Untamed Review — Eric Bana and Stunning Landscapes vs. a Predictable Plot

For the past few weeks, Netflix’s most-watched show has been the limited series Untamed, created by Mark L. Smith. This is already his second hit this year following American Primeval. The two shows have a lot in common: they’re beautifully and professionally shot, driven primarily by strong performances and immersive settings, and can captivate viewers for a few hours. But they both rely too heavily on genre clichés and ultimately fail to offer anything truly fresh. In the case of Untamed, the story falls apart so badly in the second half that all of its early promise ends up wasted.

Untamed is a detective drama set in Yosemite National Park. During a climbing expedition, two young men stumble upon the dead body of a girl — her corpse literally falls on them from above. Authorities quickly rule it an accident, but one ranger isn’t convinced. The skeptic’s name is Kyle Turner, played by Eric Bana. Turner quickly uncovers the first signs of foul play and launches an investigation into the dark secrets of Yosemite. Helping him are Chief Ranger Paul Souter, played by Sam Neill, and Naya Vasquez, a newly transferred ranger from Los Angeles who’s unaccustomed to working in the wild.

Untamed opens with promise — largely due to the numerous parallels one can draw between this new show and David Lynch’s classic Twin Peaks. There’s the remote, isolated setting, the mystery of a dead girl that reverberates through the entire story, and a town full of characters with skeletons in their closets. Unsurprisingly, the one with the most secrets is the lead, Kyle Turner, who’s still reeling from a long-past family tragedy. He’s become rough, reclusive, and has a drinking problem, making many doubt his reliability. But Turner is truly the best of the rangers: incredibly observant, deeply familiar with nature, and above all, principled and driven.

Almost every major character in Untamed is either running from their past or trying to atone for old sins. For example, the likable newcomer Naya Vasquez — Turner’s eventual partner — isn’t entirely honest with him or anyone else in the Yosemite department. She didn’t leave Los Angeles for no reason. Even Turner’s ex-wife, who appears to have started fresh after their shared trauma, is hiding behind a false sense of peace and withholds important information from the audience for quite a while.

The first half of the series does a solid job of engaging viewers with a mystery: who’s hiding what, and how might it connect to the central investigation? The issue is that the early theories you’ll likely form — are probably correct. The plot of Untamed unfolds in the most predictable way possible.

The writers try to introduce twists and surprises only near the very end, but they’re neither compelling nor logical. One key confrontation in the final episode initially seems narratively justified, but then the writers add extra backstory that makes the entire climax feel completely forced and unwarranted.

Still, even though the puzzle pieces don’t come together in a particularly elegant way, that doesn’t mean Untamed lacks redeeming qualities. Eric Bana single-handedly carries much of the show with his excellent performance. The dynamic between him and his partner — which begins as a reluctant and antagonistic collaboration and slowly grows into genuine friendship — is quite engaging, even if it’s a familiar trope. Finally, Untamed is a visually stunning series that delivers majestic landscapes in nearly every other shot.

If you’re looking for some easy-to-digest viewing over a couple of evenings, Untamed isn’t the worst pick. But fans of complex detective stories — especially those well-versed in the genre — can safely skip this one. You won’t be missing much.

Have you already watched the series? What did you think? Let us know in the comments.