‘Untamed’ Review: A Scenic Thriller That Plays It Safe

In Untamed, the camera pans lovingly across the jagged peaks and endless forests of Yosemite National Park, and that’s where the show is at its best, when it lets the landscape do the talking. What follows is a rugged and often compelling mystery that plays by the numbers, led by a gruff Eric Bana doing his best “lone wolf in the wild” routine.

Bana plays Kyle Turner, a Special Agent with the Investigative Services Branch, part lawman, part lone ranger. Although his demeanor is cold and his taste in transport is strictly equestrian, Turner’s skills are undeniable. His role fits the mold of the classic tortured detective, complete with a traumatic backstory and a bottle of bourbon just off-camera.

The story begins with a shock: a body falls mid-climb onto a pair of stunned hikers. That disturbing image sets the wheels in motion for what initially appears to be a straightforward investigation. But as Turner starts poking into the cracks, it’s clear there’s more to this than an unlucky fall. Alongside him is rookie ranger Naya Vasquez (Lily Santiago), a recent transplant from L.A. who has her own baggage and the patience to tolerate Turner’s cold shoulder.

The early episodes work best when focusing on the tension between the characters and the environment. Turner is more tracker than cop, analyzing broken twigs and weather patterns like the forest whispers secrets only he can hear. It’s a clever conceit, but not a fresh one, and despite an intriguing story Untamed leans heavily into familiar territory.

The series flirts with grandeur, tossing in brief hints of broader themes such as a criminal network, cover-ups, environmental politics etc. but it rarely pursues them with depth. There’s some effort to echo True Detective vibes, but only in aesthetic. The philosophical musings and existential dread are swapped out for gunfights and horse chases.

Untamed delivers reliable drama, it doesn’t reinvent the genre, but it doesn’t have to.

The deeper conspiracy it teases doesn’t really twist so much as meander. The shadowy network operating behind Yosemite’s postcard exterior, offers some intrigue but once the pieces fall into place, you’ll most likely have solved the puzzle already. For a series that flirts with themes of deception and survival, Untamed plays it surprisingly safe.

Still, there’s no shortage of talent in the cast. Sam Neill lends weary gravitas as Turner’s superior, a man caught between bureaucratic pressures and doing the right thing. Rosemarie DeWitt brings emotional resonance as Turner’s ex-wife, hinting at a more vulnerable man behind the badge. And Santiago, as Vasquez, delivers a grounded performance that holds the series together when it starts to drift.

And despite its shortcomings, Untamed delivers reliable drama. It doesn’t reinvent the genre, but it doesn’t have to. The story moves, the performances land, and the scenery…well, the scenery is stunning enough to forgive a few narrative shortcuts. And while the final twist won’t blindside seasoned viewers, it ties the mystery together well enough.

With just six episodes, Untamed doesn’t overstay its welcome. It’s rugged, simple, and mostly satisfying. Not the smartest thriller out there, but certainly one of the best looking.

All six episodes of Untamed are now available on Netflix.

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