Critic’s Rating: 5 / 5.0
This is getting very concerning for Joe.
I’ve come to terms with the fact that Lioness Season 3 may be Zoe Saldaña’s last , but it’s been harrowing to watch every aspect of Joe’s ordeal.
Lioness Season 3 Episode 4 was brimming with fascinating moments, revelations, and everything in between.
(Lauren “Lo” Smith/Paramount+) The strength of the hour was the even split between the two timelines. I hope that’s the format for the rest of the season because it worked incredibly well here.
Starting in the present day, with Joe’s conversation and a showcase of her team’s plight to save her, before delving into the immediate aftermath of the U.S. going public with news of the Russian spy’s capture, made for the most packed episode to date.
Joe has been the fearless leader at the helm of the team since Lioness Season 1, and I’m not surprised she’s been able to keep it together, even though she knows there’s a chance she may never see her husband or kids again.
It’s been pretty obvious over the last two episodes that the Russian operative wants to break her in order to get all the intel Russia has been dying to obtain about the U.S. for so long.
I don’t see any reality in which Joe flips, no matter how much they turn up the heat on her. She knows that saying anything could risk the lives of the people she’s worked so hard to protect during her years as an agent.
(Lauren “Lo” Smith/Paramount+) I loved that even when it seemed like she was at the end of her rope, she was still firing zingers at the man about the state of Russia.
The storyline could be ripped from the headlines, as it feels incredibly timely given today’s climate. I’m terrified for Joe because, like Kaitlyn mentioned to Neal, there are so many variables.
We don’t know what Russia’s end goal is here, and no matter what they do, there’s a chance Joe never sets foot on U.S. soil again.
Lioness Season 3 Has Joel in Danger
I honestly gasped when I realized she was being held at a hangar and bundled onto the plane.
The sad part is that, even though the team hasn’t been too far behind, I figured there was no chance her ordeal was over, since we’re only halfway through Lioness Season 3 .
(Lauren “Lo” Smith/Paramount+) It would be a surprise if Joe were found and returned home before the season finale. I just don’t know what they have planned for her when she touches down in Russia.
The series is doing a fantastic job of putting all the different possibilities on display, and I’m really hoping that a miracle saves her life.
The look of anguish and frustration on the team’s faces as they realized they just missed the flight was difficult to watch.
I get why Bobby was mad that Kyle executed the Russian operative, but I firmly believe she started to understand Kyle’s perspective when he told her about Joe’s prospects.
The team is understandably mentally and physically spent, so emotions are bound to run high. The only real way this mission can have any semblance of success is if they work together.
(Lauren “Lo” Smith/Paramount+) Kyle’s actions were reckless and poorly thought out, so I’m not excusing them. But knowing what he knows, many others may have had the same reaction.
He was aware that time was of the essence because the plane carrying Joe was already in the air and potentially out of U.S. airspace.
The most nail-biting part was when he called in the tail number, and we learned it had already stopped to refuel and was back in the sky.
Seriously, can the team get a win soon?
I’m surprised that Byron told the President about the situation so soon, but given how fast-moving everything is, maybe it’s a good idea to get the ball rolling on a potential resolution.
(Lauren “Lo” Smith/Paramount+) It’s hard to imagine the U.S. trading Yurimov for Joe. The media will have a field day if it happens, and it would likely expose the U.S. to more scrutiny than the president will allow.
Kaitlyn’s meeting with Neal at the end of the episode was some of Nicole Kidman and Dave Annable’s finest work as actors.
Kaitlyn has always given it to people straight. That’s the type of person she is, and I suspect that’s why she’s gotten on so well with Joe. They’re very similar in that regard.
Having Neal prepared for the possibility that Joe might never come home was the best Kaitlyn could have done. His daughters are going to rely on him during the grieving process.
But can you imagine being told that there’s a possibility your loved one comes home, while also being told to grieve the worst outcome now to prepare?
(Lauren “Lo” Smith/Paramount+) That’s horrible, and I felt for both Kaitlyn and Neal in this situation.
In the six-month-earlier timeline, Neal is slowly starting to piece together the severity of Joe’s work, thanks to her being attacked on Lioness Season 3 Episode 1 at their home.
Humor Was Needed After So Much Tension
Away from all the intensity, I thoroughly enjoyed the team’s reactions to their disguises.
Their jobs are quite literally deadly, so they have to find the humor in certain situations. What worked best was how Joe was NOT laughing and reminded them that this was an important mission, only to start laughing at the milk carton comment herself.
Those little moments of humor were especially welcome because the rest of the episode was so relentlessly tense.
(Lauren “Lo” Smith/Paramount+) The way Lioness Season 3 is going, it’s probably going to be remembered as the finest season of any Taylor Sheridan series to date.
Lioness is by far the most improved show of the year. It’s one of the few shows that demand 100% of your attention in a world where 95% of shows are built for people scrolling on their phones while watching.
This episode proved just how effective that can be.
What are your thoughts on the timeline split in this episode?
(Ryan Green/Paramount+) Do you think that should be the format for the rest of the season?
What’s your take on Joe being taken out of the U.S.?
What do you believe is the most likely scenario here?
Let’s keep the conversation going — it’s the only way the good stuff survives.
On Lioness Season 3 Episode 4, the high-stakes mission to save Joe takes a devastating turn. Read our review.
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