‘Untamed’ Review: Eric Bana and Lily Santiago Anchor Netflix’s Intriguing but Rushed Yosemite-Set Mystery

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In the debut of Netflix’s “Untamed,” the character played by Eric Bana, Kyle Turner, makes a crucial appearance at a crime scene on horseback. His weathered face stands out starkly, and his stiff demeanor contrasts against the landscape reminiscent of British Columbia, mimicking the rugged beauty of Yosemite National Park.

One park ranger playfully addresses Turner with a mix of sarcasm and respect, calling him “Gary-style Cooper,” which undeniably illustrates the writers, Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith, aiming for a similar iconic figure as Gary Cooper in their creation.

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The park ranger teasingly yet admiringly dubs Turner as “Cooper-like Gary,” suggesting that the creators, Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith, are striving to emulate the legendary status of Gary Cooper’s characters.

Although mostly filmed in Canada and starring an Australian as the brooding main character (with a New Zealander playing his compassionate guide), the movie “Untamed” aims to evoke a nostalgic piece of American Western culture, deliberately targeting the audience that has propelled shows like “Yellowstone” and its spin-offs into one of television’s most lucrative franchises.

Despite Netflix categorizing it as a limited series, “Untamed” is not necessarily self-contained. It’s a meticulously crafted six-episode thriller with frontier undertones that could resonate with enthusiasts of mystery series such as “Slow Horses”, “Reacher”, and “Dept. Q”. Additionally, it shares a similar structure to “True Detective”, but offers less philosophical contemplation, which might appeal to viewers seeking something slightly different.

The captivating start of Untamed unfolds as two unidentified climbers scale El Capitan. Suddenly, a deceased woman tumbles down from the peak, causing all three to teeter precariously towards the ground, and inducing a feeling of dizziness in viewers with a fear of heights, despite the fact that it appears this scene is mostly computer-generated or digitally combined (as many aspects within this production seem to be).

The case in question is owned by Turner, who is an experienced special agent from the Investigative Services Branch, having spent many years working at the park following a short stint with the FBI. He’s uncertain, but he believes he might recognize the deceased woman, as she bears mysterious markings such as a gold “X” tattoo and injuries that appear to be caused by an animal attack. Some aspects of the case become unclear once it’s resolved, but these details may not matter much by the conclusion – and the show is designed in a way that allows you to overlook minor inconsistencies.

Turner possesses the keen eye of a classic, brilliant detective often seen on prestigious TV series, and he has experienced a significant personal hardship similar to many leading characters in these dramas. Due to his genius, he doesn’t tolerate ignorance, which initially leads to some friction with Naya (Lily Santiago), a park ranger who recently moved from Los Angeles and is assigned to help, albeit unwillingly.

Due to his recent personal hardship and an alcohol issue that the show doesn’t fully disclose, Turner often worries Paul Souter (Sam Neill), a longtime mentor who is also the park’s head ranger, and his ex-wife Jill (Rosemarie DeWitt), a realtor who remarried Scott (Josh Randall), a man whose decency is so unremarkable that he fades into insignificance when not standing beside Jill.

Interestingly enough, the case of the deceased woman is linked to an old missing person’s case from Turner’s past. However, it’s important to note that this isn’t the same as another missing person from his past who’s also becoming relevant. This connection seems to bring a resolution that’s overly neat, which suggests that the show might have too few characters for any intricate developments in terms of suspects.

At first glance, “Untamed” appears to delve into intricacy. Upon Turner’s arrival at the initial crime scene, there’s a brief exchange about who holds jurisdiction. I found myself eager to grasp the pecking order among rangers, local law enforcement, the park superintendent, and whatever the ISB represents – prepared to unravel the unique challenges of solving a murder within a national park.

This version maintains the original’s meaning but aims for a more conversational and engaging tone while still preserving the formal structure of the writing.

There are preliminary signs that the show, Untamed, could potentially address the labor shortages stemming from the National Park Service, which has seen about a quarter of its full-time staff leave due to cuts under the current administration. I pondered: Could Untamed be the pioneer in portraying the ominous shadow of DOGE layoffs? Will Untamed opt to highlight the importance of preserving our national parks, or will it view them as unnecessary expenses in our oversized federal budget? Ultimately, the answer seems to be a resounding “No.

I enjoy mysteries that are presented in unexpected settings, and “Untamed” occasionally leverages being based in Yosemite for this purpose. For instance, it substitutes a typical dive bar with a tourist lodge, and the concept of such a vast, largely unexplored natural preserve allows for the existence of squatters living off the grid and people disappearing with unsettling regularity.

Despite the intricacies in jurisdiction, the limited geographical range, and an uncanny repetition of Yosemite landmarks, the setting in “Untamed” seems underutilized compared to shows like Spectrum and Paramount+’s “Joe Pickett.” Instead of immersing viewers into the environment, “Untamed” fails to capitalize on this crucial plot element as effectively as “Joe Pickett,” a series about a Wyoming game warden dealing with crime and corruption near Yellowstone, played by an actor from Alberta.

As a gamer diving into the world of Untamed, I found myself initially intrigued by its promising premise, but sadly, it didn’t quite live up to expectations. Instead of delving deep into the complexities of the plot, it opted for a familiar tale, laden with too many worn-out tropes.

From the sad backstory of Turner that was surprisingly revealed, to Wilson Bethel’s character transformation from a sniper to an animal control agent, and even the overused trick of using a dead person’s face to hack their phone, Untamed often takes the easy route rather than focusing on substance.

Despite the rapid pace of the show, it utilizes shortcuts, a common trait in such genres. At its core lies an intriguing mismatched duo – Bana and Santiago – that is typical of shows in this category. Bana exudes a rugged efficiency, portraying stern authority and a hint of seasoned maturity without delving too deep into emotional turmoil, thereby maintaining the focus on mystery rather than character study. On the other hand, Santiago offers an endearing innocence and convincing sarcasm, adding a dash of humor to the series that may not be expected given Mark L. Smith’s previous works, such as “The Revenant” and “American Primeval” on Netflix.

Neill and DeWitt possess deep characters, yet they bring a touch of warmth whenever they’re present, sometimes seeming a bit forced into the narrative, such as when Jill unexpectedly takes care of Naya’s child with no apparent reason. Suggestions of an underutilized ensemble with potential arise from actors like Raoul Max Trujillo, JD Pardo, and Alexandra Castillo.

Overall, it was mainly due to the performances of Bana and Santiago, as well as the unique environment, that I found myself thoroughly captivated by “Untamed“. An uncommon thought crossed my mind during viewing: It might benefit from an additional episode or two. Therefore, Netflix could potentially reconsider labeling it as “limited”.

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2025-07-17 10:25