by Josh Rosenberg for Esquire
Lioness can’t decide what war it’s fighting. In just three episodes, season 2 has racked up a kidnapped congresswoman, a mysterious threat from China, and our own corrupt DEA. The U.S. is also gaining enemies by the minute. Every mission that Joe’s (Zoe Saldaña) team embarks on could anger NATO, the Department of Justice, or anyone else looking to start a global conflict by pushing the right dominoes. It’s exhausting trying to keep up with the antics.
In episode 3’s cliff-hanger, Josephina Carillo (Genesis Rodriguez) reveals that she lied about how close she was to her uncle. He’s our secondary target in season 2, behind the nameless Chinese agent. Carillo’s lie wasn’t a shock to me, but it is a surprise to Joe. Deputy Director Byron Westfield (Michael Kelly) isn’t as surprised. “That is a staggering discovery, Joe,” he sarcastically tells her. If the mission goes according to plan, Carillo’s entire family will likely die. “And you find it odd that she would be resistant to such an endeavor?” he asks Joe. “I find it troublesome,” she responds.
So Joe is tasked with finding someone who can shadow Carillo should she double-cross them on their mission. On her way out, a random car tails her. With some help from her teammate Kyle (Thad Luckinbill), they stop the driver and learn that his identity is Special Agent Gutierrez (played by Kirk Acevedo from NBC’s Prime Suspect).
“What the fuck is CIA doing wandering all over the border like it’s fucking Syria?” Gutierrez asks them. “Thought you were supposed to be a covert operation. Surprised you didn’t show up with the Army’s fucking marching band.” He also reveals that his order to tail Joe came from the DOJ. “Whatever you think you’re doing on the border, you better fill me the fuck in,” he orders. Taylor Sheridan gave this guy all the coolest lines that could fit into his two-minute scene. “You think they kidnapped that congresswoman for no reason?” Gutierrez asks Joe about their enemies. “I’ve been doing this for twenty fucking years. I am the file you can’t check out of a library.” Something tells me these people don’t spend time in libraries.
Joe’s club isn’t done growing, either. Cruz (Laysla De Oliveira) is back after leaving the Lioness program last season. “I’m a man short on my strike team,” Joe tells her. “I need a shadow.” Cruz spent the time in between seasons killing pirates on a ship—possibly alongside Sheridan’s character. In episode 2, he went on a mission to “shoot some pirates from an oil tanker.” If Paramount’s planning a spin-off, it’s building the hype in every damn episode. Still, what could possibly convince Cruz to rejoin the Lioness team? Well, Joe had her reassigned to it. It’s not her choice.
Read the rest of the recap, HERE.