Elizaveta Neretin Reflects on Balakin's Fatal Fate in Lioness Season 3
Inside the pivotal narrative decision behind the Paramount+ drama's emotional finale.
At a Glance
- Platform: Paramount+
- Featured Character: Oleksandra Balakin (played by Elizaveta Neretin)
- Key Details: Balakin is executed in Episode 8 under false assumptions regarding Joe McNamara's kidnapping.
- Status: Season 4 has not yet been confirmed.
The High-Stakes Narrative Turn
Following the release of the Season 3 finale of Lioness on Sunday, September 20, actress Elizaveta Neretin addressed the high-stakes demise of her character, Ukrainian double-agent Oleksandra Balakin. In Episode 7, key U.S. officials—Secretary of State Edward Mullins, CIA Deputy Director Byron Westfield, and CIA Special Activities Director Kaitlyn Meade—order Balakin's execution to prevent potential leaks regarding Ukrainian involvement in the kidnapping of Joe McNamara (Zoe Saldaña).
Despite Balakin's complete innocence and loyalty to U.S. interests, two operational agents carry out the hit in Episode 8, leaving her body in an Oklahoma park. The officials mistakenly attribute the abduction first to Ukraine, then later to Iran, while the audience remains aware that both conclusions are inaccurate.
Inside the Decision with Creator Taylor Sheridan
Neretin revealed that show creator Taylor Sheridan personally contacted her to explain why the character's death was essential for the storyline's direction.
“Taylor called me and he said, 'I have to kill her for this story.' I was like, 'Yeah, yeah, checks out. All good.'”
Neretin explained that the sequence emphasizes the harsh realities embedded within the show's operational system. She noted that while viewers align with Joe and American interests, Balakin's tragic fate illustrates the brutal mechanics at play on all sides.
Personal Connections and On-Set Experience
The storyline carried deep personal resonance for Neretin, whose father is Russian and mother is Ukrainian, having met in Moldova during the USSR era. She noted the complexity of delivering lines grounded in those real-world tensions, such as a scene where her character firmly tells Kyle, “Don't you dare call me Russian.”
Reflecting on the heavy emotional demands of the season, Neretin described dramatic acting as an opportunity for cathartic release, while acknowledging the physical toll requiring decompression after intense filming sessions. Addressing why Balakin's actual death was not shown directly on camera, Neretin noted that since the outcome was already established, showing the act itself was unnecessary to convey the story effectively.
