Lioness Holds Top 10 Streaming Spot for 216 Days

Taylor Sheridan's spy thriller Special Ops: Lioness has maintained a place in Paramount+'s top 10 streaming rankings for 216 days, according to MovieWeb, establishing a sustained audience presence despite the series' initially mixed critical reception. The show, led by Zoe Saldaña, follows CIA operative Joe McNamara as she manages covert missions and the personal consequences of intelligence work.

The series premiered in July 2023 and draws inspiration from a real-life U.S. military program. Its storyline centers on female operatives known as Lionesses, who work to prevent terrorist threats while operating within high-risk intelligence missions.

According to MovieWeb, Lioness initially received a 54% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes during its first season, while its audience score reached 77% on the Popcornmeter. The second season improved its critical standing to 90%, with audiences giving it a 73% score.

MovieWeb reported that the series' 216-day run in Paramount+'s top 10 places it among long-running titles on the platform. Other shows cited for extended chart appearances include Criminal Minds, at 908 days; Everybody Loves Raymond, at 816 days; and South Park, at 446 days.

The third season arrived in August after a two-year wait. Its latest mission brings together hidden networks, foreign operatives and personal betrayals as Joe attempts to balance her responsibilities as an intelligence officer with the risks facing her family.

The ensemble includes Laysla De Oliveira, Dave Annable, Jill Wagner, LaMonica Garrett and James Jordan. Morgan Freeman, Michael Kelly and Nicole Kidman also appear in the series.

Attention has also turned to a possible fourth season, although MovieWeb noted that a renewal had not been officially confirmed. Stephanie Nur, who played Aaliyah Amrohi in the first season, discussed the character's potential future during an interview with the publication.

Nur suggested that betrayal had shaped Aaliyah's development over the years, raising the possibility of a larger antagonistic role in a future season.

"Every villain has an origin story. They're that way for a reason. And not that she is one, but in general... I think the betrayal has changed her in those years," said Nur, discussing Aaliyah's character development.

MovieWeb's audience poll found that 95.7% of respondents said they would watch a fourth season regardless of whether Aaliyah became the central villain. Another 1.6% said a stronger focus on Aaliyah would increase their interest, while 0.2% planned to wait for audience reactions. A further 0.6% said they would probably skip additional seasons, and 1.9% had not started the series but had become interested.

In a separate poll about the show's appeal, 46.7% selected high-stakes espionage and military operations as a key attraction, while 35.7% cited the cast. Character drama involving family, loyalty and betrayal accounted for 8.1%, enjoyment of Sheridan's other series represented 7.6%, and interest in adding another binge-worthy title accounted for 1.9%.

When asked what future seasons should emphasize, 33.1% favored larger and more complex missions with global stakes, while 30.3% wanted greater realism in intelligence work and geopolitics. Deeper character backstories received 18.8%, greater attention to the personal and family consequences of covert operations received 11.1%, and more screen time for major stars and memorable villains received 6.8%.