Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers from Lioness season 2, episodes 1 and 2.Laysla De Oliveira as Sergeant Cruz Manuelos is out and Genesis Rodriguez as Captain Josephina “Josie” Carrillo is in inLionessseason 2.Cruz served as the Paramount+ spy thriller series' first Lioness in season 1,and Josephina takes her place in season 2. As many may recall,Special Ops: Lionessseason 1 endedwith Cruz completing her mission but also severing ties with Zoe Saldaña’s Joe McNamara and the Lioness program. So, heading into season 2, the team has to find a new highly skilled female operative for their next mission.
The name of the Paramount+ spy thriller series changes fromSpecial Ops: Lionessto simplyLionessin season 2.
Joe put Cruz through the wringer inSpecial Ops: Lionessseason 1, but unfortunate circumstances also accounted for the Lioness' trauma inthe Taylor Sheridan TV show. The Force Recon Marine fell in love with her target — Aaliyah Amrohi, the daughter of a terrorist. Of course, this complicated the entire operation and gave Cruz an influx of conflicted feelings. In the end, Cruz felt as if Joe and the Lioness program had turned her into a monster, causing her to walk away. So,Joe (well, technically Kyle) finds a new operative to complete a high-stakes mission inLionessseason 2.
Genesis Rodriguez Plays The New Lioness, Captain Josephina Carrillo
Rodriguez Previously Starred In The Umbrella Academy
Genesis Rodriguez joinsthe cast ofLionessseason 2as Captain Josephina “Josie” Carrillo, Joe’s new Lioness.The actress doesn’t appear until towards the end of episode 2since the first one-and-a-half episodes are spent setting up this season’s story. However, when Rodriguez does finally show up, her character proves to be a force to be reckoned with.
Special Ops: Lioness
Josephina “Josie” Carrillo
Before starring inLionessseason 2, Rodriguez appeared in a variety of movies and TV shows, notablyThe Umbrella Academy. The actress joinedthe cast ofThe Umbrella Academyseason 3as Sloane Hargreeves/Sparrow Number Five, her most prominent role to date. Rodriguez has also starred in a handful of Telemundo telenovelas, includingPrisionera,Dame Chocolate, andDoña Bárbara. Viewers might evenrecognize Rodriguez’s voice as she played Honey Lemon inBig Hero 6andBig Hero 6: The Series.
Josephina Carrillo’s Connection To The Los Tigres Cartel In Lioness Season 2
Josie Is The Los Tigres Cartel’s Leader’s Niece
In season 2 of Paramount+‘sTV showLioness, Genesis Rodriguez’s character, CaptainJosephina Carrillo, is chosen as Joe’s next Lioness because of her seemingly close connection to one of the targets — Alvaro Carrillo.Alvaro is Josephina’s uncle and also happens to be the leader of the Los Tigres Cartel in Mexico. However, Josephina claims that she has never been in contact with Alvaro or any of her extended family south of the border. Josephina’s father (and Alvaro’s brother), Pablo Carrillo, immigrated to the United States with his aunt and uncle when he was five years old.
It’s Honestly Wild That This 56% Rotten Tomatoes Show With Nicole Kidman & Morgan Freeman Exists
Taylor Sheridan’s star-studded series Lioness features Nicole Kidman, Morgan Freeman, and Zoe Saldana yet still received poor reviews among critics.
Pablo later joined the Army and gained citizenship during the Gulf War. In the present time in the world ofthe Nicole Kidman TV show, Pablo is an immigration lawyer living in Dallas, Texas. Despite never having earned over $110,000 in a year, Pablo and his family live in a multi-million dollar mansion. So, it’s obvious to Joe and her team that Pablo is in contact with his brother. Meanwhile,Josephina is a highly decorated helicopter pilot in the Army,making her the perfect person to become a Lioness and infiltrate her own family in Mexico.
Why Josephina Carrillo Is Being Recruited As The New Lioness
Joe & Her Team Want Josephina To Infiltrate The Los Tigres Cartel
The CIA plans to get Josephina dishonorably discharged from the Army inLionessseason 2 on Paramount+. It can’t be faked either — the Army has to legitimately (and publicly) kick her out, catching her uncle’s attention. Once Josephina is dishonorably discharged, they expect the Los Tigres Cartel to reach out to her since she’s a skilled helicopter pilot and recruit her to their side.The cartel and Alvaro would want Josephina to use her experience to fly cargo from Mexico into the United States.All the while, Josephina would be gathering intel and trying to identify the real target.
Josephina should have unparalleled access to the cartel and MSS, giving her the means to find this agent.
On the surface, Alvaro and the Los Tigres Cartel might seem like the target, but they aren’t. In reality, the CIA has learned there is aChinese agent with the Ministry of State Security who is the real mastermindbehind Congresswoman Hernandez’s kidnapping. The Los Tigres Cartel might be the ones on the ground, but MSS is pulling the stringsin Taylor Sheridan’s TV show.
Lionessseason 2 contains eight episodes, with the first two premiering on Sunday, October 27, and the finale dropping on Sunday, December 8, on Paramount+.
So, Josephina should have unparalleled access to the cartel and MSS, giving her the means to find this agent. Once she does,Josephina will serve as a Trojan horseby flying a team to the MSS agent. They will then either catch or kill him based on the President’s orders.
What Happened To Laysla De Oliveira’s Cruz Manuelos?
Cruz Doesn’t Appear In The First 2 Episodes Of Lioness Season 2
While all this is happening in the first two episodes ofLionessseason 2,Laysla De Oliveira’s Sergeant Cruz Manuelos is nowhere to be found.Not one character has even mentioned the show’s first Lioness. However, even though Cruz is not a part of the main story at the start ofLionessseason 2 doesn’t mean she won’t appear later inthe Paramount+ original TV series.
Martin Donovan
Errol Meade
De Oliveira is included inLionessseason 2’s opening titles,which makes her absence confusing, but it’s also a good sign for those wanting to see Cruz. De Oliveira’s character will likely appear in some capacity following the two-part premiere. Although, it’s unclear when Cruz will show up. Until then,Lionessseason 2 will continue building upon and focusing on Josephina’s character as she is Joe’s new Lioness.
Lioness
Cast
Special Ops: Lioness is a Paramount+ original series starring Zoe Saldana and Nicole Kidman. The series centers on a marine and a CIA agent who work together with the daughter of a dangerous terrorist group to destroy the organization. Taylor Sheridan (Yellowstone co-creator) and Jill Wagner created the series, which was directed by Paul Cameron and Anthony Byrne.
