Where Is Laysla De Oliveira's Cruz Manuelos In Lioness Season 2?

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Special Ops: Lioness

Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers from Lioness season 2, episodes 1 and 2.

Laysla De Oliveira starred as Sergeant Cruz Manuelos in the first season of Lioness on Paramount+, but the character is curiously missing at the beginning of season 2. The spy thriller TV show created by Taylor Sheridan centers around the CIA's Lioness program. Zoe Saldaña's Joe McNamara leads the program in the field, while Nicole Kidman's Kaitlyn Meade, a high-ranking CIA official, is the one officially in charge of it. They select a highly skilled female operative to go undercover and infiltrate terrorist organizations and other groups that pose a threat to the United States. In season 1, the Lioness was Cruz.

Taylor Sheridan's spy thriller series changes its name from Special Ops: Lioness to Lioness in season 2.

Cruz was a Force Recon Marine who joined the United States military to escape an abusive relationship. She thrived in the Marines, catching Joe's eye. As a result, Joe chose Cruz as her next Lioness and gave her a mission — become friends with the daughter (played by Yellowstone actor Stephanie Nur) of a terrorist, Asmar Ali Amrohi. Unfortunately, the operation didn't exactly go very smoothly. Season 1's ending made it seem like Cruz wouldn't return to the Lioness program, but never say never.

What Happened To Cruz At The End Of Lioness Season 1

Cruz Said She Was Done With The Lioness Program

Cruz fell in love with her target, Aaliyah Amrohi, in Special Ops: Lioness season 1, making everything more complicated. Aaliyah, the daughter of a terrorist who had been arranged to marry a man named Ehsan, reciprocated Cruz's feelings, but their love story was always meant to end in tragedy. The night before the wedding, Cruz was talking with Asmar when Ehsan stormed in after learning the Lioness' true identity. Cruz killed them both and escaped by the skin of her teeth, with help from Joe and her QRF team during Special Ops: Lioness season 1's ending.

Cruz claimed the Lioness program had turned her into a monster, and she blamed Joe for everything.

Laysla De Oliveira's character was forced into many traumatic situations over the course of Special Ops: Lioness season 1. By the finale, she had had enough. After killing the terrorist and his soon-to-be son-in-law, Cruz attacked Joe on the rescue boat. She was a wreck, heartbroken by the fact that she would likely never see Aaliyah again. Cruz claimed the Lioness program had turned her into a monster, and she blamed Joe for everything. As a result, Cruz said she was done being a Lioness, which is why many thought De Oliveira wouldn't be in the Lioness season 2 cast.

Every Yellowstone Actor In Special Ops Lioness

Special Ops: Lioness is a new Paramount+ series from the mind of Taylor Sheridan, who also created the hit show Yellowstone and its prequels.

Does Cruz Appear In Lioness Season 2?

Laysla De Oliveira's Character Isn't In The First 2 Episodes

Laysla De Oliveira is nowhere to be found in the two-part premiere of Lioness season 2 on Paramount+. Given how season 1 ended, it's not surprising that she's seemingly not associated with the Lioness program or in contact with Joe. However, De Oliveira is still listed in the Taylor Sheridan TV show's opening credits, suggesting Cruz will return in season 2.

Lioness Season 2 Cast

Role

Zoe Saldaña	Joe McNamara
Laysla De Oliveira	Cruz Manuelos
Dave Annable	Neal McNamara
Nicole Kidman	Kaitlyn Meade
Morgan Freeman	Edwin Mullins
Genesis Rodriguez	Josephina "Josie" Carrillo
Michael Kelly	Byron Westfield
Thad Luckinbill	Kyle McManus
Jill Wagner	Bobby
LaMonica Garrett	Tucker
James Jordan	Two Cups
Austin Hébert	Randy
Jonah Wharton	Tex
Hannah Love Lanier	Kate McNamara
Martin Donovan	Errol Meade
Max Martini	Tracer
Kirk Acevedo	Gutierrez
Patricia de Leon	Maria

It's unclear what kind of role Cruz will have in Lioness season 2, but it's clear that she has one. De Oliveira wouldn't still be included in the spy thriller's opening credits if she wasn't set to appear. Viewers will just have to wait to see when (and why) Cruz pops up in Lioness season 2.

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.

Release Date July 23, 2023

Showrunner Taylor Sheridan

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