The Lie Is The Truth – The episode opens in East Hampton, Long Island. Cruz Manuelos (Laysla De Oliveira) is driving down the highway when Aaliyah (Stephan Nur) calls to ask how far away she is from her house. Cruz tells her that she is close but the weather is hampering their plans. Aaliyah urges her to get there before she misses her surprise. On a three-way call, Bobby (Jill Wagner) informs Cruz of the surprise being a “spa day.” Joe (Zoe Saldana) warns Cruz that Aaliyah will never forget her lies, suggesting she tell the truth with different details. Kaitlyn Meade (Nicole Kidman) alerts Joe that the debrief has been moved to the White House. Errol (Martin Donovan) tells Kaitlyn that the Secretary of state’s visit to Poland has been canceled. He claims the National Security Advisor asked if she went to San Antonio. She says the Qudrah Petrol mole operates a bank for terrorists. She says his arrest will put black-market oil valued at $80m back on the market.

Asif (Richard Haddad) greets Cruz when she arrives. During the massage, Cruz tells Aaliyah that she could never afford a facial. Aaliyah reminds her that she went shopping in Kuwait. Claiming it was her uncle’s money, Cruz says he was desperate to see her married. Aaliyah promises to find her a husband who is a dreamer with money. Cruz describes her dream husband. Later, a masseuse escorts Cruz to the shower where Aaliyah joins her. Cruz hurriedly wraps herself in a towel. Aaliyah asks if she has ever been in a steam room before. Cruz says when she was a boxer. Aaliyah asks if that is how she got the bruises. Cruz says a man beat her. Aaliyah asks why she allowed it. Denying the accusation, Joe beat him until he no longer had a face. Aaliyah promises to be a friend who stands up for her if she never lies again. Alone, Cruz questions her actions.

Safe House – Tucker (LaMonica Garrett) points out that Asif never leaves his post. Tex (Jonah Wharton) questions if the security system is in-house. Tucker suggests the system utilizes a Nest app. The sound of breaking glass grabs their attention. Armed and geared up, they make their way through the safe house. They stun two assailants when someone looks outside to see a get-away vehicle. The driver lights a cigarette when his driver’s window is busted out. Jerking him out of the vehicle, Two Cups (James Jordan) subdues him. Bobby sarcastically tells him that he picked the wrong house.

During the debriefing, Chief Of Staff Mason (Jennifer Ehle) asks Kyle McManus (Thad Luckinbill) to explain what happened. He denies any knowledge of an extraction at the border before admitting to having a San Antonio safe house under surveillance. She points out that he does not have authorization to order surveillance. Bryon Westfield says the request was submitted to the ATF through the NSA. Hollar (Bruce McGill) questions why he did not go through the FBI. Kyle claims to have alerted the FBI and ATF after surveillance footage revealed Maher Al Agal Lieutenant Mohamed Mahmoud at the San Antonio safe house. He says after SWAT removed the threat, explosives were discovered. Secretary Edwin Mullins (Morgan Freeman) tells him that the NSA was monitoring the safe house from the inside and a satellite. Joe says the bomb detonation hindered her ability to identify Mohamed. They discuss the kill mission which Kaitlyn believes was based on speculation, not evidence. Westfield supports the kill mission because sitting on intel could have resulted in another 911.

Mullins and Mason agree to dismiss Kyle before moving to the Hamptons’ surveillance. Kaitlyn assures them that they are close to bringing down Amrohi. Joe tells them that a Lioness is on the inside with Aaliyah. Mullins asks if the Lioness can make contact with the target. Joe says if the Lioness cannot neutralize the target, the QRF will be dispatched. She claims to have the authority to order a missile strike. Mason asks if the Lioness is a “sacrifice.” Joe informs them of the impending point of contact, a wedding scheduled for December 7. Hollar labels the mission “Operation Yellow Jacket” and the authorization code “Mabel.” Kaitlyn asks why they are taking over their operation. Mullins reminds her of their “fire-fight” and “kill mission.”

Two Cups informs Joe of the attempted robbery at the safe house. Joe calls Kyle to ask him to help the three assailants lose their memories. Kyle spots Congressman Hay Adams (Alexander Blaise) making out with a woman. He warns him that a Post reporter is sitting to his left. Joe tells Kaitlyn that she does not buy it. Kaitlyn assures her that the San Antonio kill mission is an excuse because they do not need to “resolve on Amrohi.” Joe says Amrohi sends money to terrorist groups. Kaitlyn suggests Saudi and America want the region destabilized.

Kyle enters the safe house to deal with the thieves (Edward Brence, Amit Barnathan, Braxton Fannin). After collecting DNA samples, he gives each of them a stack of cash. He threatens to kill them and their families if they tell anyone about the safe house. Randy (Austin Hebert), Tucker, and Two Cups escort the blindfolded, barefoot men to their vehicle.

Cruz cries while watching “The Notebook.” Aaliyah suggests she will never be in love or experience heartbreak. Cruz urges her to not get married. Aaliyah says it is out of her hands. Cruz denies ever being in love.

Joe arrives home to find Neal (Dave Annable) trying to make the room wheelchair accessible. During a nightcap, they discuss Kate (Hannah Love Lanier). She promises it will be just the two of them from here on out. They get intimate.

Cruz wakes to find Aaliyah excited about the wedding venue, Mallorca. Caught up in the excitement, she kisses Cruz. They kiss passionately until Cruz pulls back when the episode ends.

 

Special Ops: Lioness Review

Three men attempt a break-in at the safe house. The assailants are restrained. Kyle bribes them with cash and deadly threats to protect the Lioness surveillance.

Kaitlyn, Kyle, and Joe attend a debriefing at the White House. Mullins grills Kyle about the San Antonio kill mission. When Westfield supports the kill mission, Mullins and Mason take over Lioness. The mission is labeled “Operation Yellow Jacket.”

Cruz spends the weekend with Aaliyah. After learning her wedding will take place in Mallorca, Aaliyah kisses Cruz. The kiss turns into another more passionate kiss until Cruz pulls away.

The long-winded, preachy debriefing is forgettable and unimportant. A basic explanation would have been more effective. The break-in at the safe house was cringeworthy. A cash bribe and threats would not stop criminals from talking. Besides, the petty criminals had no idea the property was a safe house. The unnecessary SWAT takedown may have given it away but doubtful.

The plot seems to have been forgotten along the way.

The episode deserves a 5. Get more Special Ops: Lioness recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Our onsite advertising builds brand awareness, click the link to learn more.