Taylor Sheridan's Paramount+ series "Lioness" returned for its third season on 3 August 2026, marking his latest instalment since the Yellowstone spin-off "Dutton Ranch" concluded on 3 July 2026. The premiere reunites Zoe Saldaña as CIA operative Joe McNamara, though there has been speculation this could be her final season under her original three-year deal, alongside returning cast members Morgan Freeman, Nicole Kidman, Michael Kelly and LaMonica Garrett; despite this, critical reviews mark a notable decline from the show's previous high point, which matters for a series that had been one of Paramount+'s biggest hits.

On Rotten Tomatoes, Season 3 holds a 75% score, down sharply from Season 2's 90% but still ahead of Season 1's 54%. Critics remain broadly positive but divided on quality: Collider's Therese Lacson called it "messy and chaotic," while ScreenRant and CBR reviewers praised it as potentially the show's best season yet, citing an improved balance of action and drama. The season opener, "The Spider and The Fly," was written by Sheridan and directed by Michael Friedman.