Lioness

Lioness follows Joe McNamara, a CIA officer who leads a secret team of female Marines. Joe trains Cruz Manuelos, a tough Marine who enters the family of a suspected terrorist in the Middle East. Cruz must gain Aaliyah's trust while hiding her mission. Joe also leads dangerous operations while caring for her husband and children. Season 2 follows Josephina Carrillo, a Mexican American helicopter pilot from a cartel family. Her mission grows from a border kidnapping into a conflict involving cartels, China, Iran, and nuclear weapons.

The show gives women major command and combat roles across both seasons. Season 1 makes Cruz and Aaliyah's sexual and romantic relationship central to Cruz's mission and moral crisis. Season 2 includes Bobby's lesbian identity and a kiss between Cruz and Josie. The show also presents arguments about pronouns, gender identity, Army policies, and Latinx language. These themes affect character conflict and spy tension, while military missions, family stress, and national security drive most of the story.