Paramount+’s 2-Part ‘Sicario Meets Jack Ryan’ Series Is One Of Its Best Action Shows

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I’m a big fan of spy shows, and I have to say, Paramount+’s new series really surprised me. It’s got that intense, gritty feel of Sicario mixed with the classic suspense of Jack Ryan, but does something totally fresh with the genre. It’s tough to create a new spy series that doesn’t feel like everything else, but when it works, it really works. Just look at Prime Video – Jack Ryan and Reacher are huge for them! Jack Ryan, especially, is a classic – it’s based on Tom Clancy’s books and John Krasinski plays the character as a really down-to-earth, relatable guy, which I love.

While both shows are based on popular books, Reacher really puts a new spin on the spy thriller genre. The Prime Video series, starring Alan Ritchson, follows the wandering Jack Reacher as he travels across the country and stumbles into dangerous situations involving crime, corruption, and government wrongdoing. Though he’s a former military police officer instead of a traditional spy, Reacher’s approach to solving problems – investigating, going undercover, and then taking action – is reminiscent of classic spy shows.

Paramount+’s Special Ops: Lioness is a new take on the spy thriller from creator Taylor Sheridan, delivering the excitement fans of the genre expect. The series stars Zoe Saldaña as Joe McNamara, a CIA officer in charge of the Lioness program. This program recruits female CIA operatives and trains them to build close relationships with the wives and girlfriends of suspected terrorists and criminals, using the information they gather to prevent attacks.

Lioness Is Taylor Sheridan’s Answer To Prime Video’s Jack Ryan

In Lioness, McNamara assigns Laysla De Oliveira’s character, Cruz Manuelos, the dangerous job of infiltrating the inner circle of a terrorist financier. She does this by becoming friends with his daughter, Aaliyah Amrohi, played by Stephanie Nur. Much of the show’s tension comes from the developing relationship between Cruz and Aaliyah, who unknowingly begins to trust her. Like Netflix’s The Asset, the series focuses on this dynamic. Lioness also shares a similar intense and gritty tone with Taylor Sheridan’s 2015 film Sicario.

Taylor Sheridan first gained widespread recognition with the intense thriller Sicario, which director Denis Villeneuve turned into a critical and commercial hit. He then successfully brought Westerns back to television with the hugely popular Yellowstone on Paramount+, followed by its prequel series 1883 and 1923. After exploring this genre with shows like Mayor of Kingstown and Tulsa King, Sheridan returned to the world of spy thrillers.

Lioness Should Spawn Taylor Sheridan’s Next Big TV Franchise

Okay, let me tell you about Lioness. This show really brought out the big guns – Nicole Kidman, Morgan Freeman, Bruce McGill… seriously, a fantastic cast! While the first season was just okay, the second season was a definite step up, and critics actually preferred it over Netflix’s Zero Day, which had an equally impressive lineup of stars. Good news for fans: it’s been renewed for a third season, slated for August 2025. However, don’t expect any related series popping up anytime soon – it seems Lioness is staying focused on its core story.

It’s a bit unexpected, considering Amazon Prime Video’s Reacher already led to the Neagley series, and the Jack Ryan universe produced the Without Remorse spin-off starring Michael B. Jordan in 2021, plus the upcoming Jack Ryan: Ghost War movie in 2026, and even plans for a Ding Chavez show that didn’t happen. If Paramount+ wants to fully capitalize on Taylor Sheridan’s distinctive style – a mix of Sicario and Jack Ryan – then Lioness should be developed into his next franchise.

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2026-05-04 20:08