Special Ops: Lioness Season 1 Episode 8 Recap

Gone Is The Illusion Of Order – The finale opens with Cruz Manuelos (Layla De Oliveira) and the team arriving at the International FBO airport in Barcelona, Spain. On the plane, Joe (Zoe Saldana) gives Cruz a quick rundown of the necklace and bracelet beacons she’ll be wearing. She informs her that their signals cannot be scrambled before mentioning Kyle (Thad Luckinbill) as her closest contact. Before exiting the plane with Kyle, Bobby (Jill Wagner) assures Cruz the team will come if she activates the beacon. A waiting vehicle takes Kyle and Cruz to their commercial flight to Mallorca where Cruz is later picked up by Aaliyah Amrohi’s (Stephanie Nur) security people.

White House’s Situation Room – Edwin Mullins (Morgan Freeman) demands to know why Byron Westfield (Michael Kelly) is alone. Byron explains that Cruz is already embedded and there is no calling off the mission. As for Joe, he says that she cannot simultaneously lead a QRF force and steer operations. Mason (Jennifer Ehle) asks what their options are. Byron says they can send in an asset to get Cruz which will likely cause an incident or they can let the mission play out. Byron adds that if they don’t intervene it’ll give the impression they weren’t involved. Hollar (Bruce McGill) agrees before highlighting the problems the mission causes with the President’s Paris trip. Byron suggests bringing the President home if a drone strike is necessary. However, if Cruz can neutralize the target there is nothing that can lead it back to the US. Hollar agrees before requesting to speak with Byron alone.

Once alone, Hollar voices his concerns about Amrohi’s (Bassem Youssef) death impact on oil prices and China and Russia’s response. Byron asks if he’d rather Amrohi keep stealing oil and using the profits to kill. Hollar suggests it is better than putting world leaders in a situation that they can’t handle.

Mallorca, Spain – As Cruz is picked by Aaliyah’s security, Joe and her team encounter two agents at the dock. Joe is shown where the gear is stored while Tucker (LaMonica Garrett) gets a rundown of the controls. Byron calls Kaitlyn Meade (Nicole Kidman) to warn that the committee is contemplating aborting the mission for fear of Russia and China’s feedback.

Fortaleza Estate In Mallorca – The White House committee is shocked by the wedding security protocol as they monitor Cruz from a satellite feed. Mason asks how they will get Cruz out. Mullins insists they can’t order a strike on-site. Byron says Cruz has limited options to neutralize the target but is trained to do so if the opportunity arises. He says the ideal scenario is for Cruz to mark Amrohi, so they can follow and target him offsite.

Ehsan (Ray Corasani) asks Cruz about her trip to New York. Cruz says Aaliyah loves him but frets her life will change. Cruz voices concern about her life not changing. He calls her a liar before backhanding her. He vows to never let her see Aaliyah again after tonight. He demands she say nothing to Aaliyah.

Joe’s House – Neal (Dave Annable) is awakened by Kate’s (Hannah Love Lanier) screams. He sits at her bedside while she talks to Joe about not saying goodbye to her deceased friend. Joe scolds Neal for letting Kate call her during a mission.

Fortaleza Estate In Mallorca – Aaliyah explains the wedding details to Cruz before saying they’ll have breakfast with her father. Cruz reminds her of what she said about her father not attending. Aaliyah claims her mom said it was too dangerous for him. Cruz assures her there are people in the oil business who don’t have security concerns. Aaliyah says some people believe Amrohi is a terrorist but he just sells oil without sanctions. She suggests Amrohi chose Ehsan because he is a smart investor. Cruz tells her that Ehsan knows about their time together in New York. She says in 2 days all she will know about love is what she’ll imagine.

Joe and her team dock about 50 feet from the shore. Utilizing a spy satellite, Joe and Katilyn monitor Amrohi’s movement. Watching the same feed, the situation room erupts in pandemonium with staffers seeking solutions. Although Byron claims Cruz cannot be extracted without grave risks, he reaches out to Kaitlyn. She scolds him for calling her.

Aaliyah visits Cruz’s room in the middle of the night. She admits to not wanting to marry Ehsan. Cruz urges her to tell him how she feels. Aaliyah assures her that it wouldn’t matter before asking Cruz to hold her one last time. Seconds later, Cruz reminds Aaliyah that she doesn’t know her. Aaliyah believes Cruz wants to be with her. Their kiss ends when Cruz leaves to get a drink. Running a report on Cruz, Ehsan discovers a photo of her in Marine fatigue. He finds Cruz and Amrohi talking in the kitchen. He says Cruz is a Marine. A physical dispute ensues and ends when Cruz kills Ehsan and Amrohi. Joe and her team race to the shore as Cruz activates the beacon. Aaliyah discovers the bodies as Cruz is overtaken by armed guards. Joe and her team take out the guards. Cruz and the team reach the yacht. A short time later, Joe assures Cruz that she made history by killing Amrohi. Cruz says the only thing she did was inspire the next generation of terrorists and alter oil prices.

Upon returning home, Kaitlyn tells Errol (Martin Donovan) that the price of crude oil is dropping by eight dollars a barrel. Neal tells Joe that he doesn’t sleep when she’s gone. Breaking down in tears, complains about the difficulty of the mission. The episode wraps with them embracing.

 

Special Ops: Lioness Review

The mission was chaotic, infantile, and cringeworthy. All the hype ends with Cruz killing Amrohi within minutes. A finale so monotonous viewers will kick themselves in the rear for tuning in.

The finale deserves a 5.2. Get more Special Ops: Lioness recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Our onsite advertising builds brand awareness, click the link to learn more.