Lioness and the 4 best political thrillers on Paramount+

Since its launch, Paramount+'s original show fare has varied a lot. There's an emphasis on sci-fi shows with the Star Trek franchise and some pure dramas and crime shows. They haven't delved into the political thriller genre like other streamers, with most of their fare being CBS series. Yet there are a few original shows on the streamer to check out and these five are up the alley of anyone wanting to see some good politics mixed with wild thrills. 

Lioness

With a second season coming, it's an excellent time to pick up this fantastic female-driven military show. Zoe Saldaña heads a special branch of the U.S. military that mainly employs female operatives. She recruits a soldier (Laysla De Oliveira) to go undercover in a terrorist operation, which puts her in a lot of danger.

Nicole Kidman brings her usual star power to the CIA official in charge of the program and often handles the muddy political waters. Morgan Freeman makes a rare TV appearance as the Secretary of State with as many scenes in conference rooms as battlefields. It's a terrific show thanks to Saldaña and Kidman's clashes and the political thriller adds to the appeal. 

Rabbit Hole

It ran just one season yet this 2023 thriller is worth checking out. Kiefer Sutherland plays John Weir, a corporate spy who could give Jack Bauer a run for his money. He excels at using blackmail and other tactics to ruin lives, only to have the tables turned when he's framed for murder. On the run with a woman he just met and turning to aid from his father (Charles Dance), Weir tries to find out who's behind this.

Sutherland is at his usual best in the action scenes and has some good facets navigating who's behind this and why. The political overtones are smaller than in other series, yet the action and pacing are great, amping up the tension toward the finale. It's too bad it only lasted one year, as it's another great TV part for Sutherland to make it worth a watch. 

Mayor of Kingstown

This show falls more under crime series but as the title indicates, politics come into play. Jeremy Renner plays Mike McClusky, whose family are the de facto "Mayors" of a Michigan town run by a company that has its own prison. When his older brother dies, Mike has to take up leadership and keep the cops, gangs, prison guards and city officials from going to war. 

Renner is very compelling in the lead as Mike rises to the challenge and it's a fun turn in that rather than political forces, he has to negotiate with killers, crooks and monsters…and those are on the police side. Dianne Wiest has a major turn as his mother and there's a good supporting cast. Thus, as a mix of crime thriller and political drama, it's a powerful show to take in. 

The Good Fight

The Good Wife was a hit legal drama but its spinoff series puts more focus on politics. It's there from the beginning as Diane Lockhart (Christine Baranski) loses almost all her money to a Ponzi scheme and joins a new activist firm. The series is a time capsule of 2017-2022, as politics are often front and center, with the firm tangling with various federal officials and reacting to some of the wilder political moments of those years. 

The show can be more dramatic and satirical yet it contains some gripping turns and puts folks in danger such as Diane falling in with a dangerous activist group and facing the higher levels of government. It may be tricky at times, but it is always addictive to watch one of the best original shows on Paramount+. 

SEAL Team

Wrapping up its seven season run, this show (which started on CBS and then moved to Paramount+) is a terrific full-on military thriller. David Boreanaz leads Bravo Squad, an elite SEAL Team sent to the most dangerous spots in the world. The show packs in plenty of action while also dealing with the political fallout of the team's missions and how the red tape of the Pentagon gets in their way.

There's wonderful storylines on the personal lives of the team and how they handle the stress of this life as well as the frustration of being undermined by politicians in and out of the Pentagon. It's no wonder it's become such a hit as non-military viewers can still be enthralled by this exciting show.