The Choice Of Failure –As Aaliyah Amrohi’s (Stephanie Nur) friends soak up the sun, Cruz Manuelos (Laysla De Oliveira) and Aaliyah enjoy the water. Aaliyah wants to talk about the Cruz family’s matchmaking efforts. Cruz is currently more focused on her studies. Aaliyah suggests swimming out to the sand bar. Although on the phone, Ehsan Ali Rashdi (Ray Corasani) is quick to remind his intending to not go too far. From the Amrohi bluff house, two spotters keep an eye on the beach revelers, the girls, and the remote pleasure yacht. Joe (Zoe Saldana) and her team on the pleasure yacht snap photos and dig up intel on Amrohi’s contacts.

Still miles from the yacht, Aaliyah and Cruz have stopped. Cruz doesn’t see the sand bar so Aaliyah admits to making it up. Aaliyah shares with Cruz that she doesn’t want to get married either. Cruz tells her not to get married, but she has no say in that matter. She is glad that he’s been kind so far. Back on the pleasure craft, Joe talks to the prop girls about their drinking and sea sickness. As the girls cover the fronts on the deck, Tex (Jonah Wharton) updates Joe on what he’s uncovered so far about the fiancée, Ehsan, and his brother, Kamal Ali Rashdi (Sam Asghari).

Both brothers are legally in the US on visas. Ehsan has a work visa and Kamal has a student visa. Joe finds it strange that a Saudi royal and Kuwaiti national are staying in a Qudrah Petrol home. Tucker (LaMonica Garrett) and the others discuss the Texas mission. Joe can’t resist calling Kyle (Thad Luckinbill) and verbally unloading on him.

After returning to the crew, Aaliyah plans dinner with Cruz dinner at Moby’s. Malika (Carla Mansour), Nashwa (Layla Mohammadi), and Nala (Priscilla Parto) can’t hold back their scathing remarks at the mention of Surf Lodge. On the pleasure yacht, Joe, Tucker, and Tex’s patient begin wearing thin with the mission and their ship company. As a result, they hand the monitor to Bobby (Jill Wagner) who is disguised as a bikini-clad beachgoer. Bobby attracts the unwanted attention of Kamal. As she turns him down, another team of black SUVs and Two Cups (James Jordan) arrives. Two Cups chides Bobby for being too close to the action while she points out that she’s more than 30 yards away. Then, Bobby realizes the target is on the move.

CIA Headquarters Langley, Virginia – Kyle arrives to a large conference room where is he joined by Kaitlyn Meade (Nicole Kidman) and Byron Westfield (Michael Kelly). Kaitlyn doesn’t waste a second getting right into the debacle of a mission. Being that Kyle authorized and executed the mission without CIA consent and was caught on camera, he might become the first agent to make America’s Most Wanted. Kyle refuses the request to reveal where he got the team until Byron reminds him that he has a higher security clearance. He is forced to admit to using a Lioness QRF unit. He goes on to say that his contact was scheduled to bring in 5 known Al Qaeda terrorists. If Kyle had let the cartel kill his mole, he would have lost any hope of learning more about the Al Qaeda members and their intent in the US.

East Hamptons, Long Island – The Lioness team docks the pleasure yacht. Joe orders Tex and Tucker to get the girls to Westchester before receiving a call from Kyle. Just as he is warning her about revealing her team’s participation in the extraction, Joe also receives a call from Kaitlyn who offers to come to her and the team.

The Hospital – Kate (Hannah Love Lanier) and her cohorts get into a car accident before being taken to the same hospital where her father, Neal McNamara (Dave Annable), works. He is interrupted in the middle of surgery with the news and rushes out to the emergency entrance. He arrives just as three ambulances dock. Once he arrives, he learns that two girls are unconscious while Kate appears to be responsive and in pain. Neal confers with Dr. Shipley (Chris Lindsay-Abaire) and Dr. Hammond (Michael Tow) over Kate’s x-rays. She has a broken femur and several shattered vertebrae. Of the other two girls, one died and the other has serious trauma that will need to be tended to immediately so Kate’s injuries can wait until morning.

Neil calls Joe to relay the news. Joe promises to make it. The blood work reveals that Kate is pregnant, but there is a risk of fetal injury due to the recent circumstances. Dr. Hammond discusses the possibility of abortion. Neil talks about it with his daughter, Kate. Neil reveals the death of Holly and the pregnancy.

East Hamptons, Long Island –Two Cups arrives and lets Joe know they are moving to the house in Montauk. Aaliyah’s friends are surprisingly nice to Cruz as they prepare for their outing. Ehsan makes it to the club. Cruz inquires about their company which involves a regimen of bankers and investors from New York’s top firms. He corrects Aaliyah’s claim of agents from Goldman and Sachs being in attendance. He says all the investors are at Grundy’s where he wanted to go. Knowingly, Aaliyah reminds him that everyone ends up here because they get hungry.

Outside the club, Joe and the team discuss the best way to get eyes on their targets. Joe cons the door attendant (Scott Swope) to let her skip the line but she immediately gets hit on by some seemingly random reveler, Polo (Mike Heslin). She just as quickly runs the admirer off with claims of having a boyfriend in the NFL. Joe’s victory is only short-lived when she receives a call from Neil with the news of Kate’s pregnancy.

Joe goes to the bar where she is joined by Cruz. Joe and Cruz notice each other from afar but neither makes any attempt to close the distance. Cruz is hit on by Polo as well. Joe is shocked when Cruz asks the man to dance. Kaitlyn pulls up beside the team and asks about Joe. Upon learning that a pull and replace isn’t applicable, she says to tell her to reach out as soon as possible. Returning to the bar, Polo slips something into Cruz’s drink.

Cruz goes lightheaded before fight breaks out on the dance floor. Aaliyah’s security immediately moves in and whisks everyone away. In the vehicle, Aaliyah and Joe realize that Cruz has been snatched. Joe contacts Randy (Austin Hebert) while Aaliyah informs her security guards of Cruz missing. They promise to return to look for her, but Joe and the team are already on the hunt. It doesn’t take Joe long to catch up and subdue Polo with ease. The rest of the team is soon on the scene helping. Joe punishes Polo. Taking his ID and DNA samples, she promises to kill him should he lead the cops to them.

Arriving back at the safe house, Cruz’s condition finally starts to improve. Despite her condition, Joe declares her unfit for operative work. Kaitlyn arrives and asks how Cruz is going to handle Riyadh or Damascus. Aaliyah calls Cruz. Joe shows Kaitlyn the call and promises to get the girl ready. Kaitlyn has other matters to discuss. Joe’s diversions regarding her daughter’s wreck aren’t enough to table the discussion. Soon, Joe learns that there is footage of her team’s involvement in the hot extraction at the border.

 

Special Ops: Lioness Review

Kyle comes under hot water for his unauthorized extraction. Westfield and Kaitlyn force him to give up Sam as his accomplice. Sam gave him Two Cups, Randy, and Tucker for the extraction to protect his mission. The informant is supposed to lead him to five Al Qaeda terrorists.

Kate and several friends are involved in a motor vehicle collision. Kate’s injuries are minor compared to her friends, one of which died. During the examination, it is determined Kate is pregnant. After careful discussion, they agree an abortion will be her best option.

Joe and her team continue to stake out the Amrohi bluff house. Aaliyah confesses to not wanting to marry Ehsan. Cruz tries to convince her to not go through with it but she doesn’t have an option. Polo spikes Cruz’s drink. A fight on the dance floor is enough distraction to subdue her. Aaliyah alerts her security team while Joe and her team capture Polo.

Felt like a filler episode from start to finish. Nothing much added to the story, such a waste. The episode deserves a 5.5. Get more Special Ops: Recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating to our site. Our onsite advertising builds brand awareness, click the link to learn more.