Crafted by the brilliant minds behind The Revenant, co-writer Mark L. Smith and his daughter Elle Smith, Netflix’s six-part Western miniseries, Untamed, hints at a more thrilling whodunit mystery than it ultimately provides. Starring Eric Bana and Sam Neill, the series features a talented cast that unfortunately falls victim to dispassionate storytelling and a lackluster plot reminiscent of superior shows and films. Although Untamed suffers from a tedious pace, it does little to overshadow Bana’s charm as a leading man. The intriguing premise of watching the Chopper and Munich star unravel a murder mystery in the breathtaking American West could potentially attract a significant audience on Netflix, yet Bana deserves a far more engaging and innovative narrative than this.

Discover the Intriguing Premise of ‘Untamed’

Untamed captivates viewers right from its visually stunning and clever cold open. The gripping scene features climbers scaling the majestic face of El Capitan, who narrowly escape disaster when the body of a young woman, played by Ezra Franky, plummets from the summit. However, the narrative fails to create real tension, as the audience quickly realizes this incident is unlikely to be mere accident, marking a missed opportunity for suspenseful storytelling. National Parks Service special agent Kyle Turner (Bana) is summoned to the scene, where he partners with Yosemite’s chief park ranger, Paul Souter (Neill), an old friend. Their relationship is steeped in decades of shared family history, adding depth to their collaboration as they open the investigation into this tragic event.

As the first episode concludes, viewers learn that Turner and his estranged ex-wife, Jill (played by Rosemarie DeWitt), have been grappling with the loss of their young son for years, often processing their grief in isolation. In a bid to solve the gruesome mystery, Turner also teams up with a spirited rookie ranger, Naya Vasquez (Lily Santiago), a former LAPD officer, in an effort to piece together the chilling details surrounding the case.

Analyzing Netflix’s ‘Untamed’: A Predictable Whodunit Experience

Untamed features an impressive lineup of actors who have delivered outstanding performances throughout their careers, particularly its seasoned leads. Therefore, it is both surprising and disheartening to discover that the series falls flat, offering a muted and lackluster experience where none of the characters or performances leave a lasting impression. Over his nearly three-decade career, Bana has consistently outshone the material he works with; for instance, he delivered a remarkable portrayal in Troy and showcased a nuanced psychological approach as Bruce Banner in the tumultuous Hulk. Unfortunately, it remains disappointing to witness such a talented actor constrained by a thin script, as a man struggling with a brutal murder and his own troubled past sounds far more engaging than what Untamed has to offer. The pacing of the show is erratic and anti-climactic, lacking the necessary suspense to delve deeper into characters who appear solemn and lack depth.

Similarly, DeWitt had far more engaging material to work with in her previous role as a complex stage mom in last fall’s unexpectedly enjoyable horror sequel Smile 2. Meanwhile, Santiago’s portrayal may inject the most energy into the otherwise dull proceedings. It is commendable that the detective’s sidekick—often a thankless role—feels like a genuine character, although the subplot involving Naya’s traumatic past and her young son, Omi Fitzpatrick-Gonzales, feels awkwardly disconnected from the main storyline.

The revelation of one character’s malevolent nature stands out as one of the more predictable twists in whodunit history. However, even more frustrating than the predictability is the lack of excitement or engagement in the final act. There is one somewhat related plot twist towards the end, revealing a dark shared secret between Kyle and Jill, which manages to elicit some surprise, but such moments are sparse and serve as one of the few instances where the show feels genuinely alive or original.

Many viewers might understandably anticipate Untamed to be at least a visually stunning exploration of the breathtaking beauty of the Sierra Nevada. Regrettably, Untamed fails to deliver in this aspect, falling short of audience expectations. Despite being primarily filmed in Canada, the series lacks the visual grandeur that one would hope to see in a setting as iconic as Yosemite. While some may draw comparisons to True Detective in terms of subject matter and procedural style, Untamed lacks the expressiveness required to earn the noir classification. Ironically, the title suggests a sense of exploration that is entirely absent; viewers feel as though they have traversed this territory before.

Untamed is currently available for streaming on Netflix.