UNTAMED

Untamed weaves an enticing mystery infused with the wilderness and natural wonder of Yosemite National Park, that when paired with the always compelling and great Eric Bana in the lead role, makes for a rewarding Netflix binge.

The wilderness has a unique effect on individuals and always makes for a great backdrop for character driven stories to play out in. And while the series may not be shot on location in Yosemite National Park, the natural wonder of British Columbia, Canada and aerial stock footage of Yosemite plunges audiences into a world of beauty and danger as the latest murder mystery limited series unfolds. Heralding from writers Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith, with Mark L. Smith being a writer behind such hits as The Revenant, Twisters and The Boys in the Boat, Untamed follows a special agent for the National Park Services who in the course of his investigation of a death in Yosemite National Park, discovers a far more dangerous secret within the park and in his own past, creating a personal reckoning that he is not able to avoid. Over the course of six episodes, a compelling character drama unfolds full of lots of twists and turns, intricate character drama, and a raw emotion, that when combined with the gripping performances of Eric Bana and Rosemarie DeWitt, makes for one limited series that viewers won’t be able to avoid clicking next episode on.

Murder mystery crime shows have a set narrative expectation for them as viewers watch the protagonist get closer and closer to the deadly truth, and Untamed is no different. Playing out as expected, with reveals at the end of each episode to deepen the mystery and keep audiences watching, the structure of the limited series packs no surprises. But, the writing of Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith keep the direction of the story surrounded in secrecy as key elements of the crime are revealed, ensuring that audiences will not be able to guess the truth behind the death that Agent Kyle Turner is investigating. While the pacing is slow at times, each episode is deliberately plotted to misdirect viewers as to the motive behind the crime while dropping critical pieces of information to the secret behind it, even if audiences aren’t aware of the pieces of key information being provided to them, at the same time as weaving in Turner’s past. It results in a gripping character drama as this investigation demands everything of Turner, blending riveting character drama with an addictive criminal drama that ensures audiences will be hooked over the six episode limited series.

If there is an underappreciated leading actor in Hollywood with an immense talent that has not been given his proper due, it is that of Eric Bana. As Turner, Bana fully commits and becomes this damaged investigator, haunted by his past and unwilling to fully face it, throwing himself into this investigation despite the personal ramifications it has for him. He performs it all with a raw vulnerability that makes every stare from Turner pierce the viewer’s heart and create an emotional undercurrent to the entire series. Matching Bana is Rosemarie DeWitt as Turner’s ex-wife Jill, who is responsible for developing the complex bond between their characters as she tries to save Turner despite the consequences it has on her life. As we have seen from her before, DeWitt brings a charm, compassion and grace to Jill that is a light within the story’s darkness, creating beautiful moments on screen with Bana and moments of pure personal tragedy as she navigates the trauma that originally tore her and Turner apart.

Starring alongside Bana and DeWitt is Sam Neill, Lily Santiago and Wilson Bethel in the key supporting roles, and each of them is superb. Neill brings a wisdom as the chief park ranger, helping Turner stay composed throughout the investigation as he sees his friend struggling to cope; Santiago brings a fresh determination as Turner’s new partner Naya, also juggling her character’s own past and the trauma she has brought into the park with her; while Bethel brings a mysterious danger as Shane Maguire, the park’s Wildlife Management Officer who lives in the park and by his own rules. As an ensemble, they work excellently with Bana and DeWitt, ensuring that the compelling character arcs and interactions in the screenplay blossom on screen and keep audiences invested in the unfolding mystery.

Being set in Yosemite National Park, there is an expectation that Untamed will feature stunning shots of nature. And it does, with the aerial shots of Yosemite capturing the beauty of one of America’s most famous national parks. Though, the limited series is not actually shot in Yosemite, but instead in the Pacific Northwest in British Columbia, Canada. While obviously done for production and financial reasons, and there is no denying the natural beauty of the locations that are used for the series, Yosemite is not considered part of the Pacific Northwest and the often cloudy and gloomy weather of British Columbia creates a different visual style for the show. This gloomier atmosphere does match the inherent darkness in the story, even if it doesn’t feel fully authentic for the setting, especially when contrasted to the aerial stock footage of Yosemite, it's hard not to be taken back by the difference in nature of the of where the story is meant to unfold versus where filming occurred.

Are you ready to get lost in the wilderness in search of the truth? That is the proposition that the latest Netflix limited series poses to viewers, as it spins an engrossing murder mystery investigation that makes six episodes fly by. With the character driven and intentional writing of Mark. L Smith and Elle Smith ensure that every detail serves a specific purpose in the overall story, even if the audience may not be aware of its purposes at the time, delivering a murder mystery that will keep audiences guessing until the final shocking reveal. While the strong writing and ample amount of twists and turns is certain to keep viewers on their toes, the outstanding lead performances of Eric Bana and Rosemarie DeWitt add a layer of emotional devastation that helps to make Untamed a sophisticated thriller full danger, secrets and personal reckonings that is destined to hook audiences until its grand reveal.