If you loved
Lioness
Taylor Sheridan · Series · 2023
If Lioness captivated you, it is because you crave stories where high-stakes geopolitical maneuvers collide with the harrowing internal cost of duty.
Books on the same thread
The Women: A Novel
Kristin Hannah · Book · 2024
Explores: Female Friendship, Coming-of-Age, Trauma.
Like Lioness, this novel explores the profound personal toll of military service. You will recognize the same focus on women navigating intense environments and the lasting trauma of combat.
Legacy of Ashes
Tim Weiner · Book · 2007
Explores: Intelligence failure, Cold War, Covert operations.
This history provides the real-world context for the operations depicted in Lioness. It deepens your understanding of the moral ambiguity and systemic complexity that define the CIA's covert world.
Thicker Than Water
Kerry Washington · Book
Explores: self-discovery, resilience, belonging.
The resilience found in Lioness mirrors this memoir. You will appreciate the grounded, personal journey of finding strength and belonging after facing significant, life-altering professional and personal setbacks.
Onyx Storm
Rebecca Yarros · Book
Explores: political rebellion, magical warfare, alliances.
Fans of the high-stakes political rebellion in Lioness will enjoy this shift into fantasy. The search for allies during a time of war echoes the tactical desperation of undercover work.
Films on the same thread
The Woman King
Gina Prince-Bythewood · Film · 2022
Shares a thread with Lioness: Female Empowerment.
This film captures the same spirit of female empowerment and military training seen in Lioness. You will see the direct lineage between these warriors and the Lioness program operatives.
Warfare
Ray Mendoza · Film · 2025
Explores: Band of Brothers, Trauma and Memory, Urban Warfare.
This military thriller mirrors the intense camaraderie under fire that defines Lioness. It forces you to confront the visceral reality of combat and the weight of memory in war.
Sicario
Denis Villeneuve · Film · 2015
Shares a thread with Lioness: Moral Ambiguity.
If the moral ambiguity of Lioness kept you watching, this film is essential. It masterfully depicts the loss of innocence when navigating the murky ethics of government intelligence work.
Lone Survivor
Peter Berg · Film · 2013
Explores: Moral Dilemma, Brotherhood, Survival Against the Odds.
The moral dilemmas that test the characters in Lioness are at the heart of this film. It portrays the heavy burden of command and the survival instincts required in conflict.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Preamble
Sharon McMahon · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Critical thinking, Media literacy, Civic engagement.
Much like the complex political environment of Lioness, this podcast helps you synthesize the confusing reality of current events. It provides the clarity needed to understand modern power dynamics.
The Realignment
The Realignment · Podcast · 2026
Explores: institutional change, populism, technological disruption.
The geopolitical analysis here complements the intelligence themes in Lioness. It investigates the shifting national security landscape that informs the high-stakes missions Joe leads for the CIA.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the premise of Lioness?
Lioness follows Cruz Manuelos, a young Marine recruited by the CIA for an undercover operation. She joins the Lioness Engagement Team, where she is trained and led by station chief Joe to infiltrate and help dismantle a terrorist organization from within.
Who is the lead character in Lioness?
The primary characters in Lioness are Cruz Manuelos and Joe. Cruz is a passionate Marine recruited into the CIA program, while Joe serves as the station chief responsible for managing the Lioness Engagement Team and overseeing the training of undercover operatives.
Is Lioness based on a real CIA program?
Lioness is a television series created by Taylor Sheridan that focuses on a fictional CIA program called the Lioness Engagement Team. The plot centers on the recruitment of female operatives like Cruz Manuelos to conduct undercover work against terrorist organizations under the leadership of station chief Joe.
What is the role of the Lioness Engagement Team?
The Lioness Engagement Team is a specialized CIA unit featured in Lioness. The team is managed by Joe and consists of female undercover operatives like Cruz Manuelos who are tasked with infiltrating terrorist organizations to bring them down from the inside.