It seems Sheridan has regained the attention of both the general audience and critics with this third season of Lioness. Paramount’s go-to creator is back on the path to success after what felt to me like missteps in previous seasons of his other projects—and in this show’s own second season. A shift in narrative tone and pacing was desperately needed, even if it meant sacrificing certain tropes that once seemed defining elements of his signature style.
In his forties, Sheridan managed to reinvent himself, transitioning from actor to screenwriter and producer, with Sicario breaking out as his first major triumph back in 2012. Then came Yellowstone, the cash cow that spawned a massive media franchise I like to call the "Sheridan Universe." But overextending his writing talent caused him to stumble, and Lioness took a heavy hit in its second season.
I bring up his creative background because understanding his trajectory helps you truly appreciate what this third season achieves. I think Sheridan, like many creators, fell victim to industry trends and started catering to studio executives, when his initial breakthrough was built on original storytelling and the nerve to pitch projects others rejected.
That bold streak has always defined him. Few people know that Yellowstone was originally set for HBO with Robert Redford attached to star. So how did it land at Paramount? HBO executives couldn't suspend disbelief over a storyline where a single family owned that much land. Returning to raw, intense, unapologetic storytelling—and exposing the vulnerabilities of a nation presumed to be the ultimate superpower—is precisely the foundation of Season 3's success.
After a second season weighed down by bloated subplots and excessive family melodrama, they finally cut the fluff and got right back to the show's core: tactical tension and operational pressure. That’s what hooked me in Season 1—the constant on-the-fly tactical breakdown and the high-stakes problem-solving under fire.
I give the shift in pacing a standing ovation; it needed it badly. Doubling down on a ticking-clock structure—with a tight window to pull Joe out before she's taken out of the country—was a masterclass move. Plus, using time skips effectively killed off the sluggish, repetitive feel of previous episodes. I also loved the moral ambiguity and cold pragmatism. There are no flawless heroes delivering hollow patriotic speeches here. Instead, it portrays a gritty reality where government operatives and mercenaries execute dirty work, and morality is a luxury nobody can afford because results are the only priority.
Where this season resonated most with me, though, was in its geopolitical cynicism. Living in a country where this is a daily reality, watching a global superpower expose its cracks by aligning with questionable allies hits close to home. On a personal level—and I think for the audience at large—Sheridan’s greatest achievement was bringing back that looming sense of dread. Without glorifying anyone, showing the sheer brutality of war and the fragility of those pulling the triggers, he delivers the mature, gritty military thriller we fell in love with in the first place.
Media from TMBD gallery
Rating: 90/100
Originally posted through scrobble.life/tv.
