensional male roles around these women as well.’

This article was originally published on September 24, 2025.

Special Ops: Lioness is streaming now on Netflix.

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