Who Is the 'Lioness' Mole? Fans Name Suspects After Season 3 of Taylor Sheridan's Hit Show Ends on Cliffhanger

Is the mole in this picture? From left, Michael Kelly, Nicole Kidman and Morgan Freeman play high-ranking CIA officials on ‘Lioness’ (Credit: Instagram/Lioness @lionessplus)

The latest season of the hit Paramount+ show 'Lioness' ended with a cliffhanger. While the mastermind behind Joe McNamara's (Zoe Saldaña) kidnapping was revealed in the final minute of the last episode, one question remains unanswered: Who was giving them the information?

A new season hasn't been greenlit yet, which leaves fans in limbo. But while waiting for the announcement of a new season, fans are having fun guessing who the mole could be.

So yeah, Aliyah is the mastermind but who’s the mole ?
We still don’t know who the mole is #lioness
pic.twitter.com/qDX9Qy77nv

— Apex (@Apex_willye) September 20, 2026

Could It Be Kaitlyn's Husband?

One of the more popular suspects is Errol Meade (Martin Donovan), Kaitlyn Meade's (Nicole Kidman) husband. Errol is a financial investor. Because of the sensitive nature of Kaitlyn's work in the CIA, the couple rarely discuss their professional lives with each other.

However, in one moment this season, the couple had a cryptic discussion that led Kaitlyn to believe that Ukraine could be behind Joe's attack. That piece of information led to the death of a Ukrainian operative, who, the audience later found, was not behind the kidnapping.

Who do you think is the mole in Lioness Season 3?

— MoviePlus📺 (@MoviePlusx) September 15, 2026

The Ukrainian Agent Ruled Out

Oleksandra Balakin, an operative of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service and a long-term mole inside Russia's SVR, has been one of the more popular mole suspects. However, the last episode appeared to rule her out.

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Suspicion Falls on Joe's Husband

Neal McNamara (Dave Annable) is another name that keeps cropping up in conversations. But this is more divisive because Neal, a doctor, has no ties to the enemies. He is only Joe's husband—or is he?

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'I wonder why people think Joe's husband could be the mole. That's like putting his family in harm's way, doesn't make sense to me,' a viewer said on X.

I wonder why people think Joe's husband could be the mole.
That's like putting his family in harms way, doesn't make sense to me.
Kaithylin's husband was looking sus in episode 8.
I will just see how it unfolds.

— St Vincent (@Vincent404) September 15, 2026

While another said: 'I've always suspected Joe's husband, he has been portrayed as "too fragile" and that will be the ultimate twist in the series if it's him. But if not him, then all this soft fragility in our faces is unnecessary.'

I've always suspected Joe's husband, he has been portrayed as "too fragile" and that will be the ultimate twist in the series if its him.

But if not him then all these soft fragility in our faces is unnecessary. https://t.co/zL6ixCU4EL

— Obong ⚽️🏀🇳🇬 (@Obongbillion) September 15, 2026

CIA Officer Amber Whalen Under Scrutiny

Amber Whalen (Dawn Olivieri) is a CIA intelligence officer. While trying to find Joe in an abandoned neighbourhood, she stopped members of the Quick Response Force from entering one particular house during a sweep. That house was later revealed to be where Joe was being held.

These are the top candidates for position mole in lioness, honorable mention:Neal but i feel too bad for him I’ll drop the charges.😂#lioness pic.twitter.com/ybpp0EqRGZ

— Laurel🦇 (@wasuptalababy) September 17, 2026

Michael Kelly's Future Beyond 'Lioness'

Kelly plays one of the highest-ranking CIA officers in 'Lioness.' Byron Westfield is the deputy director for CIA operations. He seems quite loyal to Kaitlyn and very concerned for Joe.

However, it is his work outside 'Lioness' that made people believe he could be the mole. It was recently announced that he will be joining Sheridan's other hit show, 'Landman.' Could his new role have any bearing on his future in 'Lioness'?

Okay I’m finally caught up on Lioness. Who else is watching this?
Who do you think the mole is? I’ll go first — Byron. pic.twitter.com/5FS7bNKuuq

— Mike Bales 🫡🇺🇸 (@MikeBales) September 17, 2026

Is a QRF Member the Traitor?

As station chief of the CIA's Lioness program, Joe McNamara has her own QRF team comprising Bobby (Jill Wagner), Two Cups (James Jordan), Tucker (LaMonica Garrett), Randy (Austin Hebert) and Tex (Jonah Wharton). Cruz (Laysla de Oliveira) later joined as the new Lioness, while helicopter pilot Josie (Genesis Rodriguez) became part of the wider team.

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They worked so hard to get Joe back this season, but could one of them be the mole? As the season finale revealed, Joe and America's actions have created plenty of enemies—so the mole could be anyone.