In the ever-competitive landscape of streaming entertainment, few shows have captured the collective imagination quite like Netflix’s Untamed. Debuting on July 17, 2025, the six-episode mystery thriller quickly ascended to the top of Netflix’s global charts, amassing a staggering 24.6 million views in its first few days alone. This viewership metric, calculated as total hours viewed divided by runtime, underscores the series’ immediate appeal, blending heart-pounding suspense with the breathtaking yet treacherous backdrop of Yosemite National Park. Now, just weeks after its premiere, Netflix has greenlit Season 2, with creator Mark L. Smith teasing a narrative that delves deeper into personal demons, unforgiving wilderness, and a plot twist poised to redefine the show’s core.

The mystery that gripped the world is returning—but this time, it’s more personal, more dangerous, and far more disturbing. As the agent dives back into America’s unforgiving wilderness, a new case forces him to confront the one thing he’s never faced before: himself. One twist could break the case—or break him. Don’t look away now. Season 2 is darker, deeper, and deadlier than ever.

Untamed, co-created by Mark L. Smith (known for The Revenant and American Primeval) and his daughter Elle Smith, follows Kyle Turner (Eric Bana), a haunted special agent with the National Parks Service’s Investigative Services Branch (ISB). Tasked with enforcing human law in nature’s vast, indifferent domains, Turner investigates a brutal murder in Yosemite, unearthing secrets that mirror his own fractured past. The show’s renewal, announced on July 29, 2025, comes as no surprise given its rapid success, but the teases from Smith promise an evolution that could elevate Untamed from a gripping limited series to an enduring franchise.

The Phenomenal Rise of Untamed: Viewership and Critical Reception

From its opening scene—a harrowing climb up El Capitan that ends in tragedy—Untamed hooked viewers with its visceral blend of procedural drama and psychological horror. Premiering amid a summer slate packed with blockbusters, the series debuted at No. 1 on Netflix’s English-language TV list, outpacing competitors like Amy Bradley Is Missing by double the views. This 24.6 million figure not only reflects binge-watching fervor but also the show’s global resonance, drawing audiences from urban dwellers craving escapism to nature enthusiasts intrigued by its authentic portrayal of national parks.

Critically, Untamed has garnered solid acclaim, holding an 80% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Reviewers praise its “visually sumptuous backdrop” and Eric Bana’s “steady star power,” which anchors the murder mystery amid Yosemite’s majestic yet ominous landscapes. The Guardian called it a “blunt force thriller,” highlighting Bana’s portrayal of a taciturn agent whose silence speaks volumes. Variety described it as “gutting and unnerving,” an “assessment of the human condition” that exposes animalistic instincts when cornered. However, some critiques note uneven pacing and “chunky” writing that occasionally drags, earning mixed user reviews on platforms like Reddit, where it averages a 5/10 for its narrative flaws despite stunning visuals.

The Hollywood Reporter lauded its “promising” setup, drawing comparisons to True Detective for its atmospheric dread and character depth. Roger Ebert’s site emphasized the terrifying opener, setting a tone of peril where nature itself feels antagonistic. Overall, the reception positions Untamed as a standout in Netflix’s thriller catalog, akin to The Night Agent or Fool Me Once, but distinguished by its wilderness setting.

Diving into Season 1: Plot Summary and Key Elements

At its core, Untamed is a taut, six-episode tale of murder, secrets, and redemption set against Yosemite’s granite cliffs and dense forests. The story begins with the discovery of a young woman’s body at the base of El Capitan, initially presumed a climbing accident. Enter Kyle Turner, a brooding ISB agent scarred by the unsolved murder of his son Caleb years earlier. Turner, played with brooding intensity by Bana, is a man of few words, preferring the solitude of the wild to human connection.

Paired with rookie ranger Naya Vasquez (Lily Santiago), a sharp-witted transplant from Los Angeles bringing urban investigative flair, Turner uncovers that the victim, dubbed Jane Doe (later revealed as Lucy Cook), was no accidental faller. The probe reveals layers of deceit among park residents: chief ranger Paul Souter (Sam Neill), Turner’s mentor and father figure; ex-wife Jill Bodwin (Rosemarie DeWitt), who shares his grief over Caleb; and wildlife officer Shane Maguire (Wilson Bethel), a volatile ex-army ranger living off-grid.

As clues mount—blackmail, hidden affairs, and park poaching—the investigation mirrors Turner’s internal turmoil. Flashbacks reveal Caleb’s death tied to a botched case, fueling Turner’s guilt and isolation. The wilderness amplifies this: avalanches, wildlife encounters, and treacherous terrain symbolize the characters’ emotional landscapes. Themes of grief, betrayal, and humanity’s clash with nature dominate, with Yosemite portrayed not as idyllic but as a “character” harboring dangers.

Production-wise, though set in Yosemite, filming occurred in British Columbia for logistical reasons, using Vancouver’s landscapes to mimic the park’s grandeur. Directed by Thomas Bezucha in parts, the series boasts cinematography that captures the park’s dual beauty and brutality, enhancing the thriller’s tension. Executive producers include Bana, the Smiths, John Wells, and others, with Warner Bros. Television as the studio.

Character Analysis: Depth Amid the Wild

Eric Bana’s Kyle Turner is the show’s linchpin, a stoic archetype reminiscent of his roles in Black Hawk Down and Troy, but infused with vulnerability. Haunted by Caleb’s murder, Turner embodies repressed trauma, his silence a shield against pain. Bana’s performance, marked by subtle facial cues and physicality, conveys a man teetering on breakdown, making his arc from isolation to tentative hope compelling.

Lily Santiago’s Naya Vasquez provides contrast—a vibrant, empathetic foil whose city smarts clash with rural realities. Her bond with Turner evolves from mentorship to mutual respect, humanizing him. Sam Neill’s Paul Souter exudes paternal warmth, masking complexities that unfold dramatically. Rosemarie DeWitt’s Jill adds emotional layers, exploring post-divorce grief and lingering love. Wilson Bethel’s Shane Maguire injects volatility, his loner persona evoking survivalist paranoia.

Supporting roles, like Raoul Max Trujillo as a Native American guide and Joe Holt as a fellow agent, enrich the ensemble, highlighting cultural tensions in park management. The characters collectively probe themes of masculinity, loss, and nature’s indifference, with women like Vasquez and Bodwin challenging traditional gender roles in thriller narratives.

Thematic Exploration: Man vs. Nature, Self vs. Shadow

Untamed transcends typical procedurals by weaving ecological and psychological threads. The wilderness isn’t mere setting—it’s antagonist and mirror. Yosemite’s cliffs symbolize insurmountable grief, forests hide secrets like repressed memories. The show critiques human intrusion into nature, from poaching to unchecked tourism, paralleling personal invasions of privacy and trust.

Grief is central: Turner’s unresolved loss drives his obsession, echoing real ISB agents’ high-stakes isolation. Betrayal emerges as a motif, questioning loyalty in tight-knit communities. The series also touches on Indigenous land rights, with Trujillo’s character underscoring historical injustices. Psychologically, it delves into the “untamed” self—instincts unleashed when civilization crumbles, akin to The Revenant‘s survival ethos.

Visually and aurally, the show excels: Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans’ score amplifies tension, while practical effects ground the horror in realism.

Spoiler-Filled Ending Analysis: The Wild Twist That Shocks

[Warning: Major spoilers ahead for Untamed Season 1.]

The finale delivers a gut-wrenching twist: Paul Souter, Turner’s trusted mentor, is Lucy Cook’s biological father and inadvertently caused her death. Lucy, blackmailing Paul over their affair to protect his family, met her end on El Capitan when Paul’s warning shot startled her into jumping. Motivated by desperation to safeguard his loved ones, Paul’s actions spiral into tragedy, exposing the fragility of moral boundaries.

This revelation shatters Turner, forcing him to confront betrayal from a father figure, compounding his guilt over Caleb. Suspended after clashing with Maguire (revealed as a red herring poacher), Turner leaves Yosemite, gifting his horse and Caleb’s toys to Vasquez—symbols of release. The ending blends catharsis with ambiguity: Turner’s departure hints at healing, but his nomadic future sets up peril.

Thematically, it reinforces self-confrontation: Turner’s mirror in Paul’s downfall warns of unchecked trauma. The twist, while shocking, feels earned, tying loose ends while teasing expansion.

Creator Teases Season 2: A New Park, Deeper Twists

Mark L. Smith, in interviews, promises “more to tell,” with Season 2 thrusting Turner into an “impactful” new case in a different national park. “This won’t be the first park he’s been in since Yosemite. He’s been busy,” Smith says, indicating Turner’s interim cases have hardened him. The new location, chosen for contrast—perhaps a swampy Everglades or arid Death Valley—will “feel different,” organic to the case without repeating motifs like mountain falls.

Smith teases discomfort: Turner, once authoritative, will be “on his back foot,” akin to Vasquez’s rookie status, stumbling in unfamiliar terrain. New inhabitants will aid or hinder, potentially including returning cast like Neill or DeWitt, though details are TBD. “We loved our cast,” Smith notes, hinting at callbacks. The plot twist? Smith alludes to something “uncomfortable,” forcing Turner to face unresolved self-doubt, possibly linking to Caleb’s killer or a personal conspiracy.

Elle Smith emphasizes the park as “character,” influencing Turner’s psyche. Production may shift locations, building on British Columbia’s success. No release date yet, but anticipation builds for 2026.

Cultural Impact and Future Prospects

Untamed taps into zeitgeist trends: eco-thrillers amid climate awareness, post-pandemic wilderness escapism. Its success boosts Netflix’s Americana slate, alongside Virgin River. Social media buzz, with TikTok clips of Bana’s intensity and Yosemite vistas, amplifies reach. The renewal signals potential anthology elements, each season a new park, new horrors.

Bana’s star turn revitalizes his career, while diverse casting spotlights underrepresented voices. As Smith teases, Season 2’s twist could “change everything,” promising a darker dive into the untamed human spirit.

In a genre saturated with urban crime, Untamed reminds us: the wildest threats lurk within—and without. As fans await, one thing’s clear: there’s indeed more to tell.