Where is Laysla De Oliveira’s Cruz Manuelos in Lioness Season 2?

Spoiler alert: The following article contains spoilers for 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 start of season 2. The spy thriller TV show created by Taylor Sheridan revolves 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 officially in charge of it. They select a highly skilled agent 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.

Cruz was a Force Recon Marine who joined the United States Army to escape an abusive relationship. She thrived in the Navy, catching Joe’s attention. As a result, Joe chose Cruz as his next Lioness and gave him a mission: befriend his daughter (played by yellow stone actress Stephanie Nur) of a terrorist, Asmar Ali Amrohi. Unfortunately, the operation didn’t go very well. The Season 1 finale made it seem like Cruz wouldn’t return to the Lioness show, but never say never.

What happened to Cruz at the end of Lioness Season 1

Cruz said he finished the Lioness program

Cruz fell in love with his target, Aaliyah Amrohi, in Special Operations: 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 destined to end in tragedy. The night before the wedding, Cruz was talking to Asmar when Ehsan appeared after discovering the Lioness’s true identity. Cruz killed them both and narrowly escaped, with the help of Joe and his QRF team during Special Operations: Lioness end of season 1.

Laysla De Oliveira’s character was forced to go through several traumatic situations throughout Special Operations: Lioness season 1. By the end, she had had enough. After killing the terrorist and his future son-in-law, Cruz attacked Joe on the rescue boat. She was devastated, heartbroken over the fact that she would probably never see Aaliyah again. Cruz claimed that the Lioness program turned her into a monster and blamed everything on Joe. As a result, Cruz said she got tired of being a Lioness, which is why many thought that De Oliveira would not be in the Lioness season 2 cast.

Does Cruz appear in Lioness season 2?

Laysla De Oliveira’s character is not in the first 2 episodes

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

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