Netflix has unleashed a psychological crime drama that’s electrifying audiences worldwide. Premiering on June 19, 2025, Untamed stormed to the top of Netflix’s U.S. TV charts with 9.2 million views in its first week, outshining The Waterfront’s 8.3 million debut. Crafted by visionary showrunner Lena Voss and anchored by Oscar nominee Cillian Murphy as a tormented detective, Untamed is being crowned “the most intense ride of 2025” by critics and fans alike. Featuring a powerhouse cast with Florence Pugh and Viola Davis, a labyrinthine plot, and a raw exploration of instinct and betrayal, the series plunges viewers into Boston’s shadowy underworld, where survival demands unleashing one’s inner beast. From its groundbreaking one-take episodes to its haunting score, here’s why Untamed is redefining Netflix’s 2025 thriller lineup and gripping the globe.

A Wild Hunt in Boston’s Underbelly

Set against Boston’s rain-soaked, neon-lit streets, Untamed follows Detective Liam Kane (Cillian Murphy), a brilliant but broken investigator whose primal instincts drive his pursuit of justice. When a series of brutal murders shakes the city, each victim marked with cryptic symbols evoking raw survival, Kane is drawn into a deadly game with a killer known as “The Wild One.” This elusive predator targets society’s outcasts, forcing them to confront their untamed desires before death. Teamed with forensic psychologist Dr. Elise Harper (Florence Pugh) and veteran profiler Margaret Cole (Viola Davis), Kane unravels a conspiracy tying Boston’s elite to the killings, testing his own fragile hold on humanity. “Untamed is about what happens when we let our instincts take over,” Voss told The Hollywood Reporter. “It’s raw, primal, and unflinching.”

Drawing from Nordic noir and the psychological depth of Mindhunter, Untamed blends visceral realism with surreal intensity. Its innovative one-take episodes, praised in Tom’s Guide for the UK drama Adolescence (March 13, 2025), immerse viewers in Kane’s relentless chase. “The opening sequence, with Kane sprinting through a storm-drenched Boston alley, is heart-stopping,” critic Alix West wrote in Tom’s Guide (June 9, 2025). “It’s like you’re inside his mind.” Trent Reznor’s chilling score, described by TechRadar as “a sonic beast,” elevates the suspense, echoing the atmospheric dread of Revelations, another 2025 Netflix thriller (March 22, 2025).

A Plot That Claws at the Soul

Untamed grips from its opening frame: a murder in a derelict Boston warehouse, where a victim is found with a symbol—a jagged claw—etched into the floor. Kane, estranged from his teenage daughter Sarah (Lily Gladstone) after a case that shattered his marriage, is haunted by his own untamed past, making the investigation deeply personal. Harper, a young psychologist hiding her own scars, brings empathy to the team, while Cole, a profiler burdened by a decades-old failure, suspects the murders link to an unsolved case from her past. As they delve deeper, they uncover a secret network of power brokers exploiting Boston’s forgotten, with The Wild One as their lethal enforcer.

The series’ strength lies in its relentless unpredictability. “Every episode is a gut-punch, twisting what you thought you knew,” Variety raved. Voss’s narrative weaves red herrings and shocking betrayals, with a mid-season reveal—described as “a claw to the heart”—shattering the team’s trust. X users have been fervent, with posts like “Untamed’s Episode 4 twist broke me! 😱” (@ThrillerFanX) capturing its emotional weight. The eight-episode season, each 45-60 minutes, builds to a finale that Digital Spy called “a primal scream you won’t forget.” The Wild One’s identity remains elusive, with clues suggesting ties to Kane’s own history, keeping viewers on edge.

A Cast That Roars

Cillian Murphy’s portrayal of Liam Kane is a tour de force. Known for Peaky Blinders and Oppenheimer, Murphy imbues Kane with a raw intensity, balancing stoic resolve with inner turmoil. “Cillian makes Kane’s struggle feel like your own,” Voss told The Urban List. Florence Pugh, fresh from Dune: Part Two, shines as Harper, her empathy masking a hidden edge. Viola Davis, as Cole, commands every scene, her past failures fueling her relentless pursuit. Supporting players, including Riz Ahmed as a cryptic journalist and Anya Taylor-Joy as a witness linked to the killer, add depth to the ensemble.

Lena Voss, director of The Survivors (a 2025 Netflix hit with a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score), brings her signature intensity to Untamed. Her one-take sequences, inspired by Adolescence (Tom’s Guide, March 13, 2025), create a visceral urgency, while cinematographer Sarah Blenkinsop’s moody Boston visuals—rain-slicked streets, shadowy warehouses—amplify the dread. Reznor’s score, lauded by TechRadar as “a predatory force,” weaves a chilling thread, making Untamed a sensory juggernaut.

The Cost of Unleashing Instincts

The series’ tagline—“In this city, instincts are a death sentence”—captures its core. Kane’s personal battles mirror The Wild One’s savage philosophy. His estrangement from Sarah, revealed through flashbacks of a case gone wrong, is a constant wound. Harper’s idealism clashes with her buried trauma, while Cole’s past mistakes haunt her pursuit. “Untamed explores what happens when we give in to our rawest selves,” Voss told Screen Rant. “It’s not just about survival—it’s about what you lose to survive.” This theme, akin to Revelations’ dive into trauma (Tom’s Guide, March 22, 2025), makes Untamed a psychological thriller that lingers.

The show also tackles broader issues—corruption, privilege, and the price of truth. The secret network, hinted to involve Boston’s political and financial elite, echoes The Waterfront’s family empire (Netflix Tudum, June 25, 2025). Kane’s willingness to bend ethics, much like Mickey Haller in The Lincoln Lawyer, adds moral complexity, challenging viewers to question who the true predators are. “It’s not about catching the killer,” Pugh told Variety. “It’s about what you become in the chase.”

Public Reaction and Cultural Impact

Untamed has sparked a global frenzy, boasting a 92% Rotten Tomatoes score from 60 critic reviews. The Guardian called it “a psychological masterpiece,” while fans on X dubbed it “2025’s wildest ride,” with posts like “Cillian Murphy in Untamed is unreal—Episode 5 destroyed me!” (@CillianFanX). The series topped Netflix’s global charts, outranking Squid Game: Season 3, and inspired memes about Kane’s brooding intensity. Vietnamese fans, comparing Murphy to “Nam 9” (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), have flooded X with fan art, praising the show’s emotional depth.

The one-take technique has drawn technical acclaim, with Collider lauding its “immersive brilliance.” Some critics, like Screenhub Australia, noted occasional pacing dips, similar to Revelations’ second half (Tom’s Guide, March 22, 2025). Still, Untamed’s exploration of instinct and betrayal has fueled discussions, with X users debating Kane’s choices under #Untamed2025. The series has boosted Boston tourism, with fans flocking to filming locations like the Old South Church, per Boston Globe.

A Twist of Fate: The London Connection

A real-world anecdote adds intrigue. In June 2025, during a London press event for Untamed, Murphy was spotted at a Crisis charity gala, donating £10,000 and sharing a story about a homeless man’s broken watch that inspired a key scene in Episode 6, where Kane finds a clue in a pawned locket. The moment, shared on X by @CillianFanUK, went viral, fueling fan theories about the show’s inspirations. “Murphy’s heart is as wild as Untamed,” one user wrote, adding to the series’ mystique.

What’s Next for Untamed

Netflix has confirmed Season 2 for 2026, with Voss teasing “a deeper dive into Kane’s instincts.” Murphy, Pugh, and Davis will return, with rumors of Mahershala Ali as a new antagonist. “We’re just beginning to unleash the beast,” Voss told Deadline. The series’ success cements Netflix’s 2025 thriller dominance, alongside The Waterfront and Adolescence (The Urban List, June 7, 2025).

Untamed is more than a crime drama—it’s a primal odyssey that claws at the soul. Stream it now on Netflix and prepare for a journey that will leave you questioning the wild within. As one X user put it, “Untamed is 2025’s fiercest thrill ride.” Don’t miss the roar.