In the crowded landscape of crime dramas, Netflix’s Untamed has emerged as a gripping contender, storming to the top of the streamer’s global Top 10 TV list within 24 hours of its July 17, 2025, premiere. Starring Eric Bana as a brooding National Parks Service agent, this six-episode limited series, set against the breathtaking yet menacing backdrop of Yosemite National Park, delivers a slow-burn murder mystery that has critics and viewers buzzing. With an impressive 83% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes and a shocking twist that’s left audiences reeling, Untamed is being hailed as a worthy successor to the likes of True Detective—but with a rugged, untamed edge all its own. Here’s why this series is the must-watch thriller of the summer.

A Wilderness Where Secrets Thrive

Untamed plunges viewers into the vast, untamed wilderness of Yosemite National Park, a setting that becomes a character in its own right. Spanning nearly a million acres of towering peaks, dense forests, and treacherous cliffs, Yosemite is both stunning and foreboding—a place where, as Bana’s character Kyle Turner ominously notes, “things happen different out here.” The series, filmed in British Columbia but evoking Yosemite’s raw beauty, opens with a heart-stopping sequence: two climbers scaling El Capitan are nearly pulled to their deaths when a young woman’s body plummets from above, tangling in their ropes. What initially appears to be a tragic accident is quickly revealed to be a murder, setting the stage for a chilling investigation that uncovers dark secrets buried in the park and in Turner’s own past.

Created by Mark L. Smith (The Revenant, American Primeval) and Elle Smith (The Marsh King’s Daughter), Untamed blends the atmospheric dread of True Detective with the rugged Americana of Yellowstone. The series follows Kyle Turner, a special agent with the National Park Service’s Investigative Services Branch (ISB), a little-known unit tasked with solving crimes on federal lands. Turner, played with gritty intensity by Bana, is a man haunted by the loss of his young son six years prior, a tragedy that fractured his marriage to ex-wife Jill (Rosemarie DeWitt) and left him living in a cabin filled with unpacked boxes, drowning his grief in whiskey. His investigation into the mysterious death of a young woman, initially identified as Jane Doe, pulls him into a web of corruption, drug trafficking, and long-buried secrets that threaten to unravel everything he’s tried to hold together.

A Stellar Cast Anchors the Mystery

The strength of Untamed lies not only in its evocative setting but in its powerhouse ensemble. Eric Bana delivers a standout performance as Kyle Turner, embodying a stoic, weathered investigator whose silence speaks volumes. Critics have praised Bana’s ability to convey both rugged competence and deep emotional pain, with Forbes noting that he “taps into a rugged mountain man exterior while revealing a much more emotionally charged interior world.” His scenes with Rosemarie DeWitt, who plays Jill with a quiet, heartbreaking intensity, are particularly affecting, capturing the complex bond of two people united and divided by unimaginable loss.

Lily Santiago shines as Naya Vasquez, a rookie park ranger and former Los Angeles cop who brings big-city investigative skills to the wilds of Yosemite. Her fresh perspective allows viewers to see the park’s beauty and dangers through new eyes, and her dynamic with Turner—marked by initial friction and growing respect—adds a layer of humanity to the series. Sam Neill, as chief park ranger Paul Souter, brings warmth and gravitas as Turner’s mentor and friend, while Wilson Bethel’s Shane Maguire, a former Army Ranger turned wildlife management officer, injects a volatile energy into the narrative. The ensemble is rounded out by a talented supporting cast, including Raoul Max Trujillo as an Indigenous colleague offering cryptic insights and Joe Holt as a park superintendent more concerned with tourism than truth.

A Slow-Burn with a Savage Payoff

Untamed is unapologetically a slow-burn thriller, taking its time to build tension and develop its characters. The series’ pacing, while occasionally criticized for dragging in early episodes, is deliberate, allowing viewers to sink into the eerie atmosphere of Yosemite and the layered backstories of its characters. As Turner and Vasquez follow clues—from a gold “X” tattoo on the victim’s wrist to a bullet lodged in a tree—the investigation weaves together multiple threads: a drug operation in the park, a missing persons case from Turner’s past, and the lingering trauma of his son’s death. The cinematography, capturing the stark beauty of the wilderness, juxtaposes serene vistas with moments of visceral terror, such as a tense sequence in a flooded mine shaft or a confrontation with a CGI bear that, while not flawless, heightens the sense of danger.

The series’ true power lies in its climactic twist, which critics have described as both shocking and divisive. Without spoiling the reveal, the final episodes tie the murder investigation to Turner’s personal history in a way that Variety calls “gutting and unnerving,” exposing the animalistic impulses that lurk beneath human facades. While some reviews, like ScreenRant’s, argue that the twist feels “predictable and uninspired,” others, such as MovieWeb, praise its emotional weight and narrative payoff, noting that it “delivers what it promised: a taut, textured thriller with no loose ends.” The twist has sparked heated discussions on X, with one user (@itzyeoshin) posting, “Eric Bana’s Untamed had me gripped from that insane opening, but that final twist? I’m still reeling!” Another (@wordslinger1) noted, “#Untamed is a decent murder mystery, but the twist feels like it tries too hard to shock.”

Comparisons to True Detective and Beyond

Untamed has drawn inevitable comparisons to True Detective, particularly its first season, for its brooding protagonist, atmospheric setting, and hints of existential dread. However, the series carves its own path by grounding its narrative in the unique challenges of policing a national park, where jurisdiction is murky, and nature itself can obscure evidence. Unlike True Detective’s philosophical musings, Untamed leans into a more visceral, character-driven story, with a touch of Yellowstone’s rural grit. As ELLE notes, “If you loved the Yellowstone universe for its sprawling landscapes and shots of untamed America, then Untamed is for you.” The series also echoes The Dry, another Bana-led mystery, but distinguishes itself with its wilderness setting and tighter episode count.

Critics have largely embraced Untamed, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 83% based on 23 reviews and an 89% audience score on the Popcornmeter. MoneyControl calls it “a moody, atmospheric thriller that stays with you,” while The Guardian describes it as “perfectly serviceable though oddly retro,” likening Bana’s Turner to “Bear Grylls with a badge.” Some reviews, like IndieWire’s, critique the series for leaning too heavily on familiar tropes, arguing that it “sacrifices what makes it unique in favor of repeating old crime tropes.” Yet, the consensus is that the cast and setting elevate the material, with Forbes declaring it “Netflix’s best new show” for its “killer setting” and compelling characters.

A Binge-Worthy Hit with Flaws

At just six episodes, Untamed is tailor-made for a weekend binge, with a runtime that avoids the bloat of longer series. Its concise format is a strength, as The Los Angeles Times notes, praising the decision to keep the narrative focused on Turner and Vasquez. However, the series isn’t without its flaws. Some critics, including The Daily Beast, argue that the plot feels stretched, with a story that “required two hours, max,” while others point to the inconsistent use of Yosemite’s setting, given the British Columbia filming location. The reliance on CGI for animals and certain action sequences has also drawn minor criticism, with The Hollywood Reporter noting that “fake-looking bears detract from the visual polish.”

Despite these critiques, Untamed succeeds in delivering a gripping mystery that resonates emotionally. The series’ exploration of grief, redemption, and the collision of human and natural worlds gives it a depth that transcends its genre conventions. Posts on X reflect its impact, with one user (@chicagotribune) highlighting Bana’s “solid, grounded turn” and another (@justaida3) calling it “a thriller that keeps you glued to the screen.” The show’s 24.6 million views in its first week, as reported by ELLE, underscore its word-of-mouth popularity, outpacing other 2025 Netflix hits like The Waterfront.

Why Untamed Is Your Next Obsession

Untamed is not a perfect series, but its blend of a haunting setting, stellar performances, and a jaw-dropping twist makes it a standout in Netflix’s crowded crime drama catalog. For fans of True Detective, it offers a fresh take on the genre, trading philosophical heft for raw emotional stakes and a wilderness that feels alive with secrets. Eric Bana’s commanding presence, paired with a talented ensemble and a narrative that keeps you guessing, ensures that Untamed is more than just another mystery—it’s a savage, slow-burn journey that will leave you breathless. All six episodes are streaming now on Netflix, ready to pull you into Yosemite’s dark heart. Just don’t expect to emerge unscathed.