In Netflix’s new mystery-thriller, “Untamed,” detective work confronts the immense challenge of a million-acre wilderness, where a single crime can unravel a web of secrets and long-buried wounds. Written by Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith, the limited series is set in Yosemite National Park and follows Kyle Turner (Eric Bana), a special agent for the National Park Service’s Investigative Services Branch. When a body is discovered, Turner begins an unyielding quest for the truth in a story that examines the primal aspects of human nature.
The series opens with two men scaling the granite face of El Capitan. As they near the top, their climb is violently interrupted when a woman’s body plummets from the summit, nearly sweeping them off the rock. Park rangers, including Chief Paul Souter (Sam Neill) and LAPD transfer Naya Vasquez (Lily Santiago), arrive to question the climbers, but their inquiry is cut short by the arrival of Turner. Stoic and dismissive, he promptly takes command of the investigation.
With other rangers unwilling to work with the abrasive agent, the rookie Vasquez becomes his reluctant partner. She soon recognizes that despite his off-putting demeanor, Turner uncovers crucial evidence that others have overlooked. He quickly deduces that the victim, Jane Doe #1711, was dead before her fall and had likely been hunted by her killer.
While navigating a crime scene the size of Rhode Island, Turner is also grappling with his own personal trauma. He maintains a friendly rapport with Chief Souter and a close bond with his ex-wife, Jill (Rosemarie DeWitt), but as he and Vasquez work to identify the victim, details of Turner’s past begin to emerge, causing his colleagues to question his fitness for the case.
In a crowded field of investigative dramas, the creators of “Untamed” deliver a distinctive series by using the park’s grandeur as more than just a backdrop. The six-episode narrative skillfully infuses elements of past investigations, Indigenous practices, and complex human relationships, creating a uniquely textured story.
The characters provide exceptional depth. Bana portrays Turner not as a simple curmudgeon, but as a man tortured by the past that destroyed his marriage, now channeling his pain into finding justice for the victim. Likewise, Vasquez, a single mother adjusting to the rugged landscape, keeps her own life closely guarded.
Deeply layered and gripping, “Untamed” is a brilliant detective tale anchored by our worst human impulses. It is a story of pain, shame, and the hope for redemption, exploring themes of justice, control, and who gets to be remembered. The series serves as a powerful reminder that, in the end, our true nature will always be revealed.
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