IR TV Review: SPECIAL OPS - LIONESS - EPISODE 8 (“Gone Is The Illusion Of Order”) [Paramount+]
Context and space plays a big part in creating and executing a character. "Special Ops: Lioness" is an interesting animal in that up to the last episode, one didn't know which way writer/creator Taylor Sheridan would move the needle of the character of Cruz. It could go many different ways to create tension and also encompass the breathe and depth of character considering what had happened in the past two episodes. What the season finale episode (#8): "Gone Is The Illusion Of Order" does is bring it to a head and doesn't waste time. The finale moves briskly and with purpose. Sheridan and director John Hillcoat understand flow and pace. This one is about action and decisiveness of action even when a character is moving in different ways as are those around her.
The different notes from Jo (Zoe Saldana) to Kaitlin (Nicole Kidman) and back to Cruz (Laysla De Oliveira) reflect exactly where they are and who they need to be without losing context. Even Jill Wagner as Ops Team member Bobby does something really subtle before a certain op begins that really connects what a certain character is going through. Again really subtle versus very obviously progressions which makes what ultimately happen just vivid and visceral. However it also allows the aftermath to resonate and does something really interesting in what it omits. To give any more away would ruin the texture and where the plot goes. It is both open and closed in certain ways and not in others which gives the audience time to ruminate on what the resolution actually means. To add to this, the location and use of music on this specific episode are top notch. It is interesting because the 1st and last episodes of this season are the best with simple gusto but the ones in the middle build what we are going to see. In this way and many others, the show had definitely delivered, especially in this final episode. A
By Tim Wassberg
